CrossTeam Properties Offers Advice on Home and Garden Improvements

When considering the style of garden gazebo you want for your garden, it may be worth opting for a very natural look in order for it to blend in well.  Many people are considering thatched gazebos, which are based on the style of huts from Africa and allow the structure to blend in with plants and trees in the garden.

In opting for a thatched gazebo, you will not be compromising on style or size, as they are available in the same range of sizes and styles as standard gazebos. The thatched versions are permanent structures with a wood gazebo frame, in keeping with the natural style.

Many of these gazebos have built in seating. An average sized structure can seat between 8 and 10 people around the wooden table (which is also included), making it ideal for entertaining during the summer months.  The thatched style will help to keep the heat off, providing a cooler shelter during the hottest days of the year.

Thatched garden gazebos can be raised, with a small set of steps running up to the seating area, or they can be constructed so they are flush with ground level, depending upon your needs.  This style of gazebo will last for many years and can be constructed yourself if you prefer, as the gazebo frame can be purchased in a kit form, with the pieces already cut to size. Comprehensive instructions are included, and the gazebo can be constructed in a fairly short period of time.

When making the choice of your ideal guest bed you have a number of options available. For a small room, with not much space to spare, you could go for a chair-bed. These are a type of sofa bed, but smaller than average and they can be tucked discreetly in a corner to be used as a seat and then folded out to create a comfortable single bed.

Also for small rooms, divan beds are ideal, because they usually incorporate drawer space for storage of pillows and sheets underneath, but otherwise look like normal beds.

Sofa beds can be placed anywhere in the house, even in the living room, as these days they function equally well as seats and beds. They come in a range of different fabrics and designs and when used as sofas they are well padded with sumptuous cushions. They can be opened up within minutes, when unexpected guests arrive and provide valuable extra bed space.

For children’s rooms, sofa beds are also a great idea, although the kids may prefer bunk beds, which also save on much needed space.

Futons can be very stylish and can easily be attached to a fold-up wooden or metal frame to become a sofa or bed, as required. Alternatively they can simply be spread out on the floor.

The choice is yours, but remember that you’ll have to consider current arrangements as well as decor when choosing beds that can comfortably accommodate extra guests as well as function as integral parts of the household furniture.

It sits quietly and regally in the backyard. An invitation wafts out from the open walls and you are drawn outdoors. You bring your book and a glass of lemonade, sinking down in the cushions, cooled by the shade of your sheltering structure. You breathe deep and immerse yourself in the comfort and beauty of your garden gazebo.

The true root word for gazebo is shrouded by the mists of time. Some say it comes from the French expression “Que c’est beau” meaning “how beautiful”. The phrase eventually morphed into the single word gazebo. Another educated guess is the writer William Halfpenny, an architectural writer in the 1700s, added the Latin ending -ebo to the word gaze. Although the word origin is questionable, the history is not. Gazebos have appeared in the earliest gardens known to men.

The earliest gazebos were constructed by all major civilizations. Ancient Egyptians used them in gardens, their heaven on earth. The structures were painted on murals in the burial chamber so the owner could take it to the afterlife. Gazebos have been discovered in early Roman ruins and frozen in time by the volcanic ashes of Pompeii. Persian and Chinese gazebos were far more flamboyant with colourful cushions and tapestries while the Japanese converted their use to teahouses. Gazebos are often called summerhouses, arbours, screen houses, pavilions, grottos and pagodas.

Gazebos have evolved over time into structures of beauty, places of quiet contemplation, a gathering spot and a private oasis, fitting in as beautifully with modern architecture and landscaping, as they did in ancient times. 

You are undecided and can’t choose your gazebo type, perhaps you want to have a patio gazebo or a garden gazebo. A hot tub gazebo would be nice but garden gazebos really add to a garden, perhaps a canopy gazebo could be built as well? A wood gazebo looks great but do I really want the regular maintenance tasks that a wooden gazebo brings? So many choices and decisions to make, but cost is a factor, you want the most for your money without compromising your vision.

A typical gazebo can cost between £60 – £400 depending on the materials, the size, the brand name and the design.

Simple canvas gazebos are at the lower end of the cost range and are generally £50 – £100. You can find these types of gazebos at home improvement stores and discount houses.

The mid-range outdoor gazebo can cost £1,000 to £5,000 and again are sold of the same type of home improvement stores, as well as large department stores. Typically, the mid-range gazebos are wooden or wood-like composite structures.

However, the costs change if you enlist the services of a contractor or build it yourself. Contractors and builders will often charge between £2,000 and £3,000 for planning and constructing your gazebo.

Homemade gazebos depend on the size and design of the structure. Building materials will cost around £1,000 to £5,000, Hardware and accessories will be needed and can be purchased at local hardware stores. Plans for garden gazebos can be obtained for £10 to £30, for a detailed blueprint from online sites or carpentry design vendors.

Remember to calculate shipping costs, labour costs if you decide to hire a carpenter to set it up and there maybe additional costs for flooring or screens.

Discounts on kits and materials can often be found in the fall and winter months as stores offload extra spring and summer inventories.

If you do not have a very large garden a patio gazebo can be a great way to enjoy some shade and shelter during the spring and summer months. Many properties do not have the luxury of a wide open space at the back of a house, so the owners have a patio to relax on instead.

The good news is that garden gazebos can be bought at fairly reasonable prices, depending on size, style and quality, and can even be custom made to cover a small area.

If you are interested in buying a patio gazebo then there are a few things you need to bear in mind before making your decision. For example, how often do you plan on using it?  This will obviously affect the decision that you make regarding the quality required; how much you will spend. Would you like the option to take it down in bad weather or would you prefer a more permanent fixture?  Portable gazebos come in all different shapes and sizes but it may be difficult to find one to fit exactly over your patio – always measure the area you want to cover using a gazebo to help you in your choice. You may have to have a gazebo custom built if no retail versions match the shape and size of your outdoor area.

Patio gazebos are great for keeping a beautifully cemented or paved area dry during a downpour protecting both you and your guests.

Gazebo materials may differ greatly from one model to the next. This basically comes down to the overall quality of the gazebo.  As with everything in life you get what you pay for.  A cheap model will inevitably be made of cheaper materials, will be less durable and will not last as long as the better quality, more expensive models. The poles, which form the frame of the gazebo, will either be made from fibreglass or painted metal; the latter may rust. 
 
The basic material, which will be found in the majority of cheaper models, will be a simple plastic cover. These are usually easy to install and maintain and they will simply slide over the top of a set of foundation poles. The drawback with these lighter gazebos is that they are not great at resisting bad weather conditions, particularly high winds.

Permanent garden gazebos will be made from timber. There are many wooden gazebo designs that are available in packs to erect yourself, or they may come pre-assembled and are delivered to your home. You can call a contractor in to erect a garden gazebo if you do not feel confident enough to do it yourself. Gazebos can also be built with a metallic roof and these are commonly used for permanent gazebos; these will be more expensive, but obviously longer lasting than standard gazebos made from material.

Look around at several different retailers to get a feel for which gazebo will be right for your garden space – there are plenty to choose from.

Wooden gazebos are a fantastic way to create something unique and stylish in your garden. Wooden gazebos are soaring in popularity because there are so many designs, sizes and shapes available.

Wooden gazebos not only create a relaxing place to sit in your garden, they are also great for keeping safe in sunny weather. The sun has harmful rays that can even be harmful when it is very cloudy. A wooden gazebo provides a garden with permanent shade and a safe place to enjoy the weather.

If you have a hot tub outside you may want to protect it from the elements. You can easily do this with a wooden hot tub gazebo that allows you to enjoy the hot tub whatever the weather.

Wooden gazebos are often installed in a panelled system. This makes maintenance easier as you can unfix one panel if it becomes damaged and replace it.

The types of wood used for gazebos will not be very heavy and will be light enough for DIY beginners to handle. This means that if the gazebo is damaged or installed incorrectly then the entire structure can be taken apart and put together again, without the cost of having to buy extra materials and supplies.

Wooden gazebos are a great focal point for any size of garden or outdoor space. They provide shade, comfort and are a fantastic addition to any home’s outdoor area. You can buy complete kits to build them yourself, purchase materials from DIY stores, or hire a contractor to design and build the gazebo for you.

A gazebo is an ornamental building that will enhance any garden.  It is an architectural hard landscape structure that can style to the most simple and smallest of gardens.  But a gazebo need not only be a thing of beauty, it can also be a building to be used in the most practical of ways.  The functions of a gazebo are endless; it can almost be an extra room to the main dwelling. 

So what is a gazebo?

A gazebo is structure, sometimes octagonal in shape, with a solid roof, sometimes in the shape of a cupola.  The sides were traditionally all open as the main objective of a gazebo was to view the landscape from all angles.

Nowadays, gazebo designers are not the purists that they once were. Garden Gazebos can be constructed with solid walls or have sliding screens in those areas of the world where mosquitoes are a nuisance.  It is even possible to enjoy modern utilities such as electricity.

Open gazebos are a useful addition to a garden in warmer climates, a private place where one can seek shade on a hot day.  Where winters bring snow and colder temperatures, solid walls offer welcome protection from stormy winds.

Gazebos are permanent structures that require planning permission and a chat with the local authorities is always recommended, especially if utilities such as electricity or water are going to be incorporated into the architecture.

Gazebos have been popular garden and outdoor structures for centuries, sited so that the occupant can appreciate a beautiful garden, a breathtaking view or simply to enjoy a time of solitude.

The word gazebo first entered the English language in the middle of the 18th century when a book was published named Rural Architecture in the Chinese Taste written by an architect writer William Halfpenny and his son John.  The origin of the word is unclear although there are several theories.

One is that it is a combination of two words: the English word gaze and the Latin word ebo meaning I shall, thus gazebo means I shall gaze.  Another supposition is that it derived from the French term Que c’est beau meaning how beautiful.  Both are obviously apt descriptions of a gazebo, as it has no walls and is sited so that views can be appreciated in all directions.

It has also been proposed that the word gazebo is a derivation from Casbah, a Muslim word for the area around the citadel in Algiers or from the Hispano-Arabic qushaybah.

During the Renaissance, Italians developed a gazebo-type structure called a belvedere.  It has a similar meaning to gazebo as belvedere in Italian means beautiful view.

Belvederes could be freestanding but unlike gazebos could also be located inside a building, usually at the top of the structure to provide a panoramic view. 

Freestanding belvederes or gazebos were used during the Renaissance in gardens of monasteries as places of worship and meditation.

Gazebos are popular garden and outside structures that have been in existence for thousands of years.  Historically, they have been used as places of worship, for tea ceremonies, for spiritual meditation or for people just to sit contemplating life.  Some are small buildings in a garden used for relaxation and pleasure whilst others in public spaces are large enough to host bands and musical concerts.
   
Today, garden gazebos continue to be popular and are used as places where people can escape the British inclement weather, seek shade in hot summer weather as well as still being spots of solitude and quiet reflection.

Modern gazebos are a popular choice as a wedding venue, either an existing one on an appropriate site or a folding gazebo or pavilion that can be erected in a garden.  These are also very popular for picnics or barbecues.

Egyptians built wooden gazebos to provide a structure for vines to grow on and this tradition continues to this day.  Any climbing plant such as ivy, clematis or wisteria will add colour and scent to a gazebo as well as additional shelter in windy conditions.

Gazebos can be built in any design and constructed in different materials.  Cedar and redwood are popular choices for gazebos that house hot tubs and outdoor spas while fountains are found inside marble gazebos.  Rather than being open, glass can be fitted to make a greenhouse gazebo.