Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Gazebo Plans Free

Building a gazebo is one of those projects that any home owner dream about. Nevertheless, as we all know, a gazebo comes at a really prohibitive price, even if we speak about a kit. What most of the homeowners don't know is that there is another way to make this dream come true: do undertake the construction as a do-it-yourself projects.

From our own experience, if you plans everything from the very beginning and use quality materials  you can save up to 50% of the price of a regular gazebo kit. Nevertheless, you should be aware of the fact that building a gazebo requires many woodworking skills, measurements and perseverance.

Choosing the right plans

The first step of the project is to use choose the right plans for your needs, budget and backyard size. There are many outdoor gazebo plans that you could choose from, even if you don't want to pay for professional blueprints. When selecting the plans, we recommend you to make sure they include detailed step by step instructions and a cut list. It is nothing more frustrating to try to build the components of the gazebo and to have nothing to use as reference.

Building a gazebo

Building a small gazebo on your own is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Nevertheless, it is essential to secure the posts into concrete and to level the site before laying the joists. If you want to create a strong flooring, you should consider pouring a strong concrete slab.

Gazebo Plans
After plumbing the posts and poring the concrete footings, we recommend you to install the rim joists. Afterwards, attach the regular joists into place, by using metal hangers. Place a spirit level on top of the joists, in order to check if they are perfectly horizontal. Place the joists every 16 or 24" on center, before attaching the 2x4 decking boards.

Building a roof for a gazebo is the most complex and difficult task of the project. Moreover, the techniques needed to get the job done vary according to the shape of the gazebo. On one hand, you could build a simple roof for a square gazebo. A rectangular gazebo or a hexagonal gazebo require more skills and materials, but the end result will add style to your garden.




Last but not least, we recommend you to build the railings and to secure them to the posts with decking screws. Drill pilot holes before inserting the screws, to prevent the wood from splitting. In addition, fill the head of the screws with putty and smooth the surface with medium-grit sandpaper.

Apply a few coats of paint to the wooden component, in order to protect them from decay and to enhance the look of the outdoor construction.



Resources:

http://myoutdoorplans.com/pergola/rectangular-gazebo-plans/