If you have decided to add a gazebo to your landscape you must now decide how and who will build it. You have a few choices. You can build your gazebo from scratch yourself, have someone else build it from scratch or you or someone else could build it using a gazebo kit.


If you choose to build from scratch make sure you pull all necessary permits, and get great plans. There’s nothing worse than getting part way through a project only to realize you don’t have what you need.


If you are the typical weekend warrior, I suggest you think about getting a gazebo kit. These kits have come a long way, and you can now find gazebos in just about any shape or size you could imagine.


A gazebo kit basically comes with all the large pieces, like the floor, roof, and sides already assembled, so there is no sawing needed. You can quickly put the pieces together, even without being a skilled carpenter or contractor.


You can easily manage with the help of a few friends to get a gazebo kit put together in a few hours over a weekend. You will have to make sure you prepare the site, and put in the footers. This can be the most difficult and time consuming part of putting together a gazebo kit. If you choose to put it together yourself, but don’t feel comfortable about building the foundation, you can always hire a contractor to do that part for you.


As I mentioned there is a wide variety of gazebo kits available. They also come in a wide array of prices. You can get relatively inexpensive gazebo kits which are usually made from pressure treated lumber. The more high end kits are generally made from cedar which is rot and weather resistant. If you can afford it I suggest you purchase a cedar kit. It will last forever, and will be more beautiful as it ages.


Once you have chosen and received your kit, you will find everything you need to put it together is included, including the screws, bolts and other fasteners. You should only need a power drill, and a screw driver ~ maybe a hammer to get this kit put together.


All in all if you are looking to build more outdoor living space or provide a focal point in your landscape building a gazebo canopy from a kit is a great way to do it. It’s a decision that will last a lifetime and increase the value of your home, both monetarily and sentimentally.