Gazebos: What’s in Store for Spring 2011?

Although the chilly temperatures, rain, and snow are current weather forecasts, springtime is just around the corner. No one is really thinking about entertaining outdoors, but now may be a good time to start. Big box retail stores around the country are rolling out their new and/or existing line of gazebos, ready for that first day of spring. As a recognized and trusted seller of aftermarket custom replacement canopies for gazebos sold at big box retail stores, Garden Winds provides insight and information on the current trends for gazebos. This article will outline the varying characteristics, trends, details on gazebos for 2011, in hopes that the information provided will, help you, as a consumer, better decide on the gazebo that will fit perfectly in your backyard.

Hardtop Gazebos vs. Fabric Top (Soft top) Gazebos

A few of the big box retail stores are debuting hardtop gazebos into their gazebo collection and designed to be an additional room, and extension of the home. Hardtop gazebos feature a solid, roof like structure that is designed to withstand snow and rain. It is durable because it is made out of strong plastic material. This appears to be an addition to the today’s collection of gazebos that have a canopy fabric as the roof, also known as a soft top gazebo.

The soft top gazebo is the widely popular alternative available. Soft top indicates that the roof is made out of an outdoor fabric, such as polyester, nylon, or canvas. The material acts as a roof to protect from the sun, and by no means is a way of protection from the heavy snow or heavy rain, like that of the hardtop gazebos. Most soft top gazebos are single tier in structure or double tiered.

Living Room Space, Outdoors

Aside from the traditional 10 x 10 square size gazebos, retailers are offering larger, roomier gazebos that are definitely made for entertaining outside. This spring’s gazebos are also sold in a 12 x 12 square size, 10 x 12 rectangular size, and an octagon (eight sides) shape. Ample space outdoors is needed in order to accommodate the larger size gazebo frames. Spring and summer entertaining is encouraged with these bigger and roomier gazebos.

It’s all in the Details

The sturdy cylindrical, corner post is another common feature with this spring’s gazebo frames. A square corner post type gazebo is also offered. The sturdiness is due, not only to the larger size gazebo frames, but the fact that the gazebo, in most cases, is considered to be another room, but without walls. L-shaped panels, instead of the column post, is another style of gazebo also offered. The L-Shaped panel style gazebos make the gazebo appear to be an enclosed room and often have simple designs such as lattice work or floral design. Most of them also include corner plant shelves for decorating.

The designs on this spring’s gazebos do not appear to be ornate. Rather, they are simple designs mentioned earlier, such as lattice, floral, or a leaf design. One retailer, however, offers a lighted gazebo, where the top of the corner posts light up. Detailing on a gazebo also appears around the top perimeter of the gazebo frame, adding an extra decorative touch. Finial ornaments are also offered on some of this year’s gazebos, whether it is an arrow or ball.

The colors of the canopy for some of the gazebos rolling out are darker in color, which is a move away from the traditional and basic beige color that was prevalent for most gazebo canopies in years past. But beige canopy tops are also available as covers for gazebos.

Attachment Styles

The attachment style of the canopy to the gazebo has pretty much remained the same. The most common attachment styles are a classic overhang style and corner pocket design. The classic overhang attachment of a canopy fits over the frame of the gazebo, for a fitted look, as it will have a valence that hangs over the top perimeter of gazebo frame. The corner pocket attachment of a canopy fits on poles on the corners and sides of the gazebo roof structure. These poles usually extend past the corners of the frame. The poles are then inserted into pockets on the canopy for a tight fitting canopy on the gazebo frame.

Single Tier and Double Tiered

The roof frame and canopy appearance also remains the same amongst the various gazebos that big box retailers will offer this spring. A single tier roof structure or double tiered roof structures are the common roof styles available. A single tier roof frame looks like a pyramid, and will have a vented opening at the peak of the canopy to allow air to move through. A double tiered roof frame has a bottom tier and a top tier to accommodate a two piece canopy. The top tier will usually be smaller than the bottom tier, which forms the roof of the gazebo frame. The shape of the top tier of a double tiered gazebo roof frame may be either square or rectangle, in most cases.

So Many Choices

This spring’s gazebos offer roomier, sturdier, and simpler designs with the focus on entertaining and relaxing in style when outdoors. The larger gazebos allow for the addition of patio furniture, whether it is a dining set or an outdoor living room set, complete with table and chairs. As the purchase of a gazebo is a big investment, the design and structure play an important role in the decision to buy one. A gazebo is meant to last for years, but the replacement canopy, because it is made out of a fabric material, will not last as long as the metal structure. Look to Garden Winds as your source for a custom replacement canopy for your gazebo frame. With over 400 custom replacement canopies available and ready to ship the same day, count on Garden Winds to help you use your gazebo for many more years to come, as well as make your outdoor entertaining memorable.