Do it yourself gazebo project
Simple design and detailed step by step instructions for how to build an inexpensive rectangular gazebo yourself starting with a pile of lumber and nails. A 3D downloadable Google Sketchup of the project is included.
Total Price: About $2000 to $3000 in materials, depending on material choices, railing, screening.
Time: Several weekends
Why do it yourself? When I decided I really wanted a gazebo for my backyard, I got some estimates from local builders, looked at the prefab stuff at Home Depot and the like, and researched online for kits. Ouch. I have kids in college. I'll build it myself and save money, I thought. I'm not a carpenter but I'm willing to pick up a hammer or saw for basic projects around the house. I figured I could translate to this to the skills needed for the gazebo project. After lots of research, consultation with friends, and many trips to the local home building supply stores, we built this modest 10 x 12 gazebo.
If I counted my time, I didn't save money -- probably spent too
much. Some of that time was miserable, being eaten by mosquitos in the
heat, bickering with helpers, and wondering why I wasn't at the lake
this weekend. But overall it was a good project to do with my son, and
our family enjoys the completed to no end. Reliving the misery of
construction is part of that enjoyment.
Turn back now! In case I didn't emphasize how much harder this is than I thought it would be, let me very be specific. If you want to save money, buy a kit and skip a good part of the pain and maybe end up about the same price or even less. Typical completion time estimates for these projects are much less than actual time, unless you are an experienced and skillful carpenter. If you are not, I promise you will regret starting this project many times in the course of it. Don't say I didn't warn you.
The instructions here are nothing if not honest. That's why I created it -- it's the website I wish I'd found when I was thinking about doing this.
If you know what you are doing, this isn't the site for you. But if you want to save maybe a little cash and have lots of spare time, some basic carpentry skills, and -- most importantly -- would enjoy the many small challenges involving this project, read further. I will tell every step of how to build this gazebo, the mistakes I made, and all the materials I bought, and some places you can find more information.