Since it’s summer, staying out under the blazing sun can be a death sentence. So, in this case, gazebos are an amazing choice to go for. They’re outdoor structures that look romantic, provide necessary shade, and are open so it will be breezy. You just need to figure out your requirements and hire a custom pergola builder. When building a gazebo, you need to choose a material and it can impact the durability, longevity, and maintenance of the structure. Here are the most popular materials for building gazebos.

Types Of Materials Used For Gazebos

Wood

Wood is one of those materials that are a classic in outdoor structure building. Wood is beautiful, it looks very natural, it is a naturally sourced material, so that is amazing too and it also lasts a lot longer than regular materials. Yes, there might be some drawbacks to wood, but that still doesn’t mean that it is not a good material. So, if you want to choose wood as your primary gazebo material, here are some options that will win your heart.

Oak

Oak is one of the most popular options out there when it comes to wood. It is very readily available and the wood quality is amazing. It is a strong wood that doesn’t budge even when it is under attack by insects and pests.

Yes, you will need to waterproof it, which is the case with most woods, but other than that, oak is a wonderful option to go for, if you want to get something that will last for a long time and give your gazebo a beautiful look. If you want, you can even stain the wood to give it a different color and that will look amazing in certain backyard settings. It’s all in the way you think about things.

Cedar

Cedar is also an amazing wood to go for, because of its natural resistance to insects, damage, and whatnot. If you think that wood can’t last long outdoors, well, then cedar will prove you wrong. Wood is one of the most durable materials out there, albeit a high maintenance one. The only reason why people don’t go for wood is the amount of maintenance it requires. Well, cedar is a very easy material to manage and it doesn’t require a whole lot of work.

As opposed to other wood types, cedar is also very lightweight, so it is a breeze to install, and building a gazebo with this wood will change the way you think about wooden gazebos. So, if you love the look of wood, but hate the maintenance, then cedar might just change your mind. It is a material that will stand tall and is not going to let you down, no matter what.

Redwood

Redwood is a very interesting type of wood and it is something that a lot of people love. The color, the look – everything is just so magnificent about redwood. Whether it is durability or strength, whether it is damage, decay, or rot, redwood surpasses almost all types of wood in its unique way.

Redwood is naturally resistant to rot, which is a huge problem when it comes to wooden gazebos. This is why you want to opt for wood carefully because you don’t want the wood to topple down when you’ve built a gazebo, just because of decay and rot. Well, redwood won’t disappoint you in any department.

Pressure-Treated Wood

It is wood but it has amazing qualities. Pressure-treated wood is made by treating the wood with chemicals. It is also treated under pressure to make it hard as stone and that is something you don’t hear or see every day when it comes to wood. Usually, wood is pretty fragile as compared to rocks and stones and it is easily damaged and deformed. Well, not pressure-treated wood.

It looks like the beautiful wood you know and love, but it has qualities of the strongest materials out there. So, if you want to get something that will last you forever, but is still wood, then this option is the way to go. Pressure-treated wood is more expensive than regular wood, but it is worth it in the end.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a man-made material used to make gazebos and the best part? It can be used in a lot of DIY projects too. If you love building things on your own and getting your hands dirty, then you will have a blast with vinyl. It is a thermoplastic material which is lightweight and easy to handle. Since it is a man-made material, the color choices are endless.

Unlike most gazebo materials, especially metals, vinyl is amazing with electrical connections and there won’t be any hazard of electrical shocks or something going haywire. So, your gazebo will be a sight to be seen.

Composite

Composite is also a newer addition to the world of gazebo materials. It is a man-made material and it is considered to be very sustainable since it is made from everything that is discarded.

Whether it be plastics, shards of glass, sand, broken-up stones, and even resin, the result is a material that is amazing in quality, super lightweight, and something that looks like a mix of wood and stone. So, if you want to set your gazebo apart, then composite is the way to go.

Metal

The next material of choice for gazebos is metal. Here are two of the most common metals used in making gazebos.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a low-maintenance material and it is something that you can set and forget. However, stainless steel is also quite heavy and it is a material that can be hard to install, because of its weight. This is why you want to choose a metal carefully, because if it is hard to install, then things can take a turn for the worst.

Aluminum

Aluminum, as compared to stainless steel, is a better choice. It is lightweight, it requires no maintenance and the look is amazing too. However, the place where people stop to a halt when going for aluminum is the price. It is just way too expensive. It is not like stainless steel which is readily available.

Aluminum is not available everywhere, so getting a gazebo made out of this will be a mean feat. This is why you need to do your research before committing to aluminum because it may turn into a hit or miss.

This material is also available in just one color, so that is something that can be a huge deal breaker for a lot of people. Metals don’t have a lot of variety when it comes to color and design and you are paying for the quality and durability of the material.

Still, some people want a well-rounded material for their gazebo, and no matter what, they can’t compromise on color and design. So, that is something that you’ll have to keep in mind when it comes to choosing metal as a material for your gazebo.

Conclusion

You can build a gazebo with various types of materials. However, you need to choose carefully keeping in mind your preferences and your region’s climate. Plus, you can also get help from a gazebo builder Long Island in choosing the right material and design.