Mr Deck Showpiece Decks and Arbors

A New Gazebo Design  

Copyright © Mr. Deck 2004

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This gazebo was not designed for anyone in particular. It's a classic one-of-a-kind design that I will build just once to prove the concept.

Description:

This is an arbor as well as a gazebo. It is an open air structure like an arbor but is designed to carry the rain and morning-dew run-off all the way to the lower edge of the perimeter as would a gazebo with a solid roof. I'm not claiming that it is rainproof because of the wind aspect but cushioned patio furniture could be left outdoors overnight and during the rain. This structure would serve well as an overhead cover for a spa, an outdoor dining area or a succulent-garden lounge.

      

At the center of the canopy is an octagonal, pyramidal shaped, translucent skylight. The horizontal lath is made from overlapping sand-colored hollow PVC 1x6 plastic with an open vertical space of 2 inches between courses. The pieces are slightly tilted to send water down to their exposed edge.

      

Unlike a conventional gazebo which blocks out light with it's solid roof and appears dark overhead, this arbor floods the underside with  filtered light from the central skylight and reflected light from the canopy. The light from the canopy comes from the spacing of the horizontal 1x6s: each course is lit by the course just below it --  sunlight is reflected from the top side of one course onto the underside of the next course above it -- and, in total, this lights up the underside of the entire canopy. So the canopy will be pleasantly underlit and also shady at the same time.

        

The frame is select-structural exposed-grade kiln-dried Douglas Fir with a resawn-finish, painted a flat dark color or a  semigloss light color (your choice). Each radial rafter is topped with an aluminum cap to prevent water damage and painted the same color as the wood so as to be indistinguishable from it.

            

The connecting beams and bent arches between the posts provide this structure with adequate lateral support in all directions. Consequently, the stand-alone structure can be supported atop an existing patio without cutting into it. "Lift" induced by high wind is the dominant factor so the posts will need anchoring to the patio.

Price: $15,000
Permit allowance: $400
Engineering:
included

Specifications: Height: 12 ft
Canopy-cover breadth: 16 ft side-to-side
Space between posts: 5 ft
Arch head-clearance: 7 ft 4 in
Skylight: 4 ft x4 ft
Curved rafter-beams: 6x , 18 in. at top, 20 in. at base, 10 in. at min.
Posts: 6x6


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Copyright © Mr. Deck 2004