OT - Gazebo or Umbrella?

[spacemountainmom]

We had a canvas gazebo that I bought at Target a few years ago at the end of the season. I got it for a great price and was pretty happy with it.

Last November we had the last outdoor gathering of the year on a Friday night and it ended up snowing about a foot overnight. My gazebo was wrecked due to the weight of the snow. I realize that they are not meant to stand up to snow like that, we just had crazy weather last fall and should have taken the canopy down earlier.

I am looking to replace it and am having a hard time trying to decide what to buy. I found an offset umbrella that I really like, but the price is killing me. I was only able to find one review on the one I want and the person was very unhappy with it. The other umbrellas I looked at were rated very poorly.

I was happy with the gazebo I had, however I can't find anything of similiar quality for what I paid. The cheaper ones seem pretty flimsy to me and the ratings weren't all that great. I just cannot quite justify the price of some of the sturdier looking ones.

Anyone else have either one? Any reccomendations? I am somewhat torn between buying a cheap one if they don't last that long anyway or spending more and having it last longer.

Thanks for your help!

 

[4HppyCamprs]

We had something similar happen to our gazebo...My first recommendation is to see if you can find the phone number for the manufacturer. We were able to order a replacement top and netting for 99.00 from the manufacturer. We decided not to mess with it this year though and just bought a umbrella. We purchased a 9ft umbrella with tilt and solar lights for 80.00 from big lots. So far so good we have used it a couple times this summer...It was nice not to have to assemble the gazebo this year......


Good Luck with your decision!!

 

[lucigo]

We have had 3 gazebo's. We have replaced the tops but due to hurricanes, storms etc, eventually they have all died. I'm debating myself now on either building some kind of permanent roof structure or just leaving it open. We mostly use our deck in the evening anyway. I too saw the big umbrellas at Target, at least they can easily be taken down and stored and might last longer?

I'm going to check out Big Lots - great idea

 

[Gillennj]

Yet another gazebo with ruined top member here. We went with an umbrella last year, and it works OK, but would love something bigger. We would LOVE to build an extension to the roof, or add a pergola, but that's not gonna happen anytime soon.

I like the gazebos that have pergola-like tops, with staright fabric woven between the "joists". That way, when the fabric gets too grungy, flys away, tears, or just falls apart from the sun, it should be relatively easy (and cheap)to create a new fabric section with heavy duty fabric. Just a thought.

I don't think these have netting or screens on them, but we never used those with the kids running in and out of them all the time.

 

[spacemountainmom]

The weight of the snow wrecked the canopy and the metal part. The support "beams" for the canopy were bent beyond fixing.

My hubby would really like to build a permenant structure, but we don't think the city will allow that.

I might have to check Big Lots, I could live with an $80 umbrella. The one I like at Home Depot is 11 ft and has solar lights and costs $299!!!

 

[Judique]

We had a canvas gazebo that I bought at Target a few years ago at the end of the season. I got it for a great price and was pretty happy with it.

Last November we had the last outdoor gathering of the year on a Friday night and it ended up snowing about a foot overnight. My gazebo was wrecked due to the weight of the snow. I realize that they are not meant to stand up to snow like that, we just had crazy weather last fall and should have taken the canopy down earlier.

I am looking to replace it and am having a hard time trying to decide what to buy. I found an offset umbrella that I really like, but the price is killing me. I was only able to find one review on the one I want and the person was very unhappy with it. The other umbrellas I looked at were rated very poorly.

I was happy with the gazebo I had, however I can't find anything of similiar quality for what I paid. The cheaper ones seem pretty flimsy to me and the ratings weren't all that great. I just cannot quite justify the price of some of the sturdier looking ones.

Anyone else have either one? Any reccomendations? I am somewhat torn between buying a cheap one if they don't last that long anyway or spending more and having it last longer.

Thanks for your help!

The snow got mine last year but we were able to save it. After we got the snow of the fabric, we left the frame up. I was certain I would have to replace it, but the metal was able to be bent back into place. We had to take the little top vent off first and then bend the metal pieces back. This thing was originally about $400, so I was happy not to have to replace it. This past winter I was diligent in removing the screens and top fabric. So we'll get one more season at least out of it.

I much prefer it to umbrellas.

Costco has a huge offset umbrella, but I am happier with the gazebo - more like an outdoor room.

 

[Judique]

My hubby would really like to build a permenant structure, but we don't think the city will allow that.
!

I submitted plans 2 years ago and was denied. They wanted me to spend a whole lot more money then I was interested in investing in my property to get an approval. Thankfully I didn't make that addition with the drop in real estate around here........

 

[semo233]

Where do you plan on putting/using it? It would help if we knew if you were using it on a concret patio, grass, wood deck, etc.

We've had both and I much prefer the cantilevered umbrella. We bought two of these:

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Cantilever_10_Umbrella/430/

It is not solid fabric, more of a woven fabric, but offers enough protection from the sun.

The only bad reviews you'll see (I believe) are ones that talk about stability. We will be solving that this summer to offer shade on our stamped concrete pool deck, but because the umbrella is very top heavy to one side, a stiff wind can blow it over, even with weights on the base. I love them though and feel it is worth adding a more sturdy foundation. We will be pouring a concrete base right next to the pool deck that the umbrella base can screw right into. This will help us to avoid drilling into the pool deck itself. Then we will cover the new small concrete pad with river rock that surrounds our pool deck anyway.

The gazebo we had was very hot! The roof held in the heat and it was MUCH more unstable than the umbrella.

 

[spacemountainmom]

It sits at the rear of our property in an area that is covered with pea gravel. The far end of the area has a fire pit and seating. We generally had the outdoor table and chairs under the gazebo. I burn very easily so I need somewhere to be in the shade. Once in a great while we would close up the screens and get away from the bugs. I am not sure we used that feature enough to warrant to additional cost.

I just bought the first one because I got a good deal. i think I am reading too much into the reviews this time. I just want to make sure it's going to hold up. Target had one for $99 last week, but it seems pretty flimsy to me.