Help me buy a gazebo

[Monkeyleg]

When my wife and I decided to move to the south, one of the prerequisites for a house was that it have a porch so that she could have a "true" southern home. Well, as it turns out, the house we bought does not have a wraparound porch or even a long porch. It has an attractive brick arch over a cove that is the front stoop.

My wife said that she'd take a gazebo in place of the porch. I think she was kidding when she said it, but I've been looking online. They are not cheap. Lowes has an assemble-it-yourself model for $1800, but that's just for the wooden gazebo. The concrete slab (or whatever floor is used) is not included.

Prices go up from there.

A few weeks ago I went shooting at a range about 70 miles from here and passed a house that had a gazebo in the front yard with a for sale sign on it. I called the owner, and he's a woodworker (amongst other things), and builds gazebo's. This one is a demo model, so it's not painted. He said he'd sell it to me for $1000 plus the cost to get it to my place on a trailer. We haven't figured out what that cost will be.

I took a trip over there today to inspect it again. It's solid, but it doesn't have some of the fancy decorative wood pieces that the box store models have.

So. I'm trying to figure out what to offer the guy. I've never bought a gazebo before. The photo before is from today.

Any suggestions as to what to offer?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Northwoods]

I'd probably offer $1000 delivered.

Other than that, I have nothing to add.

[AJ Dual]

Luckily, octagonal structures are pretty easy.. it's all 45 degree cuts. 

[Monkeyleg]

I only ask all this because I have no experience buying a gazebo or, for that matter, any wooden piece of exterior  construction except a house. I don't know how many hours it took to build, nor the material costs.

I know it's a shot in the dark to ask about this, but with the sometimes surprising range of experience here on APS, it's possible we have a gazebo expert.

AJ, I flunked wood shop. The instructor gave me a D so as not to screw up my chances for a scholarship.

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

It's solid, but it doesn't have some of the fancy decorative wood pieces that the box store models have.

You mean lattice?

1k sounds reasonable. Otherwise you would spend a great deal of time and copious profanity in building that thing.

Luckily, octagonal structures are pretty easy.. it's all 45 degree cuts. 

This, like the cake, is a lie.

[AJ Dual]

Does it matter? I knew he has zero intention of making one. 

Fine 22 1/2 degrees then. $99 miter saw from Home Despot will have a setting for it in it's swivel fence.

[Chester32141]

I have experience w/carpentry and I believe it could be built for less than $500 by a newbie and I'll bet you could find a precut kit for about that local to your area ... jmho

[Monkeyleg]

Well, this is probably what it would look like if I made it and did a good job, even if the pieces were pre-cut.

[Northwoods]

You must be related to my wife's cousin.  He's trying to build a gazebo/hot tub enclosure.  It's not been going well.  Good thing there's other cousins/uncles that actually know what the heck they're doing with construction.

[Monkeyleg]

You must be related to my wife's cousin.  He's trying to build a gazebo/hot tub enclosure.  It's not been going well.  Good thing there's other cousins/uncles that actually know what the heck they're doing with construction.

If your wife is the cousin to one of the sons of my mother's sisters, you may be on to something.

The guy told me he had $1100 in materials in the thing. I may not be able to hammer two boards together, but I've seen lumber prices, and know that there's not $1100 in lumber in that thing. If the guy is doing it for a living, though, he has to make something on the deal.

I still have to figure out how to take down part of our fence to get it in the backyard. Before I get to that point, though, I have to figure out how to be 100% certain my wife will like it. I'm 99% certain, but it's that 1% that always trips me up.

[Harold Tuttle]

IMHO that one is not big enough for more than 3 people

if you are in there in the rain, theres no overhang either

[Harold Tuttle]

check out this badboy:
http://www.vadeck.com/Deck-Porch-Guide1.htm

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

check out this badboy:
http://www.vadeck.com/Deck-Porch-Guide1.htm

did a nice one from an amish built company like that  14 foot across   prepainted with screens and a door  pre wired for fan and light.  the kit was 5600 bucks delivered 7 years ago  and it was very nice  a bargain

[280plus]

Well, this is probably what it would look like if I made it and did a good job, even if the pieces were pre-cut.

Where'd you find the pic of my old tree fort?  

I'd say $1000 seems fair to me. It looks like it's all pressure treated. I can't recall anymore. Old PT is bad but the new stuff is ok? What was it, arsenic they were using?

Don't you have any gazebo/shed manufacturring places near you? Like a bigger shop might have more of a selection, better prices etc.

[Monkeyleg]

Those $5000+ gazebos are really nice, but waaaayyyyy outside my price range.

280plus, near as I can tell there aren't any places in the area that make gazebos, although I'll look on Monday. This guy I found is the only one so far.

It will obviously look much nicer with paint, and I can add some decorative pieces if need be.

I guess starting at $1000 delivered would be a good idea. Even if there's $200-$300 in materials in the thing (which is possible), that leaves $700-$800 for delivery and his labor. Figure $200 for delivery and he's making $500 to $600. That's not a lot. Hell, I know I'd wind up paying someone that much to assemble one of the DIY models from Lowes.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Those $5000+ gazebos are really nice, but waaaayyyyy outside my price range.

280plus, near as I can tell there aren't any places in the area that make gazebos, although I'll look on Monday. This guy I found is the only one so far.

It will obviously look much nicer with paint, and I can add some decorative pieces if need be.

I guess starting at $1000 delivered would be a good idea. Even if there's $200-$300 in materials in the thing (which is possible), that leaves $700-$800 for delivery and his labor. Figure $200 for delivery and he's making $500 to $600. That's not a lot. Hell, I know I'd wind up paying someone that much to assemble one of the DIY models from Lowes.

the 4 x4 uprights are about 10 bucks apiece  premium deckboards are aboot 1.50 - 1.25 a linear foot

[CNYCacher]

Even if there's $200-$300 in materials in the thing (which is possible)

 

There's $200-$300 in material before you get a foot off the dirt.

[Monkeyleg]

There's $200-$300 in material before you get a foot off the dirt.

See? I told you I was a genius with wood.

[280plus]

See? I told you I was a genius with wood.

hey nowwww... 

Some thing are better left unsaid. 

[Larry Ashcraft]

Here's one my dad built back in the 1980s:



The columns were salvaged from an old hospital, the rest he built from scratch.  This was a man who built houses as a hobby though.  This picture was taken at mom's estate auction back in June.

The house is still for sale if someone wants a ready-made gazebo. 

Oh, and I imagine it would cost more than $1000 to build this one.

[CNYCacher]

Here's one my dad built back in the 1980s:

My dad helped build this one in the 80's:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=42.945193,-76.429664&spn=0.002745,0.008256&t=h&z=18&lci=com.panoramio.all&layer=c&cbll=42.945559,-76.43004&panoid=RYxGLjWQy59rOzndXlexZg&cbp=12,127.98128000000003,,0,0&photoid=po-2570764

[Monkeyleg]

Larry, CNYCacher, those are both beautiful. Your fathers are artisans.

 

[280plus]

I like the use of old stuff. Once there was this old house and barn being torn town. In the backyard was the original outhouse and next to it were these 2 - 10' long ~2' diameter red stone columns just laying in the grass. We concluded they were like a poured terra cotta. There was all kind of talk of salvaging them but I didn't stick around long enough at that job to see what became of them. I do recall making big points with the head cheese. He asked me, "Is there anything over there that might look good on my lawn?" I said, Well, there's this outhouse..." 

Yea, I'm good for stuff like that. I'm trying to do better. It's a matter of engage brain THEN mouth sometimes. I do have fun though. 

[erictank]

Just make sure you get the right one... http://www.dreadgazebo.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=8

Vocabulary are our friend...  "What's a gazebo?"

[Waitone]

Dick, since you've bit off on the southron thingy pretty bad you might as well go all in and plan for a hot tub.  Typically a hot tub is on the porch adjacent to you trailer but since you've gone upscale I think you can get a waver on your southron card for going with a gazebo.  The only adder you'll need is a gun rack and a short fridge for beer and such. 

I seem to remember PBS' Yankee Workshop This Old House did a series on building a gazebo.  If I remember correctly it was not something for ham-fisted artisans.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,322701,00.html