Gazebos have been around since the Roman empire or earlier. They were used to provide shade and a place of rest for the city people. A gazebos could only be found in rich folk’s gardens, or in the market place for protection from the rain and sun for vegetables and fruits. Today, gazebos are used for many different things all around the world. In parks you will often find simple gazebos every 300 yards that make a good picnic spot for families and also give shelter in case of rain. There are as many uses for a gazebo as there are different styles.

The 10′ X 10′ Easy Pop Set Up Canopy takes only minutes to set up or break down and includes its own carrying case. This type of shelter is ideal for outdoor parties, picnics, weddings, family or company sports events, and fair grounds. The tent style gazebo has a heavy duty steel frame which will give you many seasons of service. The canopy material is also highly durable and water resistant. This model comes with removable side walls. The side walls also have windows that can be opened for ventilation, if needed. It has zippered doors front and rear. If you need  a portable canopy, this one is a bargain at just over $100.

Another very popular use for a portable canopy is tailgating. Show your team colors or back your favorite NASCAR driver. Come rain or shine, your barbeque will be protected from either one with one of these logo canopies. They are durable enough to last for many seasons. They feature a powder coated steel frame and water resistant canopy with your team’s logo on all four sides so there is no mistaking who you are rooting for. With a 6ft clearance, there is plenty of room for all of your friends to stop by and join the party. Logo canopies are easy to put up and take down, folding up to only 4ft for storage. Look for one with rollers on its storage bag for easier transportation. No matter who you support, you’re sure to be able to find a portable canopy with their logo on it.

Probably the most popular use for a 10 x 10 Gazebo is in your backyard. They can be erected temporarily on grass or concrete, or more permanently with their own flooring. If you plan to leave your gazebo up year round, you’ll want one that is heavier than the portable types and you should be able to anchor it down to the ground. When you add mosquito netting, you have an instant screen room for much less than any contractor would quote you. Add flagstones or pavers for flooring, a table and some comfy chairs, and you have yourself an outdoor living space that will be the envy of the neighborhood.

If your 10 x 10 Gazebo did not come with a screen, you can still add one later and enjoy your outdoor living space insect-free. Face it, you bought your gazebo with dreams of sitting out in your back yard, relaxing and enjoying life. You might have envisioned dining under the canopy, perhaps a romantic meal for two. I am sure that you probably never dreamed of inviting the entire insect nation to join you at the table. And it is tough to relax and enjoy your peaceful spot in the yard while you are swatting mosquitoes. Adding a screen to your gazebo can bring back that peaceful, relaxing image.

You should start by understanding the numbers used to identify the mesh of the screen fabric. Mesh size is simply how many holes, or openings, per inch. For example, an 18×16 mesh will have 18 yarns running vertically (the “warp”) and 16 yarns running horizontally (the “fill”) for each square inch of the screen. If you live where no-see-ums invite themselves to every outing, look for a very small 20 x 30 mesh.

Fiberglass gazebo screening is similar quality-wise to the screens that are probably on the widows and doors of your home. Industry leaders that manufacture fiberglass gazebo screens say that under normal conditions you can expect your screen material to last 6 to 12 years. Of course, you may get different results, depending on the conditions your screen is exposed to. Fiberglass screening won’t stain, corrode, shrink, scratch, or rot. It is also non-combustible and comes in a variety of colors

Rinsing your gazebo screen with plain water will help keep dust and dirt from accumulating on it. In severe cases, you can use a soft brush with a mild detergent. Scrub lightly with very little pressure and rinse with clear water from a hose. Keeping your screen as clean and dry as possible will prevent mold and mildew. If you see mold or mildew starting to form, clean your screen as soon as possible, as they can shorten its life considerably.

Polyester is an inexpensive choice for screening. It is quite durable and lets the breeze blow through, while keeping out the bugs. It is also easy to maintain, using the same cleaning procedures recommended for fiberglass screening.

Look at the bindings on the edges of the screen before you buy it, if at all possible. The highest quality screens will have a binding tape covering the raw edges. More inexpensive screens will be folded over and hemmed. Some are weighted to help hold them down, while others will attach to your gazebo legs with a hook and grommet system. Hook-and-loop tape is also becoming a popular way to keep the screens from moving around. Be sure that you understand how the screen attaches to the frame before you make your purchase. Again, the two most popular methods are grommets and hooks or hook and loop tape.

One way to extend the life of your gazebo screen is to remove it from the frame and store it out of the weather during the months you know you won’t be using your gazebo. Just be sure that you can remove it without doing more damage than being out in the weather would inflict on it.

There are a couple of common questions that come up over and over about these screens. The first one is whether or not these screens are strong enough to contain pets, or even small children. The answer is no. The are intended to keep insects out, not humans or pets in. Although pet screen is available for other purposes, I haven’t seen it specifically for 10 x 10 Gazebos. If you really need to use your gazebo as a pet containment fence, I guess you could buy the screen in bulk rolls and cut it to fit.

The second question is whether or not the screen will filter the sunlight and the answer to this one is yes. Most basic gazebo screens will filter out out about 30% of the sunlight. You can also buy specialty screens that will block up to 90% of the sunlight, although these will cost you roughly twice as much.

Unless your budget just can’t stand any more, you should definitely get a screen for your gazebo. Not only will it keep out the pesky insects, but will also block out some of the sun’s rays, making your gazebo a more pleasant place to spend time. Knowing your options before you start shopping will help you decide which features matter the most to you and which you can live without.

When you first start looking at 10 x 10 Gazebos, it is easy to become confused by all of the different choices you have when it comes to the metal framework. Every company will tell you that theirs is the best. If you spend some time educating yourself about the different types of materials available beforehand, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate the statements made about each individual model, and make an informed choice.

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is which of these is most important to you: price, design, or durability. You are not going to get the most beautiful design, or the strongest metal for the lowest price. How and where you are going to use your gazebo should play a big part in making this decision. If you are using it temporarily, you probably won’t care about the strength of the metal. If you need it to last many, many years, you should be willing to pay more for the higher quality.

Traditional gazebos are made of wood. Besides being heavy and expensive, wood gazebos need considerably more maintenance than those with a metal frame. They will need to either be made from a rot-resistant type of wood or treated on a regular basis. Most wooden gazebos are built in place and are difficult to move, so you’ll need to be certain you’ve got it where you want it before you begin building.

Aluminum is one of the most common metals used in gazebo frames. It is approximately 45% lighter in weight than steel. It is often used for portable gazebos, but can also be found in ones that are intended for permanent use, too. Most of the folding tents you’ll find on the market today will have aluminum frames because of the strength to weight ratio. Aluminum is resistant to rust, another point in its favor. Aluminum can also be powder coated, which I’ll expand on in a moment.

Steel is the second most common material for metal framed gazebos. It also can be powder coated to enhance its looks and durability, however if the powder coating is damaged, the exposed metal can begin to rust fairly quickly. Because steel is so much heavier, it is perceived to be much more durable. It is most often used for gazebos that will be put in one place and seldom, or never, moved again.

Before powder coating was invented, wrought iron was used when you wanted your gazebo frame to be both decorative and strong. With wrought iron, a gazebo builder could achieve shapes and designs that just weren’t practical, or even possible in other metals. Wrought iron is stronger and more resistant to rust than steel, but also much heavier. Wrought iron framework in gazebos today is mostly limited to the more expensive varieties.

Now to understand powder coating. A piece of metal is electrostatically charged, then a fine dry powder is sprayed over the entire surface, being careful to coat every nook and cranny evenly. The metal is then placed in an oven, where the thermoplastic particles of the powder melt together to form a thick, dense skin covering the entire piece. This coating is typically as thick as two heavy coats of regular liquid paint, but much more durable. The powder is available in numerous colors, some with flecks of other colors mixed in for contrast, others are bright, bold primary colors.

In addition to making the metal framework of your 10 x 10 Gazebo more colorful and decorative, powder coating adds strength and greater resistance to rust, corrosion, and other weather-related conditions that occur whenever metal is exposed to the elements for long periods. So, if you are looking at either aluminum or steel for your gazebo frame, try to find one in your budget range that is powder coated so you can enjoy your gazebo for years to come.