Warm weather is here, and summer is just around the corner. We all want to get out of the house and soak up the sun’s rays. We want to steer clear of sun damage to the skin and take our shade along with us wherever we go. The ideal back yard accessory is a 10’ x 10’ gazebo or portable canopy, for shade and protection from direct sunlight and rain. They are great for cookouts. They can be shield a hot tub from the sun or shelter it in the winter. You can put them up over your car and wax it in the shade. Moving beyond the home, these portable canopies can be taken to the beach. You have seen them used as tents at craft shows.
You need to know how you intend to use an outdoor gazebo, because usage will influence what you buy. You can spend anywhere from under $100 to $3,000 and more, depending on the materials for the frame, the fabrics selected for the cover and whether the sides will be protected as well.
A sturdy frame is important in any portable shelter. Steel is the strongest, but aluminum is lighter. This is a factor in how much carrying around you will do. The metal should not be flimsy. It’s a good thing if the frame has been treated for rust resistance. There should be enough joints so that it unfolds and folds up quickly, easily, with precision. In a standing position, the frame should feel firm and locked into position. Joints which cross the frame are a good defense against collapse.
The fabrics that cover a portable canopy or gazebo should be of good quality in order to withstand the wear and tear of weather. The best canopies have fabrics which are heavy, like sail cloth, UV resistant, mold resistant and fade resistant. Chances are that if you buy yours from a big box store at a good price, it will come with covering made of poly-vinyl. It is entirely possible that after a year, you find yourself with a frame that’s just fine and a need to replace the covering that the elements broke down. Take heart, for there are companies that specialize in replacing the covers. This is a good question to pose when buying a portable gazebo that you expect to last for years. The answer received, however, might not be the same when the time to replace comes.
Gazebos can come with lots of features, like privacy panels, mosquito netting, tie-backs and zippered doorways and side panels. Your transportable outdoor shelter can be plain or fancy, and offer everything from almost total exposure to complete shelter.
You get what you pay for. If you want permanence, the extra money for quality will pay off. Do shop online to find what is out there. Some of the top manufacturers in the portable canopy market include Coleman, DC America, E Z Up, but there are many more. Let the shopping begin.