It's DONE!
It started with a couple of drawings and a few photos.
We made a template and installed the footings.
We added landscape cloth and river stones to control the grass and weeds.
We built a platform sturdy enough to constuct a ten story building on.
We added the corner posts to get it up into the air.
Getting the structure of the roof to the top of the posts was a bit of a challenge.
Along the way there were some heavy calculations done along with a lot of head scratching.
The upper roof was added but was quickly deemed to be too small in scale. We lengthened each rafter by a foot or so and came up with a much better diameter.
Eventually, the entire roof structure was completed.
We added some spindles to the upper air vents to provide a little style.
Shingling the roof was a difficult exercise but eventually it got done.
The inside of the roof is a sight to behold. There are a ton of man-hours hidden up there somewhere.
We closed in the two back walls to provide some privacy from the road and we filled the bottom of the other walls with plywood. This is about as far as we got in 2010, the only other thing we did was to cover the privacy walls with cedar shingles.
The first task of the new year was to install the floor. It was so nice to be able to take the chairs inside and sit down that we started using it right away.
Then we added a set of stairs so we didn’t have to crawl in anymore. This was much easier than expected to accomplish.
The window sills and casings were added next.
The trim was all painted and then the walls were covered in tarpaper before the siding was added.
The window screen frames were made and then covered with screen.
The door was installed next. We bought it on sale last year from the hardware store and painted it in the basement over the winter.
The floor was finished off with a coat of Thompson’s Waterseal.
The last task was to apply the water sealer to all the exterior siding. At some time in the near future we may add some electric power and some lights to the gazebo but for now the building is done.
This project did take up a huge amount of time over two summers. It cost a good chunk of money, too. We think it's worth it though and doesn't it looks pretty back here in the yard?
Just a last note on the budget. We planned to spend about $4000 for our gazebo and we came in just about right on target. In 2010 we spent $3940 and in 2011 it has been another $520 for a total of $4460. Of course, that doesn’t include any labour cost. Thankfully Hubby works for love and beer! Want us to come and build one for you? Not a chance!
