Pergolas made of metal: the pros and cons of designs

A metal gazebo is an excellent solution if you want to equip the house adjoining space. In this case, it is necessary to determine the type of structure, its shape, size, materials used, etc. It is important to take into account all the positive and negative features of such structures. Next, you need to make a project consistent with the requirements for this type of structures, and choosing the desired style of exterior design, proceed to construction. To understand each step of creating a metal gazebo, it is worth exploring the issue in more detail.

Metal gazebo - one of the types of temporary structures, which are equipped with adjoining areas. They are created for the purpose of arranging an outdoor recreation area and are similar in purpose to the veranda, but can be located at any point of the site, and not just near the house.In this case, the design itself is very diverse. There are open and closed gazebos, whose walls are sheathed with glass, polymeric or other panels, stationary with a foundation and lightweight, portable, with various types of roof, for example, single, double, and chetyrehskatnye or without a roof at all, minimalistic with a frame of several pipes and massive , decorated with wrought curls, round, square, straight and polygonal.

Outdoor metal gazebo has many advantages, one of which is its strength, due to the basic material of construction. In addition, the frame structure has a relatively small weight and can be placed on soils with any bearing capacity. Another significant advantage of this design is its mobility. Even if the gazebo is not portable, but is installed on certain supports, it can be dismantled as a whole, transferred and installed on similar piles elsewhere.

Due to its high strength, metal can take different forms, embodying any design ideas, and it does not need massiveness to preserve structural integrity. Thus, the outwardly unassuming material in the hands of the master serves as the basis for the creation of a true work of art. The main performance characteristics vary depending on the specific type of metal, but its general merits include:

• Long operational term.
• High weather resistance. Of course, iron will require a protective layer of paint against moisture, but neither a hurricane wind, nor hail, nor even a branch fallen from a tree, and with a certain thickness of the profile and the tree itself will not be able to cause devastating damage to the structure.

• Tremendous mechanical strength. Structures are not afraid of shock, pressure or vibration. You can not worry that in the process of fun someone accidentally spoil one of the supports. To do this, you will need a welding machine or "Bulgar" with an abrasive wheel.
• Fire safety. Even aluminum, not to mention steel, melts at a temperature that is practically impossible to create at home.
• Simplicity in production and installation. Of course, if you want to decorate an arbor with fancy forging or create a complex structure of an unusual shape, you will need the help of relevant specialists, but a person with basic skills in handling a grinder and a drill can do the simplest thing.
• The low cost of the main frame. On average, it will take a little bit of material to create an arbor; moreover, it does not need a serious foundation, which also saves money.

In addition to the positive sides, metal structures have their drawbacks. These include:

• Susceptibility to corrosive processes. If an aluminum or galvanized profile is chosen as a base material for a gazebo, then this problem disappears. But when using most steel alloys, it will be necessary to apply a protective coating or its periodic renewal. The main thing is to remember that it is easier to repaint or tint in time than to deal with the metal that began to corrode.
• The need for welding. Of course, a design using a bolted profile joint is possible, but in many cases, welding is required to join the elements.It is worth noting that the bolted model has the ability to completely parse and can be transported to another place without using large vehicles, but the development and implementation of such a project is also more difficult.
• The high cost of decorative items. If you wish to decorate the gazebo with beautiful wrought or other metal products, you will have to spend money on the wizard’s work.

At the first stage, a sketch is drawn, which will later be the basis for the formation of the engineering plan, consistent with the required parameters of the structure. First of all, the following factors are taken into account:

• the area which is allotted for the construction of an arbor;
• the number of seats that must be provided by the gazebo;
• estimated budget;
• whether the gazebo will be equipped with a source of open fire, such as a brazier, a stove, a grill, etc.

Further, the building should be consistent with the rules for the construction of small structures:

• minimum wall height - 1.9 m;
• the height of the side rails is about 1 m;
• recommended height of open space above fences - from 1 m;
• minimum overhang of roof overhangs - 20 cm;
• the minimum slope of the roof (at odnoskatnoy) - 10 degrees;
• foundation depth - 50 cm by 2 m of the height of the structure.

It is also important to decide whether the gazebo is open or closed, in which part of the yard will be located. The project should include all the parameters of the arbor: the length of each element, the location of the entrance, supports, the type of roof, etc.. The design of the future structure, the performance of the decorative elements, the material and color of the roof and other details should also be described. To do this, several drawings are drawn up - some serve engineering purposes, others decorative. Placing all the parameters on one drawing will make it overloaded and difficult to read. An alternative is to order a project in a specialized bureau, in which case the desired parameters are indicated. After that, the company creates and submits for approval the N-th number of possible options.

Now canopies for giving from a professional leaf, a metalprofile, a metal frame, iron and modular models are popular.

The main parameter determining the necessary materials and parts is the type of construction: collapsible or welded.

For such purposes, it is better to prefer a square or rectangular aluminum profile, while its thickness is determined by the project. For the connection can be used steel corners, fastened to the profile by means of bolts. A sample list of materials looks like this:

• profile aluminum pipe with a rectangular section of 80x50 mm and a wall of 3 mm for the base of the structure;
• profile aluminum pipe with a square section of 80x80 and a wall of 4 mm for the construction racks;
• profile aluminum tube with a rectangular section of 80x40 and a wall of 3 mm for the upper strapping;
• profile aluminum pipe with a rectangular section 80x50 (40) and a wall of 3 mm for rafters and arbor roof beams.

For this type of construction, both steel and aluminum tubes are applicable. At the same time for the independent construction of an arbor it is better to prefer aluminum. It is easier to process and weld, and only the argon apparatus should be used. In the manufacture of steel gazebos will need the following materials:

• steel pipe with a diameter of 50 mm for the lower and upper strapping;
• steel pipe with a diameter of 80 mm for arbor racks.

In addition to the basic elements of the frame, you will need rods, brackets, sheets of metal for the side walls and roof. From the tools come in handy:

• Bulgarian;
• screwdriver;
• perforator;
• welding machine;
• building level.

From consumables are also needed:

• self-tapping screws;
• drills of different diameter;
• cement;
• sand sifting;
• paint and varnish means for anticorrosive protection of metal.

When choosing a design, you need to remember that the gazebo is a place of rest, and therefore the first thing that its design should wrap around is calm, relaxation and comfort. The main furnishings - a table and chairs, must comply with the general spirit of the building, and wickerwork is the best choice. If the choice fell on the benches, then it is better to equip them with backs and sheathe with wood, and during the feast to cover them with something soft. An open flame source also has several options. With a light metal gazebo, a brazier or a barbecue would be better, and a fireplace can be installed in a larger structure. At the same time, it can be positioned both at the edge of the gazebo, and in the middle, replacing them with a table.The main material of the structure also leaves an imprint on the appearance.

Aluminum allows you to create more compact portable and collapsible gazebos for the street. It also does not corrode, and therefore may not be covered by an appropriate composition. Often, aluminum is used to make closed gazebos with many openable windows in side view, which allows making the structure open in summer and at the same time operating in the winter as a closed option. The flexibility of the material allows you to create an element of any shape without much effort, and therefore it is also suitable for design decisions. Also, aluminum is great for creating roofs in buildings of the combined type, in which the remaining elements are made of steel.

Forged steel is a very durable material.which in the manufacturing process can acquire stunning forms and be used to create elements of both bearing and decorative. In their designs are often used pergolas and altanki. The strength of the material allows you to create "air" arbors of high strength, which can be either open or closed.The former often do not have side railings, but are limited to columns only, creating additional comfort with the ability to leave the arbor without disturbing other guests. Also, forged frames serve as an excellent basis for vine bushes, which, in turn, will provide natural shade and privacy from neighboring eyes. Versions without side walls should be mounted on small supports to fix the structure, while it is better to fix the gazebo at some distance above the ground.

Profile steel pipe is a very economical material and is used for most structures. The design is often simple and unassuming, it is angular, it can be decorated with geometric shapes formed from the connection of several shaped tubes. In shape, such arbors are more often square, rectangular and hexagonal. The main difficulty in working with him is the need for a welding machine to work. A mandatory anti-corrosion treatment is also necessary, and with an increase in massiveness, a small foundation will be needed.

Minimalism and elegance.Even without using fancy ornaments from forging, you can give the gazebo a great appearance. The combination of a metal profile into simple geometric forms creates an interesting aesthetics and does not overload the surrounding background with excessive accumulation of metal.

Classic luxury. An arbor for a private house with strong supports and a massive roof, extensively decorated with stylized forging, creates a measured solid atmosphere and pleases the eye with expertly made decorative elements. With a significant amount of jewelry, it is important that they are made in the same style, are moderately saturated, do not create a barrier to review and are in harmony with the rest of the design elements.

Creativity and functionality. Such a gazebo will not only be a decoration in the courtyard thanks to forged elements in a natural style, but will also become an excellent framework for the grape bushes that will create a shadow zone, improve aesthetics and allow you to enjoy tasty fruits.

How to make a gazebo to give their own hands, see the following video.