In our article, we will consider how to independently make a simple arbor from metal using the most common and cheap materials. Metal arbors have earned popularity among summer residents for a reason. Simplicity of design and harmonious appearance - this is what most summer residents love. After all, the design is not too bulky and can easily fit into any landscape design.
In addition, such buildings can serve faithfully for more than a decade (unlike wooden ones), and most importantly - they do not require close attention. It is only necessary to inspect once a year for corrosion. Reliability, simplicity, durability and strength - these are the qualities that are inherent in metal arbors.
Types and forms
As for the appearance of metal gazebos (we’ll tell you how to make them yourself), the choice depends entirely on your capabilities, needs and preferences. The most common are round, square, eight and hexagonal, rectangular. But no one is stopping you; you can choose any form for building the gazebo of your dreams.
There are several ways to build arbors:
- Collapsible - uses a variety of mounting hardware.
- Welded - the most reliable and fastest installation method.
If you do not have experience with welding, then you can use the method of assembling the frame using bolts. No one is stopping you from combining both methods to make multiple wireframe modules that quickly connect together.
As a rule, metal gazebos are built with one blank wall or completely open. For use in the summer, it is recommended to build arbors with one side deaf. If you want to use the building in the cold season, you will need to install a kind of “protection” - install polycarbonate or PVC curtains on all openings.
How to choose a place?
The most important thing at the initial stage is to choose a place on the site for installing the gazebo. The landscape and view should primarily please the beauty of those who rest in the gazebo. But do not neglect the technical component for the sake of a beautiful view. It is necessary to take into account the direction and strength of the wind, otherwise the frame will not be stable. This is especially important in cases where the structure to the base is not rigidly fixed.
If the installation location is incorrect, the structure may tip over or slip. Before installation, it is advisable to pay attention to the ground level. Indeed, during rain, flooding can occur if the arbor is located in a lowland. Therefore, it is best to put the frame on a hill or mount the floor.
How to choose a base?
The gazebo is a light structure, so you can use one of two types of base:
- Concreted with mortgages in the ground support. To them you weld the frame of the gazebo.
- Shallow supports or a strip foundation - ideal for the construction of a collapsible gazebo.
In the event that you are going to build a non-separable structure, you must provide for the presence of a floor. For collapsible structures, the best option is a kind of paving floor.
Which metal to use?
The frame is best made from pipes of round or rectangular cross-section, wall thickness 2 - 3 mm. Pipes with a circular cross section have a slightly lower cost, but it is more difficult to work with them. It’s very difficult to weld the pipe beautifully and to maintain its strength. Therefore, if you decide to save, think a hundred times.
You can use an aluminum profile - it is light, but welding can only be done with special devices. Therefore, in everyday life, such a frame is easiest to assemble using bolted connections. And steel profile pipes are a cheaper material, and working with it is much easier.
The main parts of the drawings
DIY metal gazebos are made quite simply, and the cost of materials is not very high. Therefore, the construction and the physical condition of the pocket will not harm. The article will consider all stages of construction, design options and decoration of metal gazebos for the garden. In any drawing you will find such elements:
- Paul - according to its shape, you need to make markings on the site on which you plan to build a gazebo. It is recommended to adhere to some parameters. For example, there should be a distance of no more than 2 m between the supports. It is better to make a distance less than more, since with increasing the risk of structural failure increases. Be sure to install the longitudinal beams - they are able to give the floor stiffness. If you do not install these beams, the floor will be unstable.
- The presence of a roof is provided for by a specific project. In some designs, it may not be. When drawing up a drawing, you need to take into account one nuance - take the rafters approximately 0.3-0.5 m beyond the frame of the gazebo. Such a roof arrangement will protect the building from the effects of snow and rain. Rafters need to be placed on supporting poles. Look in advance at the drawings of metal gazebos to have an idea of how the elements are arranged relative to each other.
- Rear and side walls - these parts of the structure are displayed on all the drawings. Supports located vertically, as well as horizontal beams, are necessarily indicated on the diagrams. The length of all the crossbars should be equal to the distance between the vertical supports except for the width of the profile pipe. The first rung must be positioned approximately 0.8 m above the floor. With its help, the strength of the structure is enhanced, the fastening of the skin is made to it. In addition, these crossbars serve as railings. The third crossbar must be placed on the same level with the ceiling - with its help the upper part of the structure is rigidly fixed.
- Wall on the entrance side - there should be an opening. You can use standard values - a width of 80 cm and a height of 2 m. There are also beams in the construction of this wall, only more of them - a doorway forms in three. These parameters must be observed when building a gazebo with your own hands made of metal. The design drawing is given in the article.
Please note that pillars installed vertically must be above floor level. The length of the protrusion should be equal to the height at which the floor is located minus the height of the embedded structures that are in the foundation itself. When using shallow supports, protrusions do not need to be made - the lifting height is already laid.
What tools will be required
In order to avoid problems during construction, you need to stock up with this set of tools:
- Bayonet shovel.
- Angle grinder (grinder).
- Step-ladder.
- Building level.
- Drill or screwdriver.
- Welding machine (optional).
Materials for construction
If you decide to build a gazebo of metal and polycarbonate, then you will need such materials:
- Cement, water and sand.
- Armature for the manufacture of the foundation (optional).
- Accessories for the manufacture of fasteners (bolts, nuts, washers, screws).
- Material for the manufacture of roof cladding.
- Material for processing the side walls.
- Paint for metal.
As for the paint, it should be designed for outdoor use. It does not have to have a large temperature range. And most importantly - direct sunlight should not act on the paintwork. Besides the fact that the paint protects the metal, it also gives an attractive appearance to the frame. Therefore, choose the color wisely.
Foundation construction
First of all, when building a metal gazebo for a summer residence, you need to get rid of all kinds of vegetation on the construction site. The soil must be removed - approximately 10-15 cm. When building shallow supports, it is recommended to remove the soil layer in those places in which they will be located. In the event that you plan to make a full-fledged strip foundation, then, according to the plan, it is necessary to dig trenches. Note that the edges on the sides must be located in the center of the foundation tape.
The width of the trench should be approximately 20-25 cm, the depth of 25 cm. The bottom of the trench should be sprinkled with sand - about 10 cm, then with rubble or stone (layer of the same thickness). These two layers must be carefully compacted and leveled. To save on concrete, you can use a large fraction of stone in the construction of the foundation. But first you need to place mortgages on the project. Mortgages are installed vertically, strictly in level. You can find all sizes of the metal gazebo in the diagram given in the article.
Fill the foundation as carefully as possible, fill all the voids with concrete. It is recommended to use fittings - a thickness of at least 10 mm. Thus, you can give the entire structure of the base strength. 3-5 days after pouring the foundation, the foundation pit should be covered with sand and water, then rammed to get a flat surface.
How to assemble a wireframe
According to pre-prepared drawings, it is necessary to assemble the frame of the gazebo - the roof and floor. The coating is not installed, only the frame is assembled. In this case, you need to use a welding machine or fasteners. The whole structure is mounted on the frame and rigidly fixed on the base. Then fasten the horizontal bars and the doorway.
All structural elements must be painted. It is advisable to use paints that already contain primer. Particular attention should be paid to welds - they are the most vulnerable. No streaks or smudges are allowed. It is best to use a roller.
Arbor trim
If there is a desire, then the lower part of the structure is sheathed. You can use any material, but most often this is done with polycarbonate. It looks pretty attractive than a metal profile. The latter, by the way, can also be used for cladding. But it quickly warms up, so in the summer it will be very hot inside if the arbor is installed in the sun.
In the manufacture of a gazebo with your own hands from metal (the dimensions are indicated on the drawings given in the article), decorative forged elements can also be used. You can decorate the cladding elements with the help of metal rods. For example, openwork forged elements located between the railing and the floor can emphasize the individual design style of the metal gazebo.
Roof manufacturing
The easiest way to make a gable roof on the gazebo. First, all the workpieces are made on the ground - you connect two pipes at a certain angle and fix. At the centers of the opposite sides of the harness, connect on a rack. The height should be the same, otherwise the roof will turn out to be a curve. Racks must be connected using a run.
From above, you need to install pre-made rafter legs - you fix them in three places. It is necessary to fix on two sides of the harness and on the run. Be sure to apply a layer of soil and paint on all surfaces of the roof structure. As a roofing material, you can use a profiled sheet, polycarbonate, or metal tile. It is easiest (and cheaper) to install polycarbonate.
To cover them with a roof, you need to make holes in the rafters. On the polycarbonate sheets, it is also necessary to make holes that match those on the roof frame. The sheets should be fastened with the help of special roofing screws with a rubberized washer. This is the end of construction, you can equip the gazebo, put benches, a table and barbecue in it. It is worth noting that when building a gazebo made of metal with a barbecue made of brick, you need to make a capital foundation for the latter.