Cabinfield brings you high-quality handcrafted Amish gazebos in a variety of sizes and shapes: octagonal, square, oval, and rectangular. Which is best for you? It depends. First, consider which size and shape will complement your home and landscape. Too large a gazebo may overpower your home; too small a gazebo may be lost among other landscape elements. A quaint 8' x 8' gazebo is the perfect choice for a smaller home or backyard, while a stately 12' x 20' gazebo accentuates a large home or acreage.

Second, consider how you plan to use your gazebo. Will it become an entertainment center for special occasions, such as parties or family weddings? Will you and your family gather there regularly for outdoor dining? Will it serve only ornamental purposes? Do you imagine your gazebo will become your favorite cozy porch or room, where you’ll relax and unwind? Or perhaps you need poolside protection from the sun, or a private setting for your hot tub?

If you have several uses for your gazebo in mind, or if you need flexible floor space, choose an oblong-style gazebo, either rectangular or oval. These shapes give you space to add a lovely handcrafted Amish table or swing at one end and a relaxed seating area at the other. If you’re thinking of an octagonal- or square-shaped gazebo, keep in mind that any table you’d like to add will have to sit in the center, which limits your floor space. But if your gazebo is primarily for aesthetics and special occasions, flexible floor space may not matter to you.

Before you design your gazebo, determine where you’d like it to sit on your property. Gazebo site selection also influences your gazebo’s size.

Choose a fairly level location, if possible. And avoid areas where water may collect, like at the bottom of a hill.

Visualize your dream gazebo in place with just a few easy steps:

1. Select your gazebo dimensions from any of the standard sizes available in your area. Find out exactly what’s available where you live by visiting our exclusive online Gazebo Price Calculator.
2. Measure out the proposed dimensions in your yard and drive stakes into the ground where each gazebo corner will be.
3. Tie string between the stakes to help you envision what your gazebo may look like.
4. Step inside the stakes to see the view from within your new garden attraction!

Place your gazebo on your deck, on a patio, or on a concrete slab without a floor. All of Cabinfield’s handcrafted Amish gazebos include flooring as a standard option, but you may order your gazebo without flooring and save even more.

Before you move forward with your gazebo project, ask (and answer!) these questions to make sure your project runs smoothly:

• Is there enough space in my yard for the gazebo I’m considering? Leave plenty of room for your family’s outdoor activities.

• What is my budget? It makes sense to know how much gazebo you can afford in advance, so you can select appropriate sizes and options. Thanks to our exclusive online Gazebo Price Calculator, you’ll know exactly how much your dream gazebo will cost – in advance! Our prices include everything from construction in the Amish community to at-home delivery – and even to assembly, if you select that option. You’ll never be surprised by hidden charges at Cabinfield.
• Will I need a building permit or permission from my homeowner’s association? Check your city’s building codes or your association’s rules, or seek advice in advance from any governing board or entity that creates and enforces out-building rules.
  
  

All Cabinfield Amish wooden gazebos (except for our cedar gazebos) are crafted with durable treated pine. To protect and showcase the beauty of your gazebo’s wood, you may select an option to add wood sealant or two coats of vinyl latex paint, which will be applied by hand before your gazebo is delivered. Many gazebo lovers tell us they prefer wood because they feel wood is more aesthetically pleasing. If you, too, prefer the look of wood, we recommend annual wood treatments to keep your gazebo looking fresh and new. You may also select our naturally weather-resistant cedar gazebos.

Other gazebo lovers tell us they prefer easy-care vinyl siding for a neat, sharp look that lasts for years without weathering. Since all exposed areas will be vinyl or polyurethane, maintenance is as easy as spraying your vinyl-covered gazebo with a hose periodically. Vinyl gazebos are covered with your choice of white or ivory siding.

These design options give a gazebo its “gingerbread” look and feel. Most handcrafted Cabinfield gazebos feature, as standard, straight-spindle railing and 2" x 2" spindles. Or, if you prefer, choose the more elegant “turned” or rounded spindles.

Braces are also standard fare on every Cabinfield gazebo. Standard braces are 1½" thick. Or, indulge in a gingerbread fantasy by choosing the more elaborate Victorian braces.

Fascia, the trim around your gazebo’s roof line, is available in two styles: wavy, which is standard, or straight. Both work well with any railing, spindle, or brace combination.

Depending upon the size and shape of your gazebo, you may have several roofing options.

A hip roof (our Classic Majestic Roof) slopes from all sides. A square gazebo’s hip roof has four sides; an octagonal gazebo’s roof has eight. Octagonal (and some oval) hip roofs include a standard cupola, which gives your gazebo’s roof a two-tiered look.

A double roof, sometimes called a pagoda, is an attractive options as well. You may also add a cupola onto your double roof for a three-tiered look.

A curved roof (our Classic Royale Roof) may also be an option for you if you select an oval or octagonal gazebo. A curved roof gives you slightly more interior ceiling space and extends your gazebo’s height by up to 2'.

When you purchase a handcrafted Amish gazebo from Cabinfield, you may choose from a variety of roof shingles:

Wooden gazebos feature straight or octagonal wooden floors, depending on which model you choose. If you select an octagonal wooden gazebo from Cabinfield, your gazebo will be equipped with a beautiful octagonal floor as well – something you cannot find among many of our competitors! Vinyl gazebos come standard with easy-care vinyl floors. Or, choose to omit a floor completely if your gazebo will sit on your deck or patio.

• Add as much or as little seating as you’d like with optional matching benches. Accessorize a wooden gazebo with wooden benches and vinyl with polyurethane seating.

• Protect your family and guests from insects and the elements with removable vinyl windows and screens.

• Depending on the size of your gazebo, add a charming, handcrafted Amish double swing to create a cozy outdoor seating area.

Some of our professional gazebo installers offer gazebo site-preparation services. If this option is available in your area, our online Gazebo Price Calculator will let you know.

If doing the work yourself, you will need to contact your local authorities to ensure building codes are followed. You may need a permit from your city or town building inspector previous to any installation of this type on your property.

Method #1: Limestone base
This method is the least costly and easiest way to prepare an area for the installation of a Gazebo and will suffice unless you are installing a hot tub, which will necessitate additional work such as plumbing and electrical work. In that case, you will need to contact a professional. But for a Gazebo only, this method works well. Rid the area of weeds, grass, and any other debris, and ensure the site in which the gazebo is to be placed is level. If you are hauling in dirt to accomplish this, you must also make certain the new soil has been thoroughly compacted to avoid future shifting. We suggest using a water-filled roller, which can be rented from many home and garden centers (Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.) for a nominal charge. When leveling, use a carpenter's level across the width of the area and try to avoid a differential in the level of the soil of no more than 2''.
Using a heavy-duty garden rack and/or shovel, spread enough crushed limestone rock to cover the site area 1' larger than the perimeter of the gazebo you've purchased and at a depth of 5''. For instance, if your gazebo is 10'x12', spread limestone to cover an 11'x13' area. The company you purchase the limestone will be able to tell you how much you need based upon these dimensions. Again, you will need to make sure the site is level by using a carpenter's level.

Method #2: Cement base
Again, you must first level the area as instructed in Method #1 (see above). If you do not already know how to set forms and pour cement for a concrete base, there are many online "how-to" sites found with a simple Google search. We recommend the instructions found at the Lowe's Web site:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=howTo&p=LawnGarden/concpad.html
You can also obtain detailed instructions from anywhere concrete building materials are sold, such as Home Depot, Lowe's, and many full-service hardware stores.