DIY wooden gazebo for your dacha: photos, plans, and construction process

Gazebos are a key element of a truly relaxing retreat on your property. These structures are favorite places for both you and your guests to unwind. In the summer, you can relax with a book, find shelter from the rain during a picnic, or host family tea parties. In the winter, you can even barbecue. Before building a gazebo yourself, learn the construction process and the specifics of wood selection.

Features and Benefits

An additional structure on the property is essential to truly experience the joys of living on your own property. A gazebo for family and guests will be a popular choice for outdoor recreation year-round.

A wooden gazebo next to a residential building is:

• holding outdoor lunches;
• a place for gathering of family and friends for family celebrations;
• a structure that protects from precipitation and bright sun;
• architectural element of garden design.

In winter, the building can be used to install a barbecue and cook shish kebab.

Gazebos for private properties are classified by function and type of building material. The following are commonly built on private property:

1. Metal gazebos. Constructing wrought iron structures requires welding, cutting, and metalworking tools, so building a wrought iron structure requires skill in ironworking. Assembling in sections is possible, a process that takes no more than 2-3 days. The structure also doesn't require a strong foundation, is fireproof, and won't rot. The disadvantages include the high cost and susceptibility of the material to corrosion. Therefore, immediately after construction, it's necessary to sand down any existing corrosion and apply a protective coat of paint to the entire surface.
2. Polycarbonate gazebos. Polycarbonate structures have recently begun appearing in suburban areas. Construction takes 1-2 days. Simply install the frame, which can be made of wooden beams, and attach the polycarbonate sheets. Polymer sheets are also used for roofing. The building materials market offers polycarbonate in a variety of colors. You can create a spacious, light-filled structure that can be erected in just a few hours, is lightweight, easy to dismantle, and requires minimal investment.
3. Mixed construction. Gazebos can be built using various combinations of wall materials, such as stone, metal, polycarbonate, brick, wood, and glass. The type of foundation will depend on the load-bearing capacity of the site, the weight of the structure, and the soil type.
4. Brick gazebos. When building with brick, it's essential to ensure the foundation on which the walls will be erected is secure, ensuring the masonry doesn't tilt or sink as the snow melts. The labor-intensive process of laying bricks also requires skill in working with concrete mortar.
5. Stone gazebos. Stone is most often used for finishing. Timber, metal, or brick can serve as the foundation for the walls. Stone construction requires effort and skill. This is a costly option. When planning a stone construction, consider the foundation in advance.
6. Wooden gazebos. These are the most popular type of open structure for relaxing in country houses. Building from wood is easy, requiring minimal skills and construction tools. Wooden structures don't require a strong foundation, so installing concrete blocks, a shallow poured foundation, or a concrete slab is sufficient. The roofing material can be any. The completed structure should be treated with compounds that protect the material from insects, weather, and fire retardants. The advantage of this type of structure is its ease of construction and the ability to create any shape. The disadvantage of wooden structures is their short lifespan.

There are a huge variety of gazebo shapes, in which you can provide a recreation area, a location with a grill and barbecue.

Diversity of species

You can build a classic wooden gazebo on your property, or you can erect an elegant structure in an oriental style. Let's look at the basic shapes. Most commonly, these are rectangular, round, or polyhedral structures.

Pergola

The simplest type of gazebo. An open structure consisting of a bench and a canopy erected above it. The disadvantage is the lack of shelter from wind or slanting rain. It requires no foundation.

Gazebos-pavilions

These are complete structures with walls, floors and roofs, which are classified as:

• Conventional covered structures with a solid roof and walls of varying construction. Classic summer pavilions can have solid walls of wood, metal, or brick up to half their height. The upper segment is left open, finished with wrought iron, slatted lattice, or covered with polycarbonate, glass, or fiberglass.
• Grill gazebos or barbecue grills require the installation of special equipment for grilling or barbecue dishes. Effective ventilation and smoke exhaust are essential for comfortable occupancy. Cabinets for dishes and a table for preparing food can also be installed. A separate seating area is also provided. This can include stationary or mobile benches with a table.

Choose the type of future timber structure to accurately calculate the amount of materials needed and outline the construction algorithm.

Gazebo styles

There are various styles of wooden gazebos available for homeowners. Choose the one that will suit the whole family:

• Eco-style recreational structures feature structures using plants and trees as a framework and decoration. For example, metal or wooden structures can be nestled among fruit trees. The roof can be made of transparent polycarbonate or another material. The walls are constructed from climbing plants: vines, ivy, hops, wild grapes, and honeysuckle. Such structures cannot be used in winter.
• Rustic or classic style is a simple rectangular design featuring a continuous pitched or gable roof and partially solid walls. Typically, the walls are only half-covered, with the upper segment open or decorated with slats. This allows for views of a blooming garden or nature.
• Oriental style – original designer gazebos where the main focus is the roof shape. The roof is typically supported by rafters that curve toward the edge. The structure is additionally decorated with decorative elements in an oriental style. Wood or stone are most commonly used for construction.

Build a wooden gazebo at your dacha in the popular "rustic" and "eco-style" styles.

Form of construction

Wooden gazebos are built in a variety of shapes. The simplest option is a canopy supported by two or four posts. Structures can also be built in complex shapes, such as rectangular or polygonal structures.

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Select the shape of the structure to create a drawing that will be used to build the foundation, erect the walls, and install the roof. The foundation should follow the perimeter. The roof can be single-pitched, gabled, complex, or multifaceted.

How to build a gazebo yourself

Like any structure, building a gazebo requires certain skills. But if you follow the proper procedures and procedures, you can create your own relaxing spot.

The main stages in planning are:

• determination of the construction site;
• choice of material;
• drawing up a drawing;
• construction.

It's best to choose an open site for construction, away from the house and other buildings. Consider the approach routes to the structure. It's important that access to the structure be easy, without trampling the lawn or flower beds.

Drawing

Before building a gazebo, you need to create a drawing of the future structure, taking into account the shape, type of foundation, and roof. Use notebook paper or graph paper for drawing. Prepare the design with the following in mind:

• draw a sketch of the gazebo to scale in three views - from the side, from the front, and from above;
• On the drawing, indicate the dimensions of the foundation, including its depth;
• Draw the roof on the sketch.
• make a project in the form of a drawing with the dimensions applied - height, width, length of each element;
• Indicate the location of doors, windows, chimney, and porch on the sketch.

If you have drawing skills in specialized programs, take advantage of this skill. This will allow you to create an accurate drawing of the gazebo from all sides, a detailed building plan, and a 3D projection of the structure.

Step-by-step instructions with photos

For independent design on paper, follow these steps: Prepare a ruler, a pencil, an eraser, graph paper, or Whatman paper:

Calculate the scale at which the drawing will be produced.

Allocate space on paper to apply the main types of gazebo.

Draw the facade of the building.

Draw a sketch of the building from the side.

Draw a top view and a plan of the building with internal elements shown.

If possible, draw the structure at an angle to show more sides. To do this, draw the primary coordinate axes along which you plot the length and height, keeping to scale.

Self-made

Construction of a wooden DIY gazebos You should start with a design, which will help you make an accurate calculation of the necessary materials, determine the type of foundation, calculate the roof slope, and indicate the main load-bearing elements.

To build a wooden gazebo yourself, follow these steps:

1. Preparing the drawing.
2. Calculations of the quantity of building materials.
3. Purchasing everything necessary.
4. Selecting a location on the site.
5. Preparing the area.
6. Construction of the foundation.
7. Construction of walls.
8. Roof installation.
9. Interior design.
10. Decoration.

The optimal time for construction is the warm season. Begin all activities when the weather becomes consistently warm and the soil has dried out.

Preparation

The variety of materials on the construction market allows you to bring any idea to life. The only remaining task is the construction technique, which will depend solely on your skills and experience with the tools.

Wood is the most popular material for building summerhouses. This is due to its affordability, aesthetic appeal, ease of construction, and lack of need for a substantial foundation. Construction materials depend on the type of structure being built. You can combine wood with:

• metal;
• polycarbonate;
• brick;
• glass;
• stone.

Often, thrifty owners use all available materials, including leftover boards, roofing, and polycarbonate from repair and construction work on the property, to build a lightweight summer cottage for recreation.

Selection of materials

Suitable roofing materials include roofing felt, various types of tiles, slate, metal sheets, ondulin, polymeric materials, and corrugated sheets.

When purchasing wooden materials for building a gazebo, consider:

• Buy the entire volume from the same batch. All elements will have the same moisture content;
• inspect the wood for deformations, fungal infections, chips, or cracks;
• All boards for construction must be in the same color scheme and made from the same species or type of tree.

Various types of foundations are erected as a base: concrete strip or monolithic ones for large and massive structures, block, pile-screw or columnar ones for light, lightweight buildings.

Calculations

To calculate the required materials, use the ready-made project plans and provided estimates. When calculating your own costs, create a detailed cost estimate for all the main stages:

• foundation – formwork boards, cement, sand, blocks, screw piles, brick;
• walls – load-bearing pillars, beams, boards, slats;
• windows – glass, polycarbonate or slats;
• doorways – door panels, sashes;
• roof – boards for the rafter system, roofing material;
• finishing materials;
• furniture.

When calculating the estimate, please include interior furnishings such as benches, cabinets, chimney, barbecue, tables, etc.

Construction

You can build a wooden gazebo alone, but it's easier to do with two or three people. You'll need the following tools:

• shovels for site preparation;
• rope and pegs for marking;
• hacksaw;
• chainsaw;
• hammer;
• screwdriver;
• drill;
• level;
• construction tape measure;
• pencil or marker for marking.

Before starting construction, make sure you have protective clothing – overalls, headwear, gloves, and comfortable shoes.

Construction of the foundation

Before building the foundation, you need to prepare the area for the future wooden gazebo. Depending on the weight of the future structure, build:

• strip foundation for a log or timber building;
• block foundation for a light-weight wooden structure;
• Screw metal piles for a lightweight gazebo made of planks and other lightweight materials.

Demolish unnecessary structures and clear bushes and trees in the construction area. Level the site and excavate the soil for the foundation. To do this, remove the sod and dig a trench or pit, depending on the type of foundation. For a screw pile foundation, there is no need to remove the sod.

Wood preparation

To extend the lifespan and preserve the appearance of wood, consider purchasing special solutions that:

• will protect the building from weather conditions;
• protect wood from moisture, fungus and parasites;
• will preserve the attractive appearance of the wood;
• will prevent the material from igniting.

To treat wooden elements, purchase fire retardants, antifungal impregnations, and other solutions. Apply the products to the wood with a brush in 2-3 coats, depending on absorption. Apply each coat after the previous one has completely dried.

Bottom trim

A grillage must be laid on top of the foundation. For this, you need to purchase logs, beams, or cast iron pipe. This structure will evenly distribute the weight of the entire structure onto the foundation.

If the lower elements are made of wood, they must be thoroughly treated with pest, fungus, and moisture-repellent compounds. A wooden grillage is made from large-diameter logs or beams. For lightweight structures, purchase 20 x 20 beams; for log gazebos, choose logs with a minimum diameter of 22 cm.

Place a layer of waterproofing or roofing felt between the foundation and the bottom crown, which is laid on the grillage. This will protect the elements from damage and allow for future replacement of the frame if necessary.

Frame and top trim

Install the main load-bearing elements—posts or beams treated with a preservative—on the frame. For structural stability, secure the supports with brackets, dowels, or screw fasteners. Connect the posts at the bottom and top with crossbars to ensure stability.

The next stage of construction is erecting the walls. Classic gazebos are built up to half the height of the structure using planks, logs, or timber. The upper portion of the structure is left open to preserve the view of the site and the surrounding countryside. Windows are installed, or the upper wall segments are made of transparent materials, or a latticework of slats is used.

Floor

The gazebo floor should be laid using practical and durable materials, such as rough-sanded lumber or lumber treated with solutions. Plywood, linoleum, or tiles should not be installed over plank flooring. These materials are easy to clean, but walking on them can be dangerous in cold and wet weather.

Lay a subfloor over the grillage. You don't need planed lumber for this. Stock up on subflooring boards at least 20 mm thick. Secure the boards to the grillage or bottom trim with screws or nails. Lay a tongue-and-groove plank surface of at least 10-15 mm on top.

Roof

When building the roof of a wooden gazebo, consider if the design includes a chimney. After the walls are built, proceed with roof installation using the following procedure:

• install the rafter system on the top trim;
• lay the lathing;
• securely fasten all elements;
• Place roofing material on top of the rafters - slate, roofing felt, ondulin, tiles.

The thickness of the rafter boards depends on the roof's weight. Consider the slope to ensure unimpeded rainfall.

Decorative finishing

Open areas of gazebos can be decorated with live plants. This role can be fulfilled by climbing ornamental plants: ivy, hops, bindweed. Walls made of slats positioned at right angles or at a 45-degree angle are also effective.

Wooden and wicker furniture looks very cozy. Such items should be treated with protective compounds to protect them from the damaging effects of precipitation, direct sunlight, and fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Furthermore, portable furniture can be moved indoors for the winter, which will extend its lifespan.

Use your imagination when building a gazebo. Electrical installation will create additional comfort, allowing the whole family and guests to relax at dusk, use kitchen appliances to prepare meals, listen to music, or dance.

Sketches of gazebos with drawings and dimensions

Explore ready-made DIY wooden gazebo designs for your dacha, complete with photos, drawings, and process descriptions, prepared by qualified civil engineers. The sketches include all necessary load-bearing elements, walls, roof, and finishing. This selection features the most popular designs.

A simple wooden gazebo

A simple wooden recreational structure has a rectangular shape. The advantages of constructing a structure of this type are:

• ease of construction;
• economical consumption of building materials;
• speed of the construction process.

Building a simple gazebo doesn't require any special construction skills. You can erect the structure in just one day.

Chinese-style gazebo (with drawings and dimensions)

The following aspects are characteristic of the Chinese pavilion:

• the structure has a complex multifaceted, rectangular or round shape;
• the roof of the building is erected along smooth lines;
• all elements do not overload the overall architecture.

When designing, take into account an important detail: the structure should resemble a pagoda.

Large gazebo on a foundation

Large structures require a strong foundation. Most often, the lower parts of the structure are made of wood or timber. The advantages of building a large gazebo include:

• durability of the structure;
• the possibility of arranging the space inside as a summer kitchen;
• availability of space for installing a fireplace, smokehouse, barbecue;
• large usable area for accommodating guests and holding events.

Please note that building a larger structure will require more time to pour and fully cure the foundation. At least two workers are required to handle the heavy components.

Drawing of a gazebo swing

One of the most popular and quickly erected options is a gazebo with a swing. This simple structure consists of a canopy supported by two or four posts, which are either dug into the ground or secured to the foundation. A crossbar is installed on the top frame to support the swing.

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The swing serves as a bench for those relaxing, and the canopy provides protection from the scorching sun or precipitation. You can install a prefabricated metal element or build your own bench, which will swing using chains or a strong rope.

Photos of original wooden gazebos without drawings

Building a gazebo on your own property can be done with the most original ideas. Build a sturdy wooden frame on a solid foundation, allowing you to intelligently plan the space inside, creating a comfortable place for relaxing or cooking over an open fire.

Interesting decorations give a finished look and originality to gazebos built by hand. You can express your creativity here, from painting wooden elements to planting living greenery.

In conclusion

The area around the house should be planned not only for gardening and vegetable growing, but also for recreation. Lightweight shelters will become a favorite spot for family and friends. Before building a gazebo yourself, create a plan for the future structure and accurately estimate the materials needed.