HARDTOP VS. SOFT TOP GAZEBOS: WHICH IS THE BETTER OPTION FOR YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE?
Introduction
Installing a gazebo in your backyard space would certainly enhance the charm of your outdoor living area.
Apart from creating a dedicated relaxing area, they significantly boost the overall vibe of your garden and silently increase your property value.
However, when it comes to making a purchase, there’s always a common question that pops in your head:
“Should I go for the hardtop or the soft top would be better for me?”
While you may think that it is the roof that differentiates the two, but there's a lot of key factors and acute details that you need to be aware of before you make the judgment.
So, in this article we will bring you all the benefits as well as drawbacks of these two and highlight to you all the key factors that will guide you to make an informed decision to perfectly match your needs.
WHAT IS HARDTOP AND SOFT TOP IN GAZEBOS?
A hardtop gazebo usually features a solid metal or polycarbonate roof that offers tough protection and durability, making it your perfect fit for all weather use and offers custom made outdoor design.
On the other hand, Soft top gazebos offer complete portability and are very easy to set up due to its lightweight fabric roof providing you greater flexibility.
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HARDTOP GAZEBOS: THEIR ADVANTAGES & DOWNSIDES
ADVANTAGES
- Gazebo roofs made from durable materials like aluminum, steel, polycarbonate or treated wood give them a solid appearance and make it last longer.
- Their hard tops are very tough, providing extreme weather resistance ready to handle any kind of weather.
- With proper care, a hardtop gazebo will become a long-lasting addition to your outdoor area, providing countless years of enjoyment.
- Its solid roof offers a sense of permanent privacy, making it a perfect place to relax, unwind, or host guests.
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DOWNSIDES
- Materials used in modern gazebos such as aluminum and polycarbonate are quite expensive and require professional installments giving them much more expensive initial costs.
- Its challenging DIY installation requires you to build its solid foundation often requiring professional installers with specialized technical skills and expertise.
- Its permanent design makes it immovable once constructed. This limits its flexibility and becomes a significant challenge when you have relocation thoughts in your mind.
SOFT TOP GAZEBOS: THEIR ADVANTAGES & DOWNSIDES
ADVANTAGES
- Soft top gazebos stand out for their convenience in their portability and lightweight nature.
- Its ease of assembly makes it ideal for those with limited space or who need to relocate frequently.
- The collapsible frame ensures easy transportation and storage, allowing you to enjoy your gazebo wherever you go.
- The customizable fabric canopy can be easily replaced or altered to suit your changing preferences or the seasons, giving you the freedom to choose from various colors, patterns, and materials.
- soft top models are usually easier on the wallet. They provide shade and shelter to your backyard living space without breaking your bank, making them an accessible option.
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DOWNSIDES
- Their fabric roof is very vulnerable to harsh weather. Strong winds, heavy rain, and intense sunlight can cause the fabric to wear out, fade, or even tear.
- Its poor weather resistance ability makes it very much prone to regular maintenance and replacements compared to their counterparts.
- To extend the life of its fabric roof, you need to store the gazebo when the weather is extreme.
- Soft top gazebos offer shorter lifespans compared to the hardtops and are not ideal for the long run.
|
Gazebo |
Material |
Durability |
Flexibility |
Weather Resistance |
Protection |
Cost |
Installation |
Maintenance |
|
Hardtop |
☑️ |
☑️ |
❌ |
☑️ |
☑️ |
❌ |
❌ |
☑️ |
|
Soft Top |
❌ |
❌ |
☑️ |
❌ |
❌ |
☑️ |
☑️ |
❌ |
KEY FACTORS TO LOOK WHEN CHOOSING BETWEEN HARDTOP AND SOFT TOP GAZEBOS
COST
Your budget is the ultimate decider when it comes to the type of gazebo that you can afford.
Hardtop gazebos, made from sturdy materials such as wood, metal, and concrete, are generally more expensive, with costs ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 for the roof alone.
In contrast, portable gazebo options such as soft top gazebos are much more budget-friendly, costing between $300 and $700.
These are your excellent options when you have budget constraints but still want to enjoy the benefits of an outdoor gazebo.
Maintenance
Maintenance is a crucial factor when you are looking to pursue a gazebo from the market.
Hardtop gazebos are undoubtedly the clear winner in this category.
They are known for low maintenance needs with their robust materials and protective coatings that resist rust and fading. They can last for years with minimal care.
On the other hand, soft top gazebos need more frequent care. Their fabric canopies are less durable and need regular cleaning and replacements, especially after heavy rainfall or damage.
Strength
When you live in a cold region it is recommended not to compromise with the roof of your gazebo to avoid potential consequences.
When it snows, it accumulates in the roof of your gazebo making it extra heavy, making it susceptible with the risk of falling down.
You don't need to panic about it when you have a heavy duty gazebo such as a hardtop gazebo in the backyard. They are your ideal winter gazebo choices as their robust construction material and sturdiness can carry 600 lbs. to 2,400 lbs. of snow at once, keeping you safe underneath.
But if you live with a soft top gazebo in these climates, it becomes a serious thing for you to worry about.
When it is the matter of sturdiness, soft tops are the complete opposite to the hardtops. Its saggy and wobbly nature makes it incapable to withstand heavy snow weights and usually collapse in no time.
Therefore, it is always recommended to remove them before the snowing season.
Durability
Anyone with basic gazebo knowledge can easily guess that the hard top gazebos are more durable.
With roofs made from solid materials, hardtop gazebos are resistant to normal wear and tears and lasts longtime without breaking or cracking.
Whether it’s strong winds or heavy snowfalls, its sturdy construction enables you to withstand weather challenges effectively making them unshakeable to fall down.
In comparison, the roofs of soft top gazebos are not the best.
Also considering its lightweight structure, they are basically incapable at handling adverse weather conditions making them prone to normal wear and tear and can collapse even with small amounts of wind or snowfall.
Greater sun protection
Just like its excellent rain protection ability, hardtop gazebos offer wonderful sun protection as well.
Its solid gazebo roof completely blocks the sunlight and UV rays ensuring your interior remains cool and comfortable by preventing the heat from penetrating.
Although this cooling largely depends on the roof's materials where polycarbonate is the best at keeping your gazebo cool while darker woods are less effective.
When it comes to the point of sunlight protection, soft top gazebos are almost powerless.
Fabrics being used instead of hard materials, they do block sunlight to an extent but still aren't as heat proof as the hardtop ones.
So keep that in mind before going inside of them on a hot summer afternoon.
Aesthetic appeal
When purchasing a gazebo, aesthetics play an important role among buyers in their decision.
Hardtop gazebos typically give you a sleek and modern look that greatly fits with the contemporary settings.
Whereas soft tops bring you more of a relaxing casual vibe ideal for temporary settings.
So it ultimately boils down to your own preferences and goals.
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FINAL THOUGHTS: SELECTING THE RIGHT GAZEBO FOR YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE
When it comes to selecting the right gazebo for your outdoor living space, making a snap decision can be a recipe for disaster.
Here one needs enough patience to analyze, summarize, compare different models and read some reviews before pressing that buy button.
When you solely compare with the key factors such as strength, durability, protection, maintenance and all season gazebo use, the hardtop gazebo is indeed the clear-cut winner by miles. In fact, there can’t be any comparison.
But there is this one singular factor that goes very well with soft top gazebos which can weigh heavier than in all these factors of the hard ones combined.
And that’s the factor of ‘price’. Or, to be nicely said, ‘the issue of price’.
‘Every master copy has its own cheap copy in the market’.
But this phrase doesn’t go very well with soft top gazebos as they offer way more benefits than any other cheap copy, but surely comes at a cheap price.
Pluspoint?
Portability, ease of assembly, and overall flexibility which hard tops can never fulfill when you are in their desperate need.
But again, hardtops are completely non-negotiable and shouldn't even be the matter of concern when your goal is the permanent gazebo solution.
Therefore, choosing the best gazebo ultimately boils down to one's individual needs, goals and preferences when selecting between the two.
But the suggestion would be to check your calendar to see whether it is always jam packed with birthdays, BBQs or celebrations where hardtops would be your best companion protecting you from all weather conditions.
But when it is the matter of sunny chill days, when you regularly lay down and soak in some sunlight, soft tops can become very handy allowing you to change its position giving you that customizable experience.
So always go for the vibe that matches your style. Remember it is not all about looks, money or flexibility and neither is it all about strength, longevity or durability.
Your backyard gazebo should match with your needs, not with other’s preferences.
At loving outdoor living, we offer best-in-class hardtop and soft top gazebos at a very affordable price that outperforms premium gazebos from luxury gazebo brands in the market both in quality as well as in durability.
To learn more, check out our website here: https://lovingoutdoorliving.com/
Write down your thoughts on this hardtop vs. soft top debate and comment which one you are looking to buy this year.
