HOW LONG DOES A HARDTOP GAZEBO LAST? HOW TO INCREASE YOUR GAZEBO’S LIFESPAN!

Introduction

Hardtop gazebos are considered as extremely sturdy and durable versions of outdoor gazebos but they are not eternal. 

And just like any substance needs proper care and maintenance, these permanent gazebo structures also require your attention to last longer.

But how long will your hardtop gazebo last? 

Well, the answer to this question depends on a variety of factors that involves key factors such as: 

The materials it’s built from, the build quality and how well you can maintain it.

When you regularly offer it proper care and good maintenance, you can expect it to last anywhere between 10 to 15 years.

WHAT IS HARDTOP GAZEBO?

Hardtop gazebos offer a more reliable solid shelter with its hard roof made from strong materials making them a top choice among consumers. 

Unlike soft top gazebos, the hardtop gazebos are specially built to endure the hard challenges of Mother Nature that makes them a long lasting solution for your outdoor living space.

In this article you’ll get to know about the factors that affect the lifespan of your hard roof gazebo and also highlight some key preventative measures that’ll help your backyard gazebo to serve you for years.

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FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR HARDTOP GAZEBO

MATERIAL

When it comes to the factors that influence the lifetime of your hardtop gazebo, the no.1 thing that you need to analyze is the material it’s built from. 

The common one includes: aluminum, steel, wood and polycarbonate. And although each of them offers its unique qualities it also comes with individual downsides.

Aluminum

The most popular hardtop gazebo choice, aluminum, is very lightweight making them very simple to carry and transport. 

Despite being lightweight, these metal top gazebos are very sturdy and extremely resistant to rust and corrosion making it your durable choice that also requires minimal maintenance.

Add some good maintenance, and your aluminum gazebo will give you a solid 10-15 years of lifespan.

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 Steel

Another trendy outdoor metal gazebo alternative such as steel is very strong and comes at a bit cheaper price than aluminum, it also has its own downside. 

Since they are generally quite heavy, it becomes a bit of a challenge to transport them. Additionally, they are quite prone to rust and require frequent coating to prevent it.

With constant maintenance, your steel gazebo will last up to 10 years or more.

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Wood

Wood offers a mesmerizing classic natural beauty in the hardtop  wooden gazebos that wonderfully compliments your garden and enhances your outdoor living space.

However, just like any beautiful thing, it demands more of your attention and maintenance to eliminate rot and insect damage and is quite vulnerable to wrapping, weathering and cracking over time.

When you provide good attention and regular maintenance, a solid wood gazebo generally lives up to 10-15 years of life.

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Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate gazebos offers you both a lightweight and cheap price while being very firm and resilient enough to withstand any strong impact. 

Additionally, It offers some UV protection along with light transmission and promises you a glossy clear finish very much adaptable to traditional or modern outdoor designs.

However, the only problem of the gazebos with polycarbonate roofs is that it expands and contracts as the weather temperature changes and is quite susceptible to scratch and damage.

With some of your good maintenance, these hardtop gazebos can give you 5 to 10 years of life.

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Here’s the breakdown of all these gazebo materials with some comparative analysis charts: 

Material	Weight	Price	Maintenance
Aluminum	Lightweight	Moderate	Low
Steel	Heavy	High	Moderate
Wood	Moderate	High	High
Polycarbonate	Lightweight	Moderate to High	Low to Moderate

 

 

WEATHER EXPOSURE

It is indeed a genuine fact that the lifespan of your hardtop gazebo is very much influenced by your local weather conditions. Severe weather situations like heavy snowfalls, powerful winds and extreme sunlight can drastically speed up the damage process.

Keeping up with the regular maintenance process becomes crucial to combat these challenges.

QUALITY OF THE INSTALLATION

Ensuring a proper gazebo installation on a solid foundation alleviates the problem of stability and structural issues which often leads to shorter lifespans.

Make sure the structures are properly assembled and securely locked to minimize risks.

MAINTENANCE AND CARE

When it is the question of the durability and longevity of a hardtop gazebo, your regular care and maintenance becomes a crucial factor that can add a few years to its life. 

Performing regular maintenance includes : 

• Supervision: Checking for any signs of rust, corrosion and normal wear and tear. Tightening the screws, bolts and all the connections. Checking for the leaks and patching them up. Ensuring that there is adequate ventilation.
• Cleaning: Regularly cleaning off the dirt, mold and debris from its structure.

• Protection: applying paint, sealant or coating to protect the material from outside elements.

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USE FREQUENCY

Lastly, when your hardtop gazebo is regularly used as the main outdoor living area it will generally demand frequent repair and maintenance compared to if you only use it occasionally.

HOW YOU CAN MAXIMIZE THE LIFESPAN OF YOUR GAZEBO

SECURE THE GAZEBO

While this might sound pretty simple but to improve its lifespan, securing the gazebo should be your first priority to reduce the chances of damage caused by strong winds, heavy snowfall and excessive rains.

Moreover, when the gazebo is placed on a concrete or decking, it is highly recommended to use anchor bolts that will firmly secure the gazebo.

CONDUCT ROUTINE MAINTENANCE 

When it comes to keeping your outdoor gazebo in top-notch condition for a long time, regularly following up with a routine maintenance program becomes absolutely crucial. 

Here’s a simplified routine program we’ve created for you that you can use to keep your backyard gazebo in good condition: 

Maintenance Duty	Schedule
Inspect for damage, leaks and erosion	Every two months
Check and tighten screws/ connections	Every 6 months
Clean exterior and interior	Every two months
Clean dirt and debris	When required
Repair leaks, holes and cracks	When required
Search for pest infestation	Monthly
Reseal wood/ re-coating	Annually
Paint touch ups	As needed
Inspect roof materials and foundation	Annually
Trim surrounding vegetation	Every 6 months
Add a gazebo cover	During long breaks of no usage

REGULARLY CHECKOUT THE ROOF

Whether it is from rain, snow or storm, the roof of your outdoor gazebo is your primary defense system that suffers most of the impact. 

Therefore, it becomes mandatory to check them frequently and repair any damage whether it is some loose joint or a normal crack.

Also don't forget to keep the roof as dry as possible since water is the master at work in creating rust and mold over a surface. So the snow should be wiped up regularly especially when it gets a little thicker.

CLEAR UP THE SURROUNDING OF YOUR GAZEBO

The concept of keeping everything neat and clean also greatly applies to your gazebo.

In fact, it becomes absolutely necessary to clear up the surrounding area of your outdoor gazebo to help it ensure adequate ventilation and prevent moisture damages to a certain degree.

Always ensure at least 3 feet surrounding your gazebo is free from any foliage and eliminate any kind of bush, vines or weed from there.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE TREE BRANCHES

Loose tree branches can often show up as your unwelcoming guests over the gazebo roof following some snow storms, strong winds or heavy rains.

Therefore, keeping an eye for these loose and dead tree branches and eliminating them will help you prevent potential damages and increase the lifespan of your outdoor gazebo.

REGULARLY PAY ATTENTION TO MOLD AND MILDEW

If you have been using a gazebo for a long time then you must be quite familiar with these two damaging fungus elements : mold and mildew.

Mildew, often gray or white, generally lies on the surface of a moist area. 

In contrast, mold is green or black that causes larger problems as it penetrates an object, inhabits it and eats away its cellular integrity. 

After you point them out, you can get rid of them quite easily with normal day to day cleaning stuff such as household cleaners, soft scrubbing brushes and rags.

After wiping up the gazebo using a wiper, always try to rinse the whole surface with water.

BE AWARE OF BIRDS OR INSECT INFESTATION

You have to be watchful to the minor details such as the bird nests or insect infestation when you are planning to secure some long years for the gazebo.

It is your routine monthly requirement to check them out especially during the months of summer and spring. 

As a precautionary note, it is always very helpful to use some spray insecticides and pesticides occasionally while dealing with the insects.

In the same way, you need to be very careful while removing any bird nests. 

Wear protective gloves and carefully use a ladder to reach the nest. Make sure that the nest is completely abandoned and there’s nothing going on there. 

After that, gently remove the nest and always try to put it in a safe location away from any danger or a predator. 

In the end, properly clean the area by spraying some insect-specific sprays and consider installing some bird deterrents to help avoid these situations in future.

SET WINTER COVER AND WINTER SUPPORTING POLE

When it comes to prolonging the lifespan of your outdoor gazebo, another common hack is to set up a winter gazebo cover in the cold months when it is not in use. 

On top of that, it becomes very helpful when you further add a winter supporting pole that elevates the weight supporting capacity of your gazebo by an additional 20 lbs per square foot.  

CONCLUSION

When we give a top-quality hardtop gazebo its consistent maintenance along with some supervision and care, we generally see them tend to last for 10 to 20 years in most weather conditions.

Although material factors and weather conditions play a significant role in determining lifespan of your outdoor  gazebo, preventative care is the key.

By choosing a high quality gazebo built with the right materials and best features from a good brand, you are already assuring yourself with its long years of service. 

Embrace all these gazebo tips and tricks to your regular life and try to implement them correctly to enjoy some hassle free outdoor living life.

Thinking about buying the right gazebo for your outdoor seating area? You are at the right place. 

At loving outdoor living, we offer some of the best gazebo deals at jaw-dropping, affordable prices that easily beats the quality and durability of the luxury gazebo brands on the market.

Choose from our best-in-class range and get the best hardtop gazebo for your backyard living area at an exceptional value, making your money worth every penny.

Comment down below what are the tricks and secret sauces you are using to increase the lifespan of your gazebo.