Gazebos and pergolas are both garden structures associated with our favourite time of year – summer. And, if like us, you’re eagerly anticipating the warmer weather, lighter evenings and scented blooms associated with this magical time of year, you may now be considering buying a gazebo or pergola to help you maximise your enjoyment of the garden over the coming months.
Although they share certain characteristics, gazebos and pergolas are still completely different garden features. Therefore, if you’re planning to buy one, you’ll need to know the differences to determine which is most appropriate for your own requirements.
So, sit back, relax and pour yourself a cuppa, while we explain everything you need to know about garden gazebos and pergolas…
What is a Garden Gazebo?
Gazebos are garden structures designed to provide shelter from showers and shade from the sun. As such, they always have a roof. Hardtop gazebo roofs are usually made of wood or polycarbonate, while softer-topped versions consist of a tough, weatherproof fabric on a robust supporting frame.
However, the most notable difference between various gazebo designs concerns the sides…
Some gazebos include a simple framework of four supporting posts, making them relatively basic garden shelters. These posts are obviously constructed from robust materials, such as aluminium, steel or wood.
Other gazebos are partially enclosed, usually by balustrades, giving them the feel of a more permanent garden structure. In our experience, these gazebos are usually made of wood.
Both open-sided and partially-enclosed gazebos sometimes come fitted with rails, allowing you to attach curtains or nets for privacy, increased shade, and as a barrier to flying insects.
Finally, there are gazebos with sides. These gazebos are fully-enclosed garden structures, which provide complete weatherproof protection. As they tend to have contemporary designs, the sides are usually made from high-spec, crystal-clear polycarbonate or acrylic panels.
When to Buy a Gazebo
Garden gazebos are large, substantial garden structures, designed to be enjoyed by groups of people. As such, they are ideal for both private and commercial use. Here are a few examples of when you might choose to buy a garden gazebo…
A smaller gazebo could be the ideal garden structure to use for family alfresco meals, providing shelter from showers and shade from the sun.
A partially-enclosed gazebo would be the perfect fit for a pub beer garden, increasing seating capacity and giving customers the ideal opportunity to relax outdoors during the warmer months.
And a gazebo with sides not only allows you to move your living space into the garden, it makes a fantastic conference room for local authorities and businesses too.
Browse our full range of garden gazebos now to see how they could meet your specific requirements.
Garden Pergolas
Pergolas are a type of garden arbour, comprising of horizontal beams supported by between two and four vertical posts. They are invariably made from wood and are excellent garden structures for training climbing plants.
Where there are multiple horizontal beams, these beams may well be arranged in a lattice design, making them even better equipped to support climbing plants. And, when the pergola features more than two posts, they may well be joined together by slatted or trellis panels – again, perfect for training climbers.
What’s more, pergolas can form part of a wider garden feature. In fact, we stock a huge range of pergola deck kits, which are proving incredibly popular with our customers. As well as including the pergola and decking boards, many feature balustrades and retractable canopies too.
You can see our full range of pergolas, including the pergola decking kits, here.
When to Pick a Pergola
Depending on the type of pergola, it can be purely decorative or have practical features too.
For example, wooden pergolas with two supporting posts make very attractive garden arches, ideal for decorating a pathway or marking the entrance to a special area of the garden. Those with more legs and a larger top section, on the other hand, make stylish backdrops to outdoor seating arrangements.
Although a pergola needs a canopy to provide effective shelter from rain, it can still provide a certain degree of shade from the sun when used on its own to train climbing plants.
While pergolas can make attractive additions to commercial premises’ outdoor areas, by and large they are better suited to private gardens.
Summary of the Differences Between Gazebos and Pergolas
Generally speaking, pergolas are both smaller and cheaper than gazebos, so it’s no surprise that they are more popular with homeowners than businesses. Pergolas also have a maximum of four sides, while some gazebos can be hexagonal, or even octagonal, in shape.
Another difference is that gazebos are sometimes designed with flooring, while pergolas are limited to supporting posts, unless they come as part of a wider decking kit.
And then there’s the roof. No ifs, no buts, a garden gazebo always has a roof. Pergolas, on the other hand, may have a top section consisting of horizontal beams but they are still open to the elements, unless fitted with a canopy.
All in all, it’s fair to think of a gazebo as lying somewhere between a pergola and a garden building. Those with hard tops and more substantial structures, particularly gazebos with sides, will clearly be nearer to the latter.
Gazebos and Pergolas for Sale
With summer just around the corner, there’s no better time to buy a garden gazebo or pergola than now.
And there’s no better place to buy one than here, at Shedstore, as we’re currently offering HUGE discounts on many of our garden gazebos and pergolas.
View our fantastic range of gazebos here, and our stunning pergolas for sale here.
(*Prices as at 11/05/23)