OK. First posting.
I am about to start on a massive gazebo project that I will mostly be doing alone and am well aware that it will take me 2-3 years to complete, at least.
I have roughly calculated it to be about 170 m2 and will cover the area immediately behind the house (paved area), over the existing shade house (to be demolished afterward) and down the side of the house between the extension and the hedge (back of the existing shade house.
(The shade house would be at the top right of this diagram. The residence is where the 170 is located).
The plan is to use 100mm x 3m treated pine logs for uprights. I am yet to decide on the "cealing" cross members, but probably something around 6"x2" treated timber.
The photos below show the work area. The first one is looking toward the house from the back of the garden. The gazebo area is roughly where the current canopies are situated and will extend over the shade house located on the right. Once the structure is built and the corner covered, the existing shade house will be removed and the existing garden area underneath will remain untouched (photos of this are attached).
The shot below is the existing shade house. Much of the timber is rotten as it has stood for about a thousand years. However, I will get another year or two out of it before it needs to be demolished.
The planted area below is a mix of plants. There was a fish pond at the back, but I have filled it in and am growing herbs.
The pink wall on the right is the end of the house extension. The gazebo will end paralel to this wall and extend across to the hedge on the right. It will then go all the way along the hedge to the shade house in the middle of the photo.
Some of the area to be covered is concrete, some is brigh and some is grass....life is an adventure in my yard.
The structure will be constructed as modules rather than trying to complete in one move. As each module is completed, it will have vines such as grape, passionfruit, etc grown over it so that it will provide shady leaves in the summer and plenty of sunlight during the winter.
I will be building around the existing trees so that they provide shade, but also remain an integral part of the landscape.
I am yet to measure up properly and put pen to paper. I am just waiting for the weather to cool off a little and to get an off-sider to help me measure. I am not completely certain that everything here is as square as it should be.
I am open to suggestions as I will be building it my my self for the most part and anything that makes the job easier is a good idea.
Col...
