Replacement Gazebo Covers
Posted on October 13, 2010 by Ryan Turner Advertisement
Gazebos are available in a wide range of styles and colours and will look excellent when placed in your garden for the first time. The new canvas will be in great condition, the colours will be bright and eye catching. Unfortunately, after a while the gazebo cover will begin to fade, this will result in canopy that has a poor appearance. Fading can be caused by many things including the effects of the wind, rain and weather in general, as well as day to day wear and tear. It is not always possible to store a gazebo away every time you stop using it, so the structure will soon begin to age when left outside. There are however some options available to you other than replacing a gazebo just because it looks to be worn out. Your first step should be to start looking at the wide range of gazebo covers for sale, these are available from many different retailers.
Your best chances of finding replacement gazebo covers that will fit your current gazebo will come from contacting the supplier or manufacturer of the structure you have. If replacement covers are available then these are the people that are most likely to know about them. If for some reason you are unable to get hold of a cover that was designed for your specific gazebo by the manufacturer, there are still some other options you can look into. There is now quite a large market for generic gazebo cover replacements that can be used for many different models. If you have one of the more popular gazebos then there is a very good chance of finding an after market cover that will be a great fit. Popular sizes include 8 x 8, 10 x 10 and 12 x 12 gazebo covers. One of the obvious advantages of using these covers is that they will be much cheaper than buying a whole new structure. This is particularly true of the generic covers that were not just designed for one specific gazebo model.
Before deciding to buy yourself a new cover, make sure you take the time to check the actual gazebo frame has not sustained any serious damage or suffered excessive wear and tear or rusting. If you do notice any problems of this kind, you will probably be better off just buying a whole new gazebo, even if you manage to find a great looking new cover it will be useless when the frame itself fails.
Making Your Own Replacement Gazebo Covering
If you are unable to find a satisfactory product in the current range of gazebo covers for sale, you always have the option of making you own. This will immediately sound like too much work for some people. When you actually think about it though, the process is pretty simple and will be well within the capabilities of most homeowners.
The first step is deciding which kind of awning fabric you are going to use. A retailer who specialises in the supply of these materials will be your best source of advice here. Most people will want waterproof gazebo covers so check any material you are considering buying is fully water resistant. When you have made your decision it will be time to purchase the fabric. You will want to avoid buying too much otherwise you will only be wasting money. In order to get a good idea of how much fabric you will need to put your new replacement gazebo cover together, remove the old cover from the gazebo frame. When you lay out the pieces of the cover on the ground you will have a perfect template which can be used to work out how much fabric will be needed.
After you have determined which fabric you are going to use and how much will be purchased, it is time to go to your local supplier and pick up the material. When you return home be sure to wash it, this will take care of any shrinkage issues. If you have a large amount of fabric that your domestic washing machine may not be designed to handle, consider visiting a commercial laundrette. Their machinery will be just perfect for washing your material thoroughly. The cost for this service should be relatively low. When the fabric has dried, be sure to iron it to remove any major creases. This should leave it looking as good as possible when attached to your gazebo.
Using the old canopy as a template, you can now lay your newly washed and ironed fabric on the ground and cut it to shape. Most canopies will be square or hexagonal. It will probably beneficial to use some pins to keep the pieces in place to stop them being blown away by strong winds. When each piece has been cut to size you will then need to sew them together. A heavy duty sewing machine will need to be used to perform this step. If you do not feel experience enough to sew the pieces together yourself then ask a friend or relative who is familiar with this kind of equipment. As always, you can take the fabrics to a professional so they can complete the stitching if you really get stuck.
Fasteners can be added to the new canopy by using metal grommets. You should be able to hammer two together if you place one on each side of the fabric. When this step has been completed you will be ready to attach the gazebo cover to the frame. Bungee ropes used in conjunction with the grommets should help you do this fairly easily.
Making your own gazebo covers is relatively simple and can be completed in less than a day once you have purchased the fabric. Small projects like these can provide great satisfaction once completed and make for great days enjoying the summer sun in your garden.
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