A Garden Gazebo is a beautiful thing, they were common place in the royal garden’s of kings and queens in days gone by.

Using a garden gazebo to any property is a wise step, it seems that what was true many years ago is even more convincing today.A cleverly placed gazebo will allow you to partition your garden into separate sections, it may well increase the selling price of your house as well.Gazebos make really handy spaces to store tools or equipment needed to care for your garden.

There are a range of gazebos available on the market, ranging from wooden to Victorian to Amish or even pop-up fabric versions, they come in all different shapes and sizes.Garden gazebos aren’t terribly expensive and can be put together at home so shouldn’t be too bulky for transport.

Once you have established how much you are prepared to spend on your gazebo you will need to think about the type of material you would prefer.Wooden garden gazebo kits are priced according to their size and the type of wood from which they are made be it pine or cedar.Each wood has its own benefits for your garden gazebo and once you have finished constructing the gazebo, you can choose to paint it, stain it or let it sit out and absorb the elements, allowing it to change to its naturally weathered color which is usually a light shade of grey.Now that you have decided on the type of wood you like and how you will treat it, you will need to determine the size that you need.

Once you set your mind of actually getting a garden gazebo, you will need think about the material and the weather in your area, these will have a significant effect on your gazebo and what you can expect of it.Wood is the most common type of material from which gazebos are made however there are others available like aluminum and vinyl for example.

Wooden garden gazebos look fantastic in a garden as they blend so well with their surroundings.The next decision you will need to make is whether to have a pine or cedar gazebo, the benefit of cedar is that it is less likely to be affected by the elements but then pine is cheaper.

Thanks to the modern design of gazebo kits, constructing your own fashionable backyard structure has never been easier.You will have it up quickly if you lay all the parts on the ground in front of you and then follow the step by step instructions provided by the manufacturer.You will need to enroll a couple of helpers to lift the roof on once you have constructed the walls.It will take you some time to complete the whole construction so don’t put yourself under to mush time pressure.

garden furniture that is left outside all year round will need to be hard wearing enough to withstand the extreme temperatures of the winter months.Unfortunately, not all garden furniture is made with such conditions in mind.In the world of garden furniture it is fair to say “you get what you pay for”, often cheap furniture will fair poorly in the winter months.

Now you know you’re not going to buy any old garden set because it is cheap, the question is what are you going to buy?The next step will be to decide which of the following two materials you would prefer in your garden:

Metal Garden Furniture & Hardwood Garden Furniture

Metal Garden Furniture

If you want Metal Garden Furniture, and you want it to last, then you should select Metal Garden Furniture that is only made of Aluminium.Aluminium will not corrode over time so it is perfect for use in outdoor furniture.The choice now is between Cast Aluminium and Framed Aluminium, Cast has been made in a mould whereas Framed Aluminium made from tubes that are bent into shape, both are durable and lightweight.

So if your preference is to have Metal Garden Furniture, selecting any type of quality Aluminium Garden Furniture, you will be sure of getting many years of use from your purchase.

Hardwood Garden Furniture

This is my favourite, because no two pieces are “exactly” the same.This difference arises from the fact that the grain is unique to each tree.The amount of wooden garden furniture available on the market could fill an entire book, such is the choice.

Having sold garden furniture for over ten years, I can tell you with confidence that teak is the best wood for garden furniture.Teak really is the best wood at withstanding the weather, which is especially important in the UK where rain fall is guaranteed.

Although it is certainly more expensive than most other types of wood, it is very hard wearing and will last for many years, with (or without) any treatment, so really does justifies the higher price.

Teak, like most hard woods grows at a slow rate.When it comes to purchasing your teak furniture, check that it has come from a manufacturer who takes responsibility for the forest from which it harvests trees, this is usually denoted by the FSC seal of approval.

Good quality teak garden furniture should last more than a couple of decades so when you think about it, it really is excellent value for money.

A helpful guide to choosing the right garden furniture and how to make it last.As the garden and patio are becoming increasingly important areas of your house, so too is your garden furniture.

Do some research before you buy a set of garden furniture.This research will pay off when you have the right garden furniture that will last a lifetime.Following are some important tips you need to consider before you buy.

Decide whether you want furniture that will fold up to be stored away in the colder months or not.For permanent garden furniture, consider hardwood, aluminium or rust proof wrought iron.Although the initial cost of the more durable materials will be high, it will be worth it in the long run as they will last much longer than cheaper alternatives.

It is paramount that you choose the right type of material for the job.Take inspiration from your garden or patio area when choosing the material.Select a material that will stay in balance with your garden.

Apart from the need for slight maintenance, wood is probably the best material that for garden furniture.Tropical woods tend to be high in natural oils e.g. teak, iroko or courbaril, which make them ideal.These woods will fair well in the winter months as well as through the summer.

Any bolts should be made from metals that won’t rust, but ideally the joints will be mortice and tenon.If any metal fittings are used in the construction make sure they are made from brass, stainless steel or aluminum which are corrosion resistant.

Ensure that the furniture is made from premium grade teak, otherwise you may find cracks, defects and knots appearing over time.Premium manufacturers dry the wood in a kiln to seal in the moisture and avoid cracks forming.

All joints should have been assembled with glues containing epoxy resin which is weather resistant.

If your teak garden furniture becomes dirty it is easy to clean with warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush which will enable you to restore the beautiful silver grey weathered look.

For more intensive cleaning, you might want to use a pressure hose at no more than 80 bar (1200psi) and no close than 30cm.To stop algae growing on the surface and enhance the colour, you can scrub it with bleach once a year.

You can remove any grease spots by washing immediately with light detergent, or just leave nature to take its course.

You may notice small cracks appearing in the timber when the weather is dry.There’s no need to do anything about this as the wood will correct itself once the moisture has returned to the air.

Teak oil will enhance the natural finish of the wood, for best results apply it to new furniture.Check the manufacturers instructions before you start to apply teak oil.Unless you want a very black finish, be sure to apply teak oil to dry wood only.