Gazebos and
conservatories
have a genteel,
romantic Victorian
atmosphere.
■
BY CHRISTINA RIZZO HOOPES
tep into a gazebo or a formal
conservatory and you might
think you've slipped into a
bygone century — back to Vic-
torian days of elegant country estates
and genteel garden parties. Romance
overtakes reality, which may be the
reason gazebos and conservatories
are so popular these days. But while
nostalgia prevails in classic designs
and traditional uses, modern gazebos
and conservatories feature a host of
high tech improvements.
Gazebos
Take a look at the 1990s gazebos.
They preserve the traditional oc-
tagonal, oval or rectangular silhouettes
and American, English or Oriental styl-
ing, and use the old-time wisdom of
working cupolas and ceiling fans. Now,
though, you can see those silhouettes
beside pools and hot tubs, on rooftop
gardens and porch decks. Gazebo
sizes range from 8 to 21 feet; price tags
start at $2,000 but can rise to $21,000
or more depending on the dimensions,
style, building materials, options (such
as screens, electricity and furniture)
and installation arrangements.
It is possible to find lower prices
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HOME
(lumber yards frequently offer gazebo
plans) but the do-it-yourself builder
should be careful. Plans can vary
widely in the soundness of the struc-
tures they yield, and inexperienced
builders may innocently buy aluminum
screws instead of the necessary
stainless steel. However, the likeliest
snare is wood quality. Gazebos are
generally built either of naturally self-
preserving woods such as cedar or
redwood, or of pressure-treated
lumber, usually pine. Wood is treated
to withstand harsh weather conditions
by saturating it with chemicals at enor-
mous pressure. This can cause pro-
blems. Wet wood shrinks leaving the
consumer with a shaky building full of
unwanted gaps.
Wood in that saturated condition
cannot be worked.
Many gazebo dealers do not sell or
recommend kits using pressure-
treated lumber, instead preferring
cedar or redwood despite a slightly
higher cost (about 10 percent).
Reputable firms that do offer it use only
lumber which has been kiln-dried after
treatment. That way, the wood is closer
to its final stage of readiness. Other-
wise, it would take years to dry.
Originally
conceived 'to
house tender
plants in the
captive heat of
the sun,
conservatorieVt,
come in varying
sizes. Some are , :#064r..
-
t..ei
quite small;
others are large -
enough to
accommodate
full-grown trees.
Photo by
Balthazar Kora