The Gazebo Guide

Building a gazebo requires four basic steps. The first step is to build the frame for the deck floors, the second is to assemble the walls, the third is to add the roof, and the last is to make the finishing touches. The materials and tools needed to build a gazebo are the gazebo kit that includes the precut wood pieces, two and a half-inch screws, a screw gun, some staples and a soffit stapler, a level and framing square, a circular saw, a chop saw, ladders, building blocks, 16-inch anchors, a cable, fiberglass screening, and long 1 x 4’s.  Building a gazebo can take about 16 hours before it is finished.

Building the frame for the deck floors

1.    Screw the 2 x 6 rim joists together to form the outside edge of the floor.
2.    Using the three and a half-inch screws, screw the outside rim joists together.
3.    Attach the six inside joints on each corner.  Lift the joists to the center of the base, slide the core block, and pound it into place.
4.    Drill holes for the screws and screw the core block in place.
5.    Next, screw the shorter joists in place.
6.    After the base is constructed, level it with the patio blocks starting at the highest point.  Start at each corner and put one in the center. Work your way to the next one as you go along.
7.    The base should be leveled and squared. Bolt it with three 13-inch anchors.
8.    Fit the anchor cable in the joist and wrap the cables around the anchor.
9.    Place the deck boards in a way that they overhang on the rim joists equally.
10.    You can now secure the frame using the two and a half-inch square-drive screws.

Assembling the walls

1.    Use the four screws to attach the 1 x 4 bottom brace into the dado.
2.    Use an air gun and one-fourth-inch crown staples to attach the spindles.
3.    Attach the second fillet at the other end of the spindles.
4.    Pull up the fillets and put the spindle onto the 2 x 4 base.  Line them up and staple them down.
5.    Use a finish nailer for the upper baluster sections and the rails.
6.    At the end of the railing section, attach the corner posts using screws. Do the same for each rail.
7.    Raise the walls and attach them side by side using five screws on each corner.
8.    The walls should be half an inch from the edge of the floor around the perimeter.
9.    Using three-inch square screws, screw the corner posts into the deck boards and attach all the other corner posts.
10.    Screw the two header boards together at the corners.
11.    At the corner-post, notch screw the header using two screws in each 2 x 4 piece.

Assembling the roof

1.    Screw the rafters onto the core block on both sides.
2.    Fit the bird’s mouth where the header meets the rafter and attach it to the core block and the header board.
3.    Install the six middle rafters then attach the 12 short rafters by twos using a screw gun.
4.    Make a cross brace on the wall using 1′ x 4′ x 8′ boards and plumb the wall to attach the bottom brace board at the other end of the opposite corner post.  Do this alternately.
5.    Attach the fascia boards and put up the batten ceiling boards. Start with the longest batten boards and work your way to the middle.
6.    Staple the boards to both the main and middle rafters

Finishing touches

1.    Shingle the roof starting at the bottom. Do one pie wedge at a time.
2.    Drill the shingles into the rafters before installing the cupola.
3.    Attach the upper balusters to the header using three screws on top and two at the bottom.
4.    Use a staple gun to attach the corner brackets and screw in the 1 x 4 kicker board.