Gazebo Care & Maintenance
It is important to properly care and maintain your gazebo to ensure its long life. Listed below are some tips on how to care for and maintain your gazebo.
General cleaning
Use a mild detergent solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water for the regular cleaning of your gazebo. It can remove most dirt and leaf stains without damaging the coat. The mild soap solution also helps to maintain the quality and appearance of the wood. For dark stains that are harder to take out such as the extractive bleeding typical of redwood, use a deck and fence brightener liquid concentrate to lift the color and restore the pristine surface of the redwood. Another cleaning agent that you can use is a commercial cleaner that contains oxalic acid. It is strong enough to strip away the extractive bleeding without damaging the wood coating.
Cleaning the domes and windows
Never use a razor blade or other sharp instruments for scraping dirt or sticky substances from the windows of your gazebo. Do not use harsh chemicals such as acetone, benzene, leaded gasoline, or carbon tetrachloride when cleaning the windows because they can only add on to the window stains. Also avoid cleaning windows using cleaning agents under the hot sun or in elevated temperatures because this can cause chemical reactions that can warp the windows. Always use mild cleaning agents such as Windex, Mr. Clean, and methanol or Isopropyl alcohol. Kerosene is permissible for cleaning and removing sticky substances off the windows. For the regular cleaning of domes and windows, use a soft cloth or sponge dipped in a solution of mild soap or detergent and lukewarm water. Rinse the windows and domes well with clear water and dry with a dry cloth or chamois afterwards to avoid spotting. To remove scratches, use mild automobile polish and filler. Test it on a small area first to see if they are effective.
Roof
Gazebos do not have a center foundation thus it is very important never to place any weight bearing object (or person) on top of the roof as it may collapse. during snowy season, always brush off the snow of your gazebo constantly and regularly. Do not allow heavy snow to build up. use a soft object or a broom to brush away the snow on your roof. never use metal objects for scraping as this may gouge or scratch the surface.
Things to avoid
Always remove water puddles and spills around the edges of your gazebo after a rain shower. Do not allow water to stagnate for a long time because it can harbor the growth of mildew that can damage the surface coating of your gazebo. Standing water can also cause water stains and cause the wood to fade. Use only sodium chloride or halite to clean a stain-coated wood surface. Do not use calcium chloride salts as this can reduce the effectiveness of the coating, making it less water-resistant. Also, do not use a pressure washer to clean the wood because this can remove the wood’s surface layer coating and gouge the surface, making it difficult to recoat.