Pergolas made of metal: the pros and cons

The arbor is a very light summer building for a garden or summer cottage. Often such a structure has no walls and even the floor. There is only a roof and supports on which it is mounted. Variants of material production can be many.

Today we look at metal arbors.

Metal products have always been considered a sign of prosperity and even luxury. They are part of the architectural ensemble of the garden plot and the decoration of any landscape.

Arbors from metal are very popular with consumers. This production material allows you to build an object of almost any shape and size, the space of imagination can be limited only by financial possibilities. The advantage of metal arbors in their lightness and simultaneous reliability.The design, made of quality material, is particularly durable, and with minimal care will serve more than one generation. Metal is a very convenient material in work, with its help you can realize a project of any complexity.

Metal also combines well with other materials., and in the construction of a closed variant, elements from other raw materials, for example, made of brick or wood, are often included in the composition. This is a more solid construction - in such an arbor there is already a floor and a foundation.

Arbors from a metalprofile possess the whole list of indisputable advantages:

• Reliability. The finished design is resistant to physical and mechanical stress, as well as weather conditions, does not lose its shape in case of soil subsidence.
• Easy operation. Redecorating the frame can be done on its own, without involving outside experts.
• Visual appeal. The appearance of arbors of iron and other metals inspires respect: they look very expensive and respectable.

• Durability. Welded metal structures can stand for several decades, remaining unharmed.
• Versatility. Iron products will look great in any setting, be it a public park or private ownership.
• Fire resistance. Iron and other metals are absolutely not afraid of fire, so you can not be afraid that a spark from a fire or other source of fire will be able to destroy the welded building.

• Large price range. If you want to have a metal arbor in your garden area, you can choose a more economical or more refined option.
• Weather resistance: metal does not fade in the sun and is not afraid of moisture, unlike other materials.
• Garden arbors from different types of metal insects are not afraid and small rodents.
• Variety of designs. Arbors from metal can be both integral-welded, and folding. Prefabricated models are also good because, if necessary, they can be simply disassembled and moved to another place.

The disadvantages of such buildings is very small. The disadvantage is their higher cost compared to plastic and wooden products. However, the difference in price is not as great as the number of undeniable advantages.

Another drawback of the metal is that it is subject to corrosion, and you will have to regularly update the protective layer to maintain the building in proper form.

Variants of garden structures made of metal frame can be a huge amount. The most common option is an open gazebo, the walls of which are openwork partitions of twigs or profile pipe. Many manufacturers offer turnkey solutions in collapsible versions.

If you wish, you can choose an arbor of any size depending on the company with which you plan to gather in it on summer evenings. Traditionally they have a rectangular area measuring 4 by 6 meters. Also, prefabricated gazebos are square or hexagonal shape. Round arbors are no less popular.

Collapsible buildings are good because they do not require laying a foundation. They are very mobile, quickly assembled and installed on the street. And for the winter period they are also easy to assemble or, if the landscape changes, move to another place. For support, you can use metal corners, and the canopy is made of profiled sheet.

Stationary gazebos are installed once and for all. Metal poles dig into the ground and poured with concrete. In such gazebos and is usually made out for the floor. It can be laid out with special ceramic tiles, you can lay wooden slats or just concreted around the perimeter.

There are several types of canopies for summer arbors.

The four most common types are most common:

• Single slope - the simplest in design, represent a flat surface located at a certain angle to the supports. Usually lean-to canopies are mounted slightly tilted to avoid accumulation of precipitation on the roof. The choice of this type of canopy is complicated by the fact that it is necessary to very accurately calculate the degree of its inclination.
• Gable - these are two planes fastened together at a certain angle. They are usually chosen if a canopy is needed for a large area. Since such a roof is rather bulky, it requires additional reinforcement.

• Mnogoskatnye canopies are rarely chosen for small areas. Usually they are used to overlap large-scale objects, for example, trade pavilions, uncovered by the type of gazebos.
• Arched canopies - This is a special type of canopy, having a curved shape.Such designs look very beautiful. Sometimes, to enhance aesthetic perception, several arched canopies are combined into one whole. However, to mount such a structure without special skills and equipment is extremely difficult.

All arbors can be divided into open and closed types. Most often open arbors are made entirely of metal.. In the first case, the gazebo is viewed and aired from all sides; it can be decorated with forged openwork elements. The end products are very light, airy and practically weightless. They are good because they are not hot, they are also easy to build with your own hands or to collect the purchase option.

Closed frame gazebos are convenient in that they better protect against weather conditions - snow, rain or wind. To ensure good visibility, walls are usually made of glass or clear plastic.similar to the one used in the construction of greenhouses. To prevent such an arbor from overheating, it is necessary to provide airing..

The arbor can be both an independent construction, and an extension to the main house.Especially often they are attached to houses that have two or more floors. Sometimes the gazebos themselves make two floors. But it is rather an exception to the rule, which is not common.

There are several reasons for the construction of such a structure:

• In a small area a separate gazebo will take up too much space and look unaesthetic.
• Two floors can be used at the same time as the upper terrace, where you can sunbathe during the day and enjoy the stars in the evening, as well as a direct gazebo for friendly gatherings.

• On the lower floor, you can install a brazier or stove, and on the top - a zone for meals.
• The lower part of the gazebo can be used as a guest area, and the top - only for your family.
• The upper floor of the gazebo can be closed, and the lower one can be left ventilated.

Arbor, whatever it was, is intended primarily for recreation. Therefore, the situation in it must be appropriate. The most common furniture for summer arbors is a table and chairs. If its area allows, you can put a round table and wicker chairs, which have to greater comfort than ordinary benches.

It is logical to place these attributes right in the center of the structure, and around to provide seating.

The design of metal arbors also differs depending on the type of metal from which they are made.

The construction of aluminum is not cumbersome, but rather strong. Therefore, portable arbors are often made from it. This material is not subject to corrosion, therefore products from it practically do not require additional maintenance. In addition, it is not toxic, and therefore safe for human health.

However, to give a more aesthetic look and increase the service life Aluminum profiles are usually coated with special compounds..

Arbors from aluminum happen both open, and the closed type. Windows of the second type are inserted, which can be hinged or coupe-type. The material bends well, so it allows to make structures of various shapes from it. Aluminum is equally well suited for the manufacture of supports and roofs..

With quality performance forged products withstand significant mechanical stress, as well as long service life. Metal for such purposes is either painted or galvanized.

Design forged arbors may be different. Pergolas are very popular - arbors in the form of an arch, and also altankawhich differ in the big area and have a various geometrical form.

Wrought iron gazebos can also be in the open and closed versions, while both types look great on lawns and summer cottages. Sometimes such constructions are made with several outputs. They are very convenient for large companies - you can go out at any time without disturbing those sitting next to you.

In the country, usually not too large areas and all the neighbors, as a rule, in sight of each other. Therefore, in the open gazebo may not be too comfortable, and in the closed - too hot.

Plants will also reliably protect you from the scorching sun.Some representatives of the flora scare away flies and other insects. If you hang them on the threads in the windows of the gazebo, they can also perform a protective role.

Caring for wrought iron gazebos is minimal - it is enough to renew the protective coating once a season. That the construction was durable, during initial installation, it is recommended to install it on supports at some elevation above the ground cover.

The gazebo of this material has an angular shape and sometimes looks like a square, rectangle, or polygon. The advantages of a profile pipe include its low cost, low weight and long service life.

To make an arbor out of the profile with your own hands, you must have special tools - a welding machine and a grinder, as well as skills to work with them. To build a gazebo of this type of material without assistants is very problematic.however, with the right approach, the result will please you.

If you definitely want to have a beautiful summerhouse in your yard, but you don’t want to mess around with its building, you can order an individual design project and its subsequent execution in a special manufacturing company.With the help of a computer program you will draw a 3D model in various projections, and you will be able to make your own corrections and suggestions.

If this option seems too complicated or expensive, you can make an arbor from scrap materials yourself. Sometimes many in the country have some of the materials for such construction, for example, round or rectangular pipes left over from previous construction, metal beams, corners and other consumables. It is enough to drive 4 supporting pillars into the ground, fix them in the ground, and you can attach the roof to them with the help of bolts or by welding.

Well, a very simple option is to buy a collapsible model in the store and assemble it yourself. Variants of such canopies are now a huge set.

You can cite a huge number of examples of metal arbors. It can be either an independent freestanding building or a building adjacent to the house. The easiest version of the gazebo is a frame made of pipes with a canopy., a simple table and two shops on both sides of it.

If the area of ​​the site allows, you can make a more original design - combine under one roof and a place for gatherings, and barbecue or barbecue. The roof will reliably cover the coals from the rain, and it is much more convenient to keep an eye on the kebabs, not looking up from the general fun.

Wicker rattan furniture looks very nice in the gazebo. In the rocking chair you can take a nap in the fresh air. An alternative to a rocking chair can be a hammock or a garden swing set next to the table.

A large role in the perception of the appearance of arbors is played by the shape of the canopy. Looks interesting roof, overlapped with colored slate. If you like complex shapes, you can build an arched forged canopy with a glass ceiling. It will protect against possible precipitation, but it will let the sun through.

Different non-standard forms of arbors with curved lines - for example, in the form of a ball - look very unusual. As a rule, this is a closed type of structure in which the frame is made of metal. Polycarbonate can be used as an external cladding material.

Beautiful lighting will decorate any building. This will allow to continue friendly gatherings even after sunset.There can also be a lot of lighting options - from the central luminaire in the center of the canvas to the LED strip along the perimeter of the arbor. And the lighting can be started up not only at the top, but also duplicated at the bottom.

The most exotic arrangement of the arbor is the creation of a bridge through an artificial reservoir as its logical extension.

How to make a gazebo with your own hands, see the following video.