Gazebo Roofs -
Part of the fun of building a gazebo is being able
to use roof materials that might not be right or that
are just too expensive to use on your house.
That's even truer
when it comes to the roof.
The roof is usually low enough to
be seen from the ground as well as from an upstairs window.
Some are steeply
pitched, adding to the visibility. While others are full of detail that
only look their best when gussied up with premium
materials.
This guide looks at materials that expand your
selection beyond the generic three-tab asphalt roof
shingle.
Just like a finial adds to a fine piece of furniture,
nothing tops off a gazebo like a little jewelry!
We'll talk about 3 popular ways to give your gazebo
crowing glory!
Anytime you bring
the indoors outside, you've got to do it in style. So make your
outdoor room cheerful and comfortable for year-around enjoyment with
the Guide
to Outdoor Rooms.
And when you're ready to shop for
gazebos, gazebo canopies, and gazebo replacement tops, bounce to the
EasyOutdoorDecor
Gazebo Shopping Salon.
Here we go!
Cedar Shakes & Cedar
Shingles
Cedar shingles are long lasting and rugged. They're
saw cut from clear, knot free cedar.
They naturally warp,
shrink, and slightly swell with age.
So they have a wholly traditional character and an
organic, natural look at the same time.
Moss and lichen will grow on some shingles making
your gazebo look even more a part of the natural
landscape.
Cedar shakes, on the other hand, are rough-hewn,
random width pieces of cedar.
They look a lot like cedar shingles, but cedar shakes
are hand-split instead of saw cut.
Even when they're new, the rough,
grainy, irregular cedar shake textures give your gazebo roof
lots of depth and character!
Natural
Slate & Faux Slate
Real slate makes for the ultimate roof! Elegant
and natural, they'll outlast us all.
They'd be a little spendy if you were covering the roof of your
house, but on a gazebo, they are very affordable.
One caveat, though, you'll definitely want to hire a professional
to install natural slate. They can be a real bear to work with.
Man-made look-alikes are all the rage these days.
Faux slate is made of a synthetic compound. It costs less than
the Real McCoy and they're easier to work with.
From a distance, most people can't tell the
difference between faux slate and the real
thing.
The Metal
Roof
Great durability, inexpensive and an endless
number of colors make the metal gazebo roof another fabulous
choice!
It comes in panels that are cut with a circular saw
outfitted with a metal-cutting blade.
For a waterproof installation, fasteners with rubber grommeted
nails are used to attach a metal roof to the gazebo.
Capping It All
Off
Cupolas, weather vanes, and lightening rods have a
long tradition of embellishing gazebos. And all three are easy
outdoor decor accents that are functional as well as
highly decorative.
Cupolas
In the past cupolas were considered a
critical part of an old barn's ventilation system.
They have louvered vents on all sides. And as the
day heats up, the hot air rises and escapes through the
vents.
Today, cupolas are both decorative and
functional. And you'll typically see them centered along the roof
ridge.
Weather Vanes
Here's another traditional ornament that top vintage
barns. They're informational while adding a dash of
distinction.
Unlike cupolas that are almost always
centered, weather vanes are more versatile.
The mount is either
centered on the gazebo roof ridge, near the roof's edge,
or centered on the cupola.
Lightening Rods
Lightening rods insured against fire. Especially for
a barn sitting alone on a hill.
While serving a practical purpose by grounding
atmospheric electrical charges, lightening rods are also
beautiful.
And just like weather vanes, lightening rods
are mounted either centered on the roof ridge, seated on the
cupola, or attached at the edge of the gazebo roof ridge pole.
Easy
Outdoor Decor 
They naturally warp,
shrink, and slightly swell with age. 
Real slate makes for the ultimate roof! Elegant
and natural, they'll outlast us all. 
Great durability, inexpensive and an endless
number of colors make the metal gazebo roof another fabulous
choice! 
Unlike cupolas that are almost always
centered, weather vanes are more versatile.
