Apply sealant over paint to prevent chipping later.
A gazebo can last for decades as a comfortably shaded outdoor gathering place -- unless it has not been properly cared for. Gazebo care is not extremely labor-intensive if routine maintenance has taken place. Gazebos should be cleaned at the beginning of each season and maintained throughout the year. Small maintenance projects, such as wood repair or replacing rusting nails, must be handled immediately upon discovery. Cover your gazebo when it will be unused for more than one month. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Ensure piles of mulch or firewood are not leaning against the gazebo. Mulch and firewood can be sources of moisture and can cause significant damage to your gazebo.
2. Trim bushes or trees so they do not touch any part of the gazebo. Bushes and trees can trap moisture on the gazebo or scratch it with sharp branches.
3. Sweep the gazebo thoroughly when a buildup of leaves, dirt or other debris accumulates. Sweep any benches or chairs that are affixed to the gazebo. Reach into corners with the broom to remove any bugs' nests or webs that may have been built since the last cleaning. If benches and chairs are not attached to the gazebo, remove them before sweeping. Clean them by following the manufacturer's directions before placing them back inside the gazebo.
4. Climb atop a ladder to inspect the top of the gazebo at least twice per year. Look for damaged or missing shingles or roofing material. Check thoroughly for bugs' nests or webs. Replace damaged or missing roofing material immediately, and remove any pests you discover.
5. Spray the gazebo with pressurized water when it becomes dirty. At minimum, a gazebo must be thoroughly sprayed with water at the beginning of each season. Do not neglect the roof or ceiling of the gazebo.
6. For a gazebo that is not made of wood pour two quarter-sized dollops of liquid detergent into a bucket and add water. Dip the sponge into the bucket and wash all exposed areas, rinsing periodically.
Do not use soap, water and a sponge on an unfinished wooden gazebo; unfinished wooden gazebos must be kept as dry as possible with the exception of a periodic rinsing.
7. Apply water-repellent sealant to wooden gazebos every two to three years. Spray polyurethane on wrought-iron gazebos to maintain a "new" look.
Tags: beginning each, beginning each season, benches chairs, bugs nests, bugs nests webs, damaged missing
