Your outdoor furniture might not be the only thing you can put on a deck
Most decks can support the weight of a gazebo.
Some traditional wooden decks might be too weak to hold a gazebo.
Calculate your deck’s weight-bearing capacity to check its limits.
Putting a gazebo on a custom deck may require a pro’s help.
Whether you feel like your deck is missing something but can’t quite put your finger on it or you wish you could still enjoy the outdoors on a rainy day instead of just watching from the window, a gazebo might just be the perfect addition. If you’re unsure what type of gazebo would go best on your deck—or if you can put a gazebo on any kind of deck—this guide will answer your questions and help you make the most of every day outside.
A gazebo is a structure that accentuates outdoor landscaping by providing you with a stunning entertainment space that will quickly become your favorite part of the backyard.
Gazebos typically have a roof, open walls, and a central cupola (a hollow, cup-like formation on top) for ventilation that you can take advantage of rain or shine. Some gazebos have balusters (vertical beams like you’d see supporting stair handrails) or a wall panel, while others have a completely open space between the beams.
More permanent gazebos sit bolted onto a concrete slab, pavers, or deck. Others are pop-ups that you can assemble and disassemble for special occasions.
In most cases, you can install a gazebo on a deck. If your decking material is concrete, composite, or aluminum, your deck should be able to withstand the weight of a gazebo. Depending on the structure's weight, traditional wood decking might be unable to support a gazebo. If your deck doesn’t have the capacity to support the weight but you still want the stunning ambiance a gazebo has to offer, all might not be lost.
You may be able to install a gazebo over your deck using concrete footers on the base of your gazebo. For this to work, you’ll need a gazebo that overlaps your deck so that you can place the pavers beyond the perimeter of the deck. This might not be an option if you don’t have much extra space around your deck.
If you’re unsure whether your wooden deck can support a gazebo, you can figure it out with a little math.
Calculate the total square footage of your wooden deck.
Multiply the total square footage by 50. Generally speaking, a wooden deck can hold up to 50 pounds per square foot.
Look up the weight of your gazebo.
Ensure the total weight of your gazebo doesn’t exceed your deck’s maximum weight-bearing capacity.
If you live in a region with heavy snowfall, you should account for the snow load weight. Use a snow load calculator to determine the typical weight of snow in your region. Twelve inches of dry, fresh snow weighs approximately 5 pounds per square foot, for example.
Putting a gazebo on a raised deck may prove to be more challenging in terms of planning. You might want to ask a professional to help you construct a complex gazebo design on a custom deck.
Any structure you’re considering building on your property is a personal choice that boils down to your lifestyle, home goals, property size, and budget.
With this in mind, putting a gazebo on your deck can be a great way to upgrade your outdoor space for both personal enjoyment and ROI down the road—when you plan everything well and install it correctly.
However, this project may not be for everyone. Here’s a breakdown of the advantages and disadvantages of putting a gazebo on your deck to help you decide if it’s worth the planning and price.
If you put a gazebo on your deck, you’ll reap the following benefits:
If you were already planning on adding a gazebo, building one on your deck can help you save the money that you’d spend building an additional foundation.
By adding a gazebo to an existing feature, you can save space on your property for other landscaping elements.
Securing a gazebo to your deck adds extra stability in severe weather conditions.
You can enjoy the great outdoors from your deck under the shelter of a gazebo.
A gazebo can turn your deck into a great entertainment space.
At the same time, there are several disadvantages to installing a gazebo on a deck that are worth considering, such as the following:
You may need to buy a custom gazebo to match your deck’s design, which can increase your gazebo’s cost.
A wooden deck may be too weak to hold the weight of a concrete gazebo.
Deck repairs could be more challenging and costly when you add a gazebo into the mix.
You could damage your deck during the installation process.
A gazebo that’s too big for your deck could actually diminish your yard’s appearance and get in the way of some nature-watching.
It might be harder to maintain your deck, as parts of it will be less accessible.
Building a gazebo on a deck may be a worthy DIY project, depending on your skill level, type of deck, gazebo idea, and material. If your deck design fits perfectly with a prefabricated gazebo kit, installing it yourself will take some time, dedication, and a few helping hands, but it’s doable.
Pop-up or temporary gazebos may only need weights at the base of their posts, but this can scratch up wood planks, so you may want to avoid putting this type of gazebo on a wooden deck.
If you plan on DIY-ing the old-fashioned way instead of using a pop-up, here’s how to install a gazebo on a deck using bolts.
If you’re using a gazebo kit, you’ll need to assemble your gazebo. You can skip this step if you purchase a pre-assembled gazebo kit. Follow the instructions in the kit’s manual to install the gazebo.
The most common tools you’ll need to assemble your gazebo include a cordless drill, drill bits, rubber mallet, socket wrenches, tape measure, and work gloves for safety, but follow your specific instructions. You might want to build your gazebo on your deck so that you don’t need to transfer this heavy structure onto the deck later.
With your gazebo built and ready to go, you can now position it exactly where you plan on securing it to the deck. Mark where you will be anchoring your gazebo, then double-check the measurements to ensure your gazebo’s location is exactly where you want it, as once you drill into your deck, they’ll be permanent.
Gazebo kits don’t typically come with the supplies you need to secure them to a deck, though many come with metal footing for anchoring them down. Ensure you have bolts and galvanized or masonry screws on hand before you get ready to secure your gazebo.
Drill pilot holes (shallow holes you drill before placing in bolts to give them a guide and decrease the risk of wood splitting) where your bolts will go. You must secure the screws to decking joists—not any old board. Decking joists are structural boards in a grid-like pattern at the base of your deck, similar to studs in your home’s wall.
If you don’t do this step, you risk damaging your deck. Once you’ve drilled the pilot holes, secure the gazebo by drilling the bolts into the footer holes.
If you’re unsure how to install a gazebo on your deck, you might want to hire a professional gazebo builder near you to eliminate any guesswork or doubts you have about doing it yourself. You’ll especially want to consider hiring a pro for complex or custom designs.
Gazebo installation costs $5,239 on average. The actual price you pay can vary greatly, however, depending on the current state of your deck, the size of the gazebo you want, the material in your deck, and the material you choose for your gazebo. Larger gazebos may cost you up to $17,000 to install on your deck.
Yes, most gazebos can sit on a raised deck. You’ll need to attach the gazebo to the joists of your deck to keep from damaging the boards of your decking. You can secure both pop-up and permanent gazebo structures to a raised deck, but a permanent gazebo is a better long-term solution. Avoid bolting a flimsy pop-up gazebo to your raised deck, as you’ll have a difficult time removing it.
Using concrete footers is the best way to secure a gazebo on a deck without drilling. The weight of the footers is more likely to hold your gazebo in place than other methods. You can also pour concrete into flower pots to create an aesthetically pleasing concrete footer or use concrete columns to make a statement.
A pergola is a structure that offers a shady ambiance without the protection of a solid roof or base like those offered by gazebos. Pergola designs include a four-post structure with a roofing grid containing beams and rafters. If you do opt for a pergola over a gazebo, you have the option to install a retractable awning, giving you benefits similar to a gazebo.
To make the gazebo accessible, you can build a wheelchair pathway leading up to it. The path should be paved with a smooth surface for wheelchairs to roll through. A low curb should be placed along each side to ensure the wheelchair stays on the path. At the end of the path, build a wheelchair ramp connecting the gazebo.
