Should I buy a DIY Big Box Gazebo or Pavilion? The Pros and Cons.

Last updated Thursday, January 16th, 2025

First, let me say this.  Having personally provided several thousand shade structures over the last 12 years, I am not some random blog writer. Everything that can go wrong/sideways, there’s nothing that can happen to a pergola or pavilion that I haven’t dealt with first hand. My sales team has spoken to literally 100’s of thousands of homeowners about their desires to create their outdoor oasis. 

It’s not a black and white, yes/no answer – fact is not everyone does it make sense to invest $15,000 plus on an outdoor gazebo, pavilion, pergola, ramada, whatever structure best suits you. There’s a time and place for all these solutions, whether it’s a cheap metal frame “gazebo” for $1,200 or so, a $900 cloth structure, or a $2,500 cedar or pine gazebo. Now, if you were my family member or friend, I would strongly urge you to save your money. (Fact is, it has ALWAYS been my business and personal philosophy to treat everyone this way, it doesn’t make sense to me to build a business on what amounts to “screw you, I need to make a buck.” ) But all that said, I can see if you’re a young family and have young children and you want to spend more time in your backyard more safely and comfortably, and you just don’t have the $15,000 that’s going to last longer, I get it. Also, maybe you’re renting or don’t plan on living in this home that long. 

Anyway, here’s the pros and cons of getting a cheaper big box diy pavilion gazebo or pergola and investing substantially more initially. 

Safety “It’s not THAT the wind is a blowin’ but WHAT the wind is a blowin.” Ron White

Even if you’re not in an area with risks of hurricanes, most parts of the U. S  have storms with severe winds but below the  74 mph hurricane threshold. I think you can agree 73 mph is going to create a HUGE force that’s going to blow away anything that’s not engineered and properly installed/mounted. You essentially are installing a large kit on your patio. 

An engineered structure with proper foundation and installation is typically going to be rated at at least 90 mph. The weak link in the chain is the mounting.  It’s going to be anchored using drill-in anchors that are designed to withstand these loads. The structure itself also needs to hold together. So this little machine screws in that thin metal material, hopefully those WILL fail and the only thing you will lose is the structure, and you won’t damage other property or God forbid your neighbors. The worst thing about the wood structures is if they hold together, you now have a kit sailing into your neighbors yard.

Appearance

If you opt for a properly designed virgin vinyl sheathed structure, it’s going to look good longer than you are – you can wash it like you wash your car, soap and water. DSS – “Dense Structural Select ” wood – properly fastened – can stand up to 170 mph winds. (Not cedar, fir, hemlock. ) The wood just needs to be restrained to maintain its newer appearance. 

The cheaper structures, 2 years in the wood is likely going to start warping and changing shape. You can restrain it but it’s not going to look new anymore. (I have photos.) 

Resale Value

Properly maintained you can expect to get roughly ½ of your investment back when you sell your home. EVEN if it’s 10-20 years later. That structure is still going to be attractive and add value. The cheaper one not only will not add value, you may want to tear it down so it doesn’t take away value. 

Conclusion

Uncle-Daddy-Pops Jim  here – a lot of you are not going to follow my advice, I DIDN’T listen either when I was your age,  that’s fine. To each their own. 

1. Invest your $2-3 grand in something else. 

2. Delay gratification, save up, 

or 3. bite the bullet and find the money for the more expensive engineered model. Preferably higher quality low maintenance vinyl. Make sure it’s virgin on the outside, recycled will not last. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or want to consult about building Pergolas, Gazebos, or Pavilions.