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How Can I Anchor a Gazebo to the Ground?

Billy McCarley

Although there are several different ways to anchor a gazebo, there is only one way that corresponds to the construction industry's building standards, which consequently lends to an aesthetically pleasing method of anchoring most any outdoor structure.

Gazebo

The good news about gazebo anchoring is that the average do-it-yourself homeowner can complete this process with little or no difficulty.

Anchoring to Concrete

In order to anchor your gazebo to concrete footers, you will need to supply footers onto which to fasten the gazebo. The footers may be single footers that correspond to each individual post of the gazebo--which may be metal or wooden. The footers should be poured just beneath the ground level so that they may be hidden by grass or landscaping. Pour the footer 12 inches deep and at least 12-by-12-inches. Allowing the footers to dry for 48 hours will help prevent the footers from cracking when you attach the anchor screws into the pad. These footers will supply a means to fasten the legs of your gazebo to the ground. The gazebo legs can be fitted with brackets that have screw holes through which anchor screws can be inserted.

As an alternative, you may insert anchor bolts into the wet concrete in order to attach the leg plates to the dried concrete slab, but you should make sure that the bolts are square to the concrete slab.

Anchoring to Threaded Rod

Inserting threaded rod through the bottom of the gazebo, if the leg is wood, at an angle on at least two sides of the legs will anchor the gazebo to the ground. Make sure that the threaded rod is at least 1- to 2-inches in diameter and 24 inches long. Inserting the rod at an angle and driving it into the dirt below will fasten the gazebo to the ground and prevent it from being moved from its placement. As an alternative, you may use 1/2-inch rebar instead of the threaded rod. Using a 1/2-inch drill bit to drill holes through the gazebo legs will prevent splitting of the wood when the anchor materials are inserted.

The Drip Cap

  • Although there are several different ways to anchor a gazebo, there is only one way that corresponds to the construction industry's building standards, which consequently lends to an aesthetically pleasing method of anchoring most any outdoor structure.
  • The footers may be single footers that correspond to each individual post of the gazebo--which may be metal or wooden.
  • Pour the footer 12 inches deep and at least 12-by-12-inches.
  • Inserting threaded rod through the bottom of the gazebo, if the leg is wood, at an angle on at least two sides of the legs will anchor the gazebo to the ground.