Wooden arbor or altanka is a popular element of landscape design. It can be a great roof from the weather and the hot sun, a place to relax and chat with friends, as well as a wonderful decoration for any summer cottage. Creating such a cozy corner requires considerable work and attention to the implementation of construction work.
Preparatory robots
The construction of the gazebo consists of two parts. The first stage is preparatory actions, and the second is construction work itself. Each of these actions is considered an important and integral part of the work in the construction of the gazebo from the boards.
Preparation involves the following steps:
- selection of boards;
- preparation of materials and tools;
- drawing up and marking up the territory.
Board selection
Technical characteristics of the finished altanka are more dependent on the material itself. Boards can be selected from various varieties of trees, but resinous species, such as larch or spruce, are considered the best option. This choice is due to the fact that this wood due to its composition is able to repel moisture, as well as prevent the process of decay.
Did you know? Architect Minnie Evans installed an original gazebo in Wilmington City Park. Thousands of bottles form unusual ornaments and artistic compositions on this landscape design element.
When choosing boards, you need to pay attention to their texture. It should be understood in which design they fit better. The gazebo in a natural rustic style looks great from unedged boards. For a more sophisticated structure, it is better to choose the sheet pile option. The size of the boards also varies. To build a gazebo, you can use this material with different parameters or apply the same size.
By default, craftsmen choose 50 × 150 mm boards for the entire structure, but you can also take the raw materials in question 50 × 100 mm and 25 × 100 mm.Many experts are inclined to believe that this material should have a different size to build one gazebo. For example, for floor logs, rafters and strapping, boards of 50 × 150 mm are taken, for roof sheathing - 25 × 100 mm, and the best option for flooring is 50 × 100 mm.
Necessary tools
Before starting work, you should prepare the necessary equipment, materials and other devices necessary to create a gazebo.
The master will need to complete the construction work:
- Devices for marking the territory: level, tape measure, pencil or marker, cord.
- Wood hacksaw.
- Antiseptics, flame retardants and the necessary equipment for their application.
- Fasteners: nails, corners, screws.
- Screwdriver.
- Material for waterproofing.
- Hammer.
- Putty on wood.
- Electric drill with drills.
- Varnish or paint.
Preparation of boards and other materials
To build the considered element of landscape design, it is recommended to choose the following tree varieties: spruce, cedar, larch, pine, and also birch. If the material is wet, then it must be dried. You should also treat the wood with special preparations designed to protect the building from mold, parasites and rot.
Important! To level the area, it is recommended to remove the upper sod layer of soil 10-15 cm thick.
The main materials are timber 150 × 150 mm, boards 50 × 150 mm and shingles. To build the foundation, it is also necessary to prepare concrete, consisting of cement, crushed stone, sand and water.
Drawing and layout
Designing the necessary design is necessary in order to have an idea of the appearance of the gazebo, as well as to understand how much material you need to prepare. The drawing will help the master to pay attention to all the nuances even before the moment when work begins. The project should contain several schematic images illustrating the appearance of the gazebo from all sides, as well as the dimensions of the elements of the future design.
The next step in the preparatory work is the arrangement of the place and its layout. The selected area must be cleaned of debris, stones, plant roots. The marking is carried out using stakes and a cord. To determine the places intended for corner posts, it is necessary to perform accurate marking, as a result of which the diagonals of the quadrangular figure should be the same, and the angles perpendicular.
Step-by-step construction
At the end of the preparatory work, you can go to the main part.
The construction of the gazebo involves the following stages:
- Foundation construction.
- Laying the bottom harness.
- Installation of the frame.
- Laying the upper harness.
- Flooring.
- Roof structure and fastening of roofing material.
- Decorating the arbor and decorating it.
Did you know? In Russia, the word "attic" meant a construction in the form of a gazebo. The ancient writings indicate that in the 17th century Tsar Fedor Alekseevich installed the considered wooden structure decorated with patterns in the Upper Garden.
Foundation construction
For the construction of the foundation under the arbor, the master will need 16 concrete foundations.
The work is carried out in accordance with the following recommendations:
- Prepare the site.
- Mark the area with stakes in length and width.
- Pull the cord between the marked pointed bars to determine the desired shape of the arbor (for example, a square).
- Dig holes 20 × 20 cm in places marked.
- Make formwork with the same parameters as the recess.
- Equally install this form in each pit.
- Measure the placement of formwork so that they are on the same level.
- Prepare a concrete solution and pour it into the pits.
- After a few days, remove the formwork.
Bottom harness
When the base for the gazebo is already ready, on top of it you need to put a ruberoid in one layer. Sheets of such material are an excellent means for waterproofing.
Important! Many builders in the construction of the base, in order to eliminate further problems with subsidence of the structure, use ready-made foundation blocks installed in concrete pits.
The lower harness is presented in the form of four bars 150 × 150 mm, which are placed around the perimeter. Before laying, the tree must be painted to protect it and aesthetically pleasing. Connect these elements at the corners "in the spike". If you do not follow the joining technology of the crossbars, then there is a high probability that the whole structure can bend or break.
Frame and upper harness
The support for the construction of the "skeleton" is presented in the form of twelve columns. They must be installed evenly on each side of the gazebo.
The posts are fixed in this way:
- Small holes must be drilled in the lower end of each support.
- Nails are driven into these places, which will fasten the posts and the lower harness.
Additionally, it is recommended to fix the elements in the joints with metal corners. The upper harness is laid according to the same technology as the lower. The only difference is that the tree will be laid on top of the pillars. Nails need to fasten the support and the bars, which are superimposed on each other in half a tree.
Floor
Logs for the floor are usually presented in the form of a board measuring 50 × 150 mm. Three elements are laid out at an equal distance from each other on the pillars of the base. Logs are attached with nails, which must be driven from the outside of the gazebo.
For flooring, you need to take edged boards, which are grooved, of a classic size of 50 × 150 mm. The material for the type of work under consideration must be cut to the desired length in accordance with the parameters of the gazebo. If the wood is thoroughly planed, the result will be an excellent facing option, where there are no drifts, and a minimal amount of paint is also consumed. All boards are hammered with nails in 5 sections: on three lags and two bars of the lower harness.
Roof construction and roofing
For this stage of work, you can use the traditional hipped rafter method. To build this structural element, the master will need eight rafters. The roof angle is 30 °. When the installation process of the rafter beams is completed, you can proceed to sheathing. Boards of 50 or 25 mm in size are usually taken for this procedure. For the roof, as a rule, choose a bituminous tile. It is laid out on top of the skin. For greater aesthetics and moisture protection, tiles can be covered with a strip of roofing material.
Decorating the arbor and decorating it
An excellent option for finishing the frame is considered to be the lining of a decorative crate. You can purchase such an element in various shades. The dark lathing will stand out well against the background of wood and will have a noble appearance. A fine decorative element for decorating a wooden arbor are perennial climbing cultures.
Having planted such a plant around the structure, after a while you can get an ideal darkened place to relax. In the summer, it is advisable to decorate the altanka with curtains, which will also create a shadow. For greater comfort inside the gazebo, it is appropriate to establish a table and a bench. Outdoor furniture can be purchased both ready-made and built independently. A great idea for decorating is various lamps that should be selected in accordance with the style of the gazebo itself.
Thus, the construction of the gazebo is a time-consuming and scrupulous process, which requires accuracy in the calculations in the preparation of the project, the proper processing of wood, as well as phased work. Despite the above nuances, the finished result will please everyone, because the altanka is not just a decorative element in landscape design, but also a place for relaxation and joint time with family and friends.
