And those who want to make gazebos from pallets with their own hands can count on quick assembly of the structure. Precisely assembly, because finished sheets are assembled and not erected.
If you need a gazebo that needs to be built quickly, one of the best materials is wood pallets. Unless you have to take care of the foundation, frame and roof.
The advantage of gazebos made from pallets
These are structures that are made from beams or boards, arranged in 2 tiers, and are used for transporting various goods. The wood is treated with special compounds that prevent fungal infection. When used for a long time, the material becomes dry.
The times when a summer resident would relax on a stump and have lunch, spreading a newspaper on the grass, are long gone. We will build a gazebo from pallets ourselves. Of course, you can hire workers, order from a construction company, but you want to do something with your own hands.
First of all, we will outline a plan for the implementation of our project, taking into account the little details and wishes of our household members. So we need:
- Purchase pallets and related materials.
- Choose the location of our gazebo and prepare this area for the foundation.
- Determine the parameters and draw a drawing.
- Prepare pallets for construction of the gazebo.
- Actually start construction.
Briefly about the main thing
Pallets have long been successfully used as a building material for the manufacture of lightweight summerhouses. To decorate a garden with such a design, you need to choose a high-quality container, sand it, treat it with an antiseptic and paint it. Ignoring these steps will shorten the life of the building. Construction includes preparation of drawings, construction of the foundation, walls and roof. At the finish line, furniture is made and the gazebo is decorated to taste.
Question
Write in the comments what you think - is it worth additionally priming the surface of the wood before painting?
Where can I get pallets and how much do they cost?
The dimensions of Euro pallets are 1.2×0.8×0.14 meters, Finnish pallets are 1.2×1×0.14 meters. The thickness of the boards is 2.2 cm, but these structures are quite durable; do-it-yourself gazebos made from pallets last a long time. They can be purchased in the same way as any container. Finnish ones cost no more than 400 rubles. European ones are no more expensive than 300 rubles.
It’s very easy to purchase pallets; we’re looking for a wholesale company that sells building materials; there’s as much stuff as you want there. The average price per pallet does not exceed 200 rubles.
In a big city, it’s possible to find a company that simply throws away pallets; they can simply be collected from them. Another option is to call several companies that dispose of this container. There is a possibility of getting it for free, since export is an additional cost.
In the store we buy timber to support our roof, boards, stain to give the wood the color we need, a sheet of moisture-resistant plywood, blocks for the foundation, polycarbonate for the same roof, corners, strips and screws.
Wooden pallets:
- environmentally friendly;
- are simply processed;
- A gazebo made from pallets is aesthetically attractive.
You should not collect or buy pallets marked IPPC; they are not suitable for use as building material.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are many advantages to using pallets. The following factors are usually mentioned:
- open design of the gazebo (free air circulation in the gazebo has a beneficial effect on health, it is pleasant to be in it even on the hottest days)
- affordability (pallets can be made from boards yourself, you can purchase used options - all this will not cost that much)
- environmentally friendly construction (by the way, when using pallets as construction raw materials, try not to choose pallets marked IPPC, the wood of which is coated with chemicals).
Features of a gazebo made from pallets
It’s worth mentioning right away that pallets are more suitable for a semi-open gazebo, which is used in the summer. Otherwise, what is the point of filling the openings of the structure with windows and doors if there are gaps in the walls? On the other hand, ready-made wooden pallets provide the gazebo with the following features:
- Low percentage of shrinkage – the moisture level of the pallets does not exceed 22%;
- Light weight - the design does not require a complex foundation;
- Wooden composition - the structure is well drilled for fasteners for assembly;
- Uniform shape - the gazebo is always easily assembled from ready-made even fragments.
DIY construction
Regardless of what type of pallets you choose, you will definitely be satisfied with the result. A gazebo will not only decorate your site, but will also turn into a cozy place. On summer evenings you can relax here with family and friends, and during the day you can find shelter from the scorching sun. The best part is that this gazebo is built very quickly. It will take a maximum of 2 days to complete the entire work. Next, we will tell you how to properly build a gazebo and where to start.
Initially, you must create a plan that you will definitely follow while working.
You need to do all of the following in a row:
- selecting building materials;
- imagine what a gazebo should look like;
- we develop a drawing;
- we build a gazebo;
- We make the gazebo as cozy as possible.
Determining the optimal location
You need to decide on the location of the gazebo first. The selected area must be cleared of stones, and the tall grass must be mowed. If the site is uneven, it must be leveled before starting construction.
This is especially important if the floor will be built directly on top of the ground. Experts do not recommend that you go this route, since such construction will not be durable
It is best to create a base on which our gazebo will be located. When you have cleared the desired area, use pegs and rope to mark what size your gazebo will be.
Project
Now is the time to turn to your imagination in order to design your future gazebo. At this stage, your ingenuity will be required. After all, you can make a large number of elements from pallets that will fill your gazebo with coziness and convenience. Pallets are ideal for creating tables or benches, but this must be included in your plan. It is better to make furniture for the gazebo before its construction. When you have already decided what the design should be, you can proceed to further actions, namely, start developing a drawing.
Drawing
Don't worry about the fact that you are not an architect and do not have the necessary knowledge to create a correct and beautiful drawing. Ordinary graphic editors can help you in this situation. Your task is not to perfectly depict a gazebo on paper, but to correctly implement the idea. It is necessary to develop a drawing of the gazebo, taking into account the structural sections. This will help you later when you start making the project a reality.
Pallet selection
It is clear that only wooden pallets are used. The origin of the wood itself is of little interest to anyone. However, we can say for sure that cheap food storage products are made from budget species - pine, birch, spruce. Larch is used less frequently. But it is precisely this and pine that must be chosen when a gazebo made from pallets with your own hands must be moisture resistant.
The thing is that conifers contain resins that prevent rot. You can pay attention to spruce, but the corresponding species has many knots that contribute to fracture. When choosing pallets you will also have to be guided by:
- Product dimensions – 1200×1000, 1200×800, 1200×600, 1100×1100 mm;
- The capacity of the pallets and the spacing between them (some blanks have no holes, which is beneficial for the construction of closed gazebos);
- The presence of lower boards (skis) on the reverse side.
The latter are especially important because they create end holes through which vertical posts can be threaded. The size of the hole between the front and back boards, i.e. between the flooring and the “skis”, respectively, helps to determine the cross-section of the bars for the load-bearing pillars.
If it is recommended to use pallets with skis for walls, then the floor base can be arranged with standard pallets with bare checkers. In any case, the presence of chamfers in the corners is welcome, because they make it safe to grip the pallets.
Table
A special word needs to be said about the manufacture of the table, because it is, of course, the pride of the entire project.
To build it, bring 4 more pallets and, freeing them from the skis, connect the resulting elements together according to the following diagram.
Make 4 more “2/3” parts and install them on the previously assembled stand, screwing them immediately behind the hundredth board, symmetrically about the central axis.
As a result, you should have a design like this.
Attention! Don’t forget to not only twist the parts together, but also attach them to other elements of the gazebo. To make a table cover, you need to select four more good-quality pallets and move their outer legs 63 mm closer to the center
To make a table cover, you need to select four more good-quality pallets and move their outer legs 63 mm closer to the center.
Then completely dismantle the existing flooring and, adding several boards from broken pallets, assemble in its place a solid board with edges protruding four centimeters.
If you did everything correctly, the lid will fit tightly onto the prepared “leg”. All that remains is to secure it in place with screws and you will get an excellent table for the gazebo.
By the way, at this stage you should get a picture like this.
Preparatory work
The very first steps are choosing a location on the site, developing a construction scheme, and calculating the number of pallets.
We very carefully prepare the pallets for the gazebo, select exactly the same ones, clean them and sand them on one side. Now you need to treat the wood from mold, mildew and insects. We will prepare the antiseptic ourselves.
For 10 liters of water we need 3 kilograms of baking soda and 3 liters of 9% vinegar. Pour the soda into the container and add vinegar, stirring constantly, then pour in hot water, continuing to stir, after five minutes the impregnation is ready.
We treat the wood with a brush and let it dry. The second time we treat the wood to give it the color we need with a water-based stain that we bought at the store. That's all the preparations.
After collecting/purchasing pallets you must:
- inspect, clean, repair pallets (if necessary);
- divide into separate elements (if required by the scheme);
- polish the parts that are planned to be located inside the building;
- cover with the composition. Protects against moisture, fungus, fire;
- paint.
Preparation of material
A gazebo cannot be erected without first preparing the main building material. What should be done:
- Check all prepared material for integrity and strength. Broken products need to be repaired or disassembled into separate whole boards, which can be useful during construction.
- Clean the selected pallets from dirt and make the surface of the wood uniformly clean and sanded. To do this, the boards need to be either sanded or treated with a grinder or an appropriate attachment on a drill/grinder.
- Treat with protective agents. The wood must be coated in several layers with special antiseptic and water-repellent impregnations. Then the pallets must be left to dry until completely dry.
- Give pallets a finished look. They can be painted or treated with stain, whichever you prefer.
The last point can be done either at the preparatory stage, or after the gazebo is completely built.
Drawing
We correlate the sizes with the number of family members and guests who will certainly come and appreciate our work. Drawing is a very important matter, you need to take everything into account:
- how many rows will there be at the base;
- how many pallets will be in a row;
- how many pillars are needed for the roof;
- will the entrance to the gazebo be determined by the doorway, or will the entire front part of the gazebo itself be an entrance;
- determine the angle of inclination of the roof;
- We decide how many rows there will be in our walls, one or two.
The drawing and calculations will give us enormous savings in materials, and therefore in money.
Preliminary activities
Before you start building, you must develop at least an indicative drawing of the future structure. This way it will be possible to correctly calculate the amount of materials and finishing needed.
When creating a drawing, it would be more rational to proceed from the dimensions of the pallets. Since the most common dimensions are 120x80 cm, it is better to lay the gazebo with a base of 240x240 or 360x360 cm. With such dimensions it will be more convenient for you to work without having to cut the pallets to the required size.
When choosing a place for a gazebo, be guided by your preferences and the capabilities of the site. For example, if you want to place a barbecue there, then you will have to build a structure with a larger area, away from the fence, and think through a smoke exhaust system. If you will be building near a pond or on clay soil, then it is recommended to build the building on small piles.
It is advisable to place the entrance to the building in the south or southwest direction.
First you need to make a drawing
Construction options
1
After preparation, the question arises of how to make a gazebo from pallets. It's actually not difficult. The foundation can be as light and simple as bricks or cinder blocks. For stability, it is advisable to dig not very deep holes and check the horizontality with a level. The lower trim is made from pallets connected to each other with self-tapping screws. Fastening to the blocks is not required so that if necessary, the foundation can be repaired by the gazebo can be removed from it.
Along the edge of the strapping, the pallets are placed vertically, connected with self-tapping screws, and attached to the strapping using L-shaped hardware. The top row of pallets is connected using metal plates and bolts. Metal spacers can be installed at the corners. The doorway is sheathed with timber or boards. The floor is also laid from pallets and covered with plywood to prevent feet from falling through.
Boards are used for rafters. One edge of the pallets is placed on the ridge, the second on the top frame. The length of a standard pallet is most often not enough; extensions from boards are required. When installing a roof, you can eliminate the need for pallets and replace them with polycarbonate-coated boards.
All that remains is to hang the door and install garden furniture (table, chair, sofa, benches) made from the same pallets. In a gazebo made from pallets for a summer residence, the walls and floor are varnished or painted. For decoration, in addition to furniture, you can use various curtains, vases or containers with flowers, multi-colored pillows on benches and a sofa. An experienced craftsman can cover pallet furniture with fabric. A few days are enough for construction and arrangement.
Detailed diagram of creating a coffee table
Assembly requires 1 pallet and a minimum of tools. You will need to buy a special tint for wood, a primer, paint of a suitable color and 4 carved legs, which are also made of wood. For fastening you will need hardware, nails and screws.
- Any pallet must have an upper and lower plane. One is made flat, there should be no gaps between the boards. The final result looks like this - only the top plane with 6 intermediate bars should remain of your pallet. Every 3 bars are fixed with a separate board.
- Before nailing the purchased legs, they need to be coated with a primer and then painted with paint - preferably from a spray can.
- The upper plane and side elements are tinted, after which the legs are installed.
By spending a minimal amount of money, you can build a full-fledged table using the most ordinary pallets. In the future, it can be placed indoors or taken outside.
Foundation
The choice of foundation is also carried out at the design stage and depends on the design features and the type of soil on which the structure is being built. You should not repeat the mistakes of the “reckless builder” from the parable, who built the house on the sand. For clay soils, a pile foundation is suitable.
A steel pipe with blades at the end will easily enter the ground and provide adequate structural strength in adverse weather conditions. Cartilaginous soils will require a simple strip foundation. This option will extend the construction by several days required for excavation and hardening of the cement mortar.
Roof
The roof should be done last. What material you make it from is up to you. You can choose tiles, roofing felt or polycarbonate. Each of the presented materials has its pros and cons.
The tiles have an attractive appearance, however, it will take a lot of time to lay them. Ruberoid is characterized by quick installation, but visually the roof looks very specific. Polycarbonate appears to be a middle option. It installs relatively quickly and looks quite neat and attractive. In some cases, the pallets themselves are used for roofing, but this is not the best option. You can disassemble them and use them to build a gazebo roof.
Design project
This stage opens up endless possibilities for creativity. The material chosen for construction is reminiscent of design elements, and accordingly, many design options are obtained.
This version of the gazebo illustrates that quite decent structures can be made from pallets, if only there was an idea.
Perhaps it will be a simple quadrangular house, “Baba Yaga’s hut” or a multifaceted gazebo consisting of six or more corners. Various modifications are available, limited only by the author's imagination.
