Hot Tub Gazebos & Cabanas

Whether they are made from rich cedar wood or screened-in lattice gazebos are considered an ideal backyard gateway - a home away from home.

Often used as a shelter over a hot tub, gazebos are also commonly used as, additional living space to the home - somewhere peaceful to go and read a novel, or even as a romantic escape from the world. "Ten to 15 per cent of all gazebos are sold to people who don't even own a hot tub," says Glen Morgan of House of Cedar, a manufacturer of cedar gazebos in Waterloo, Ontario. "These are usually octagonal-shaped structures that are screened in so people can have an outdoor dining area or lounge area in their backyard that is protected from insects and the sun."

"High-end gazebos will enhance the beauty of any backyard, will add value to the home and will make the spa experience complete by creating a romantic atmosphere and by adding privacy," says Cooke.

Popularity Due To Diverse Design Capabilities

The increasing popularity of gazebos is due to their diverse design capabilities and unique features. With traditional gazebo shapes, such as octagons, rectangles and squares, remaining popular because of their practicality and the large amount of interior space they provide. "Consumers want space inside and around their hot tub," says Don Elkington of Coast Spas out of Langley, B.C. "Square shapes such as 10 x 10, 10 x12 and 12 x 16 ft., for example, provide the extra room needed for hanging towels and robes, or even for a bar with stools and lawn furniture."

Another reason for the popularity of rectangle and square shapes is their ability to integrate with right-angled decks and patios, says Cooke. Standard features that are common with most modern full-size gazebos include a bar with stools, cupola, bay windows, flower pots, hot tub steps and even decking. Customers can also customize their gazebos with their own choice of window, door and roof patterns to suit their landscaping ideas. "Because our product is used for more than a hot tub enclosure, the colors and rail choices that are suitable for each client's location are important," says Jones.

Consumers Choosing Fully-Enclosed Models

Today more consumers are also choosing fully enclosed models rather than lattice models, with the most popular gazebos being those that can shelter a hot tub for up to four adults while remaining small enough to fit in a residential backyard. "The most common type of gazebo is what we consider a hot tub house - a completely enclosed unit with smoked windows and a door," says Cooke. "It affords privacy with enough room inside to fit in furniture or other items."

Another popular type of gazebo is the smoked plexiglass type. Customers tend to attribute more value to smoked plexiglass over a basic lattice gazebo. "Most gazebos are purchased with smoke plexiglass windows," says Elkington. "For privacy and protection from the weather, smoked plexiglass is best. Shoji windows (a Japanese style design that allows the gazebo to be totally closed from the outside with sliding privacy side panels) will yellow overtime and become brittle due to the sunlight, but smoked plexiglass will not."

Arizona Gazebos out of Phoenix, Arizona, however, says Shoji-style gazebos are their most popular model. "Shoji gazebos have two adjacent side walls with windows that open for circulation or viewing, and close for privacy," says Arizona's Rich Crouch. "There is also a bar kit on one side and an open side for comfortable entering and exiting of the hot tub," he says.

Lip-mounted Gazebos

For those with limited space who still want shelter for their hot tub, lip-mounted gazebos are also available, but there are pros and cons to this design. On the plus side, although they don't have a walk-in entrance, lip-mounted gazebos only require the space that the hot tub requires and are less expensive. They also are very private and give a feeling of being more enclosed and secure. The disadvantages are that the owner must climb over the lip to get into the hot tub, which may be difficult for those with bad backs, and they have less room inside than full-structure gazebos. "Lip-mounted gazebos do not provide additional strength - a gazebo wall is like building a house, the supports must be carried to the foundation," says Elkington. "In addition, cabinet top rails are not strong enough." Because they are mounted to the tub, lip-mounted gazebos may also be difficult to install if the slab or tub is not level.

Metal, Wooden Shingle Or Acrylic Roofs

For year-round use, gazebos are also available with the customer's choice of roof for supporting heavy snow or 'live' loads. These can either be a metal roof, a wooden shingled roof, or an acrylic dome roof. Elkington says this is a very important issue as snow loads or 'live' loads are an indication of the structural strength of the gazebo. Rafters and bracing, for example, create strength and dealers should inquire about local building codes for minimum 'live' load requirements. Most roofs are also designed on a pitch or slope which helps the snow slide off. "The type of roof framing is more important than the type of roof material used in regard to snow loads," says Seto.

Some gazebos and buildings, such as those made by Limestone Trail, have even been engineered to exceed the snow load requirements in the snow-belt regions of Ontario, says Jones. "Larger commercial shapes all have the engineering stamp for loading and winds," he says.

Most consumers still prefer wood to metal roofs for their gazebos because they maintain the overall continuity in the gazebo's appearance, says Morgan. Although gazebo roof designs come in curved, bell-shaped roof sections, copper cupola models or convex, or in aluminum alloy-coated steel models in a range of color and texture choices, they tend to be noisy in the rain, whereas the wooden roof will absorb the sound.

Cabanas Also Provide Shelter

Fabric cabanas are another popular type of shelter used near a pool, hot tub or patio. Made from a fitted breathable fabric that is mildew and tear resistant, these tent-like portable structures are available in sizes ranging from 9 x 9 ft. to 12 x 12 ft. and are supported by a light weight, corrosion resistant 1 1/4 inch aluminum frame that is easy to assemble and store.

Fabric gazebos can also screen out 90 per cent of the sun's harmful rays because of specially designed fabrics. Made of strong knitted polyethylene, the cover material will not fade or rot when exposed to the sun, rain or pool chemicals. These water-resistant covers can easily be cleaned with soap and water.

GRQ Engineering Inc. of Snohomish, Washington, is one manufacturer of these products. Their 'Spa-Brella', which can be installed on virtually any hot tub, opens like an umbrella and mounts on double walled aluminum support poles that are installed on the hot tub skirt.

Some cabanas come in square shapes that look like gazebos, such as HST's 'Shademaster' that comes in 12 x 9 ft. dimensions. Limestone Trail also offers a rectangled-shape free-standing cabana. Their 'Pavilion' line of custom designed structures are ideal for shaded areas around patios and decks. These permanent shelters are offered in 10 x 10, 12 x 12, 10 x 20 and 12 x 20 ft. sizes and include a water-tight fabric roof in a choice of colors.

Outillage de Precision Drummond Inc., a manufacturer of portable cabanas out of Drummondville, Quebec, offers their aluminum structured cabanas that have a weather resistant fabric that provides protection against the weather and insects. The whole cabana easily folds and opens into four sections using a pulley system.

As gazebos and cabanas increasingly become a decorative focal point in the backyard for homeowners with or without a pool or hot tub, builders predict that there will even be more variety of designs in the near future, including more 'do-it yourself' installations that come with precut wood and accessories for easy assembly.