The Gazebo Remodeling Revolution
Getting A Great Gazebo
Beautiful Gazebo With Column Wraps
Tired of that old-looking gazebo where you once loved to spend time? Well here are some ideas to fix that old gazebo of yours. First off determine whether or not the post and deck wood are all still in good shape because nobody would like to work hard on their project only to step on it and put a hole in the deck. After checking out the wood and cleaning up a bit take a look at where the gazebo is and how it complements the surrounding area. Observe the colors and textures in order to get a better idea of what you can do in your back or front yard. Usually, the exterior design calls for exterior materials like stone or wood but now you have an alternative that enables you to have the best of both worlds at a fraction of the cost.
Gazebos are a highly visible and dominant element in any setting. Imitation stone products can revitalize the way the gazebo looks. I remember the Gazebo at my church and saw how central it was to the social atmosphere of the guests. It was the focal point before the service where people went to talk or grab a little food. The gazebo started to chip over time and the paint was cracking. After a while it really looked like it was in bad disrepair and painting it over again was not working so they tore it down. Fortunately, this could have been avoided had the right material been applied to the project such as imitation stone or brick which would have made the gazebo look new.
When people look at the Gazebo their eyes naturally fall upon the bottom section which is usually exposed. The bottom section or skirting, which is commonly the section that shows the age of the structure. This provides an eyesore and a place for rodents and bugs to hide and make their home. By using a skirting or siding you can fix the eyesore in under a day. All of these problems discussed above can be fixed with a design element that has flooded the home improvement industry due to its large variety of applications. It is called polyurethane which is a hardened resin that turns into a beautiful realistic faux stone, brick or any form of an architectural element that is the answer to the old gazebo problem.
Being creative is easy when it comes to using faux stone or brick especially since you can now solve aesthetic issues and make your gazebo look brand new. A simple application of faux siding can revitalize the gazebo of your dreams. Making a once boring ugly eyesore into a peaceful zone of Zen is easy by using faux stone or brick. Using the faux stone siding not only covers that ugly gap underneath the gazebo but gives the full effect of a stone foundation. This design can not only give the appearance of a stone foundation but also brighten the look of your gazebo.
Faux stone or brick provides a great way to avoid buying a new gazebo because enables you to get a new look with a more professional finish. Check out this link HERE in order to view the great difference faux veneer panels can provide. Since the gazebo is providing the framework for the panels to be applied to this drastically reduces the time of the project which means you will be finished in a fraction of the time. Enjoy your gazebo and have fun.
EditorDo You Want To Cover Concrete Foundations With Faux Brick Or Stone? No Problem.
The use of formed concrete foundations or prefab and insulated walls are simply the standard in today’s construction world. After all, have you seen anyone build a foundation with stone or cinder blocks lately? We didn’t think so. Nobody today is willing to spend the money necessary to build the foundation with a material that provides a better-finished look, right away.
Before Stone Cladding
Most of the homes you see today have an exposed concrete foundation that either looks like rough concrete or that has a brick pattern that undoubtedly looks fake.
What can you do in this situation?
Painting those walls is just going to make a very small cosmetic improvement. Many who are not aware of other solutions have also used vinyl siding, with the results we all see around us. What you are left with is covering the concrete foundation with realistic faux stone, rocks or brick. You have already spent a considerable amount of money to build the house and the foundation so, most likely, you will want to find an affordable faux stone cladding solution.
Available stone cladding options.
1- Paint. As mentioned this provides a visually small improvement but it’s affordable.
2- You could look into applying a layer of textured stucco. This wouldn’t work where the foundation has a brick pattern. The stucco will follow those fake grout lines and show what is behind it. It is also not that affordable as the foundation has to be prepared and the stucco must be applied with a trowel, which is labor-intensive.
After Stone Cladding
3- Some companies who normally install this type of cladding are used to cast stone, which is made of heavy concrete mixes. They say it is a lighter alternative to real stone or brick but it is still quite heavy nonetheless. Stucco cannot be applied directly to the concrete as well, particularly if it has been already painted. In most cases, you will need to install a layer of plywood or flat boards on which to glue block by block.
4- Use a lightweight faux stone that solves a wide range of hurdles. When using faux rock and stone panels you will bypass the biggest obstacle of the project; the preparation of the concrete wall.
This material will also remove the constant need to fix peeling and dark moldy spots.
Faux stone panels are usually less than two inches thick so they integrate well with siding materials above the foundation level. The size and look of the stones are very different so you are not stuck with just one pattern and color.
As you know, concrete is one of the worst insulating materials and it transmits the outside temperatures to the inside of the wall. This is mostly the reason why basements are so cold. Using a layer of faux stone, the one made of resins that provide an R4 or R5 insulation factor will protect you for extreme temperatures.
Paint, stucco or cast stone will not do that therefore the saving in using faux rocks also shows up in your heating and cooling bills.
Stone below siding
Another great article on how to use faux stone as siding is here:
http://www.anticoelements.com/blog/just-in-stacked-stone-panels-to-reface-a-home-facade/
Let's not forget one of the most important advantages and that is the savings in labor costs.
For an example of how easy it is to install these panels make sure to visit our Installation Pages.
http://www.anticoelements.com/blog/installation-pages/
One thing these faux stone panels are great for is the skirting of a mobile home or raised home. If you have an open space below the foundation of your home there is a very simple solution. House skirting with panels of stone. All you have to do is create a simple frame with vertical strips and glue/screw the faux stone on them. It will look like a real and solid stone wall.
Editor