Gazebo Dilemma: Take it down or let nature run its course
 

So we came out yesterday morning to find the gazebo looking like this:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathycha/5343446803/" title="downsized_0110111423.jpg by atlantagrrl, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5343446803_e3cef656df.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="downsized_0110111423.jpg" /></a>

The top metal braces have bent and caved in under the weight of stuff in the top. The four corner sections are screwed into the deck. I tried lifting the droops with a broomstick to dump some of the stuff out of the top, but it was way too heavy, and I ended up poking a hole in the top with the broomstick.

I got busy today, shoveled some clear area on the deck, and moved all the furniture out from under the gazebo & put a tarp over it. We are going to have to get a whole new gazebo at this point, not a big deal. If we could get just the top part of the frame we'd be good, we already have a spare canvas cover, but we can't get just the top so that's that.

The dilemma is in what comes next...

I want to slice into the droops with a knife and let that stuff fall on through, basically go ahead and take it down & clean up.

Hubby, ever the minimalist, says to just let nature run its course, whatever that means (translation: he doesn't feel like messing with it).

I can't even stand out back right now, just looking at it makes me nervous. It can't last forever like this, but I'm thinking it's better to have a somewhat controlled spill than to just wait until the whole thing collapses. We're expecting more precip tonight.

Thoughts?

At least remove the danger of it collapsing while someone's underneath it. Cut it open and dump it, remove the remains of the roof.

Take the "business end" of a pushbroom and push up to remove as much debris as possible and try and "tentpole" the center until you have nicer weather to fix it right.

Well that was easy! Hubby went out for some afternoon refreshment (snow day!) which may have improved his attitude slightly. WHen he got back I told him I had posted here about the dilemma and he said, "If it's bothering you that much let's go take it down." So he got out a pocket knife and sliced into the deepest parts of the droops, and off he went.

After the initial gushing was done, I poked around and got all the stuff to drain out of the holes then shoveled & swept up the big mess, at least "good enough" for now.

aaaahh..much better!

My neighbor's gazebo did the exact same thing and he repaired it by bolting it together and it's looking great and lasted all summer. Give it a try...