subject: Is a Universal Replacement Gazebo Canopy a Wise Choice? [print this page] Is a Universal Replacement Gazebo Canopy a Wise Choice?
A garden gazebo can be an terrific add-on to your home's deck or patio area. The protection that it provides from the sunlight and light rain makes your outdoor area much more functional. Exposure to the sun and weathering can result in damage to your gazebo's canopy over time. Every few years or so, you may find yourself attempting to locate a replacement. It is often best to obtain a replacement canopy from the same company that manufactured your gazebo. Universal canopy replacements can provide some nice advantages though. Name brand replacement canopies are often more pricey, and they may not be available for some older style gazebos.
You may have trouble locating the perfect replacement canopy. While a lot of stores carry new gazebos, many do not stock gazebo parts. You can try to contact the company that created your gazebo, and they will often sell replacement canopies directly to individuals. This can be a problem if the owner doesn't recall what the model number is, or if they can't remember which company manufactured the gazebo. The manuals and documentation are often not kept, so the model number is not known. Scenarios like this may call for a universal canopy.
The cost of a name brand canopy might be another determining factor that pushes a buyer to a universal model. Name brand canopies marketed by manufacturers are normally more costly than a canopy designed to fit a variety of gazebo models. Since the life expectancy of a canopy is merely a few years, a general replacement that carries a smaller price is typically ideal.
There are a few potential cons to purchasing a universal replacement though. Although they cost a bit less, a generic cover might not adhere to the precise manufacturer design and specs. The fitting will typically work just fine, but may not be exact. Velcro tie downs will help to resolve problems with the fitting if this becomes a problem. The material used for a generic cover may not be of the same weight as the original. This can result in the need to exchange it more frequently. Generic canopies are ordinarily available in common sizes, so you may have difficulty locating a replacement if you have a different size. No-name brand canopies are generally just found in the 8 ft x 8 ft, 10 ft by 10 ft, and 12 ft by 12 ft dimensions.
