Soaking up the sun in your backyard is an excellent way to enjoy your outdoors. But when the heat gets intense or a sudden rain shower rolls in, you’ll need a little protection.
That’s where gazebos and awnings come in! Both structures offer remarkable functionality by providing shade and shelter. Yet, they have different features and benefits that make them ideal for different situations.
In this article, I’ll help you decide which one is the perfect fit for your backyard by breaking down the key differences between gazebos and awnings and their standout features.
A Brief Overview of the Two Structures
Although gazebos and awnings are two different structures, a lot of people confuse them with each other, and some even use both terms interchangeably.
So, before diving into the juicy details of this guide, let’s start by having a quick look at what each of these structures is exactly and how they both work.
Gazebos
A gazebo is an outdoor structure that you can install in your backyard or patio. The gazebo will feature a roof but will have open sides, which is the key defining feature of this structure.
Gazebo roofs provide shade/shelter from the elements and come in a variety of aesthetic styles, but the most common ones are hexagonal and octagonal designs.
Additionally, they feature ornate details like railings, latticework, and decorative trim, making them a beautiful addition to the landscape.
Ideally, a gazebo is a freestanding structure. In other words, it’s usually not attached to the main property and stands on its own.
While being a freestanding structure isn’t exclusive to gazebos, it stands out by being a permanent or semi-permanent structure, unlike a canopy, which is usually temporary.
Awnings
An awning is essentially an adjustable roof-like covering attached to the exterior wall of a building, typically extending over windows, doors, or patios.
Unlike gazebos which stand on their own, awnings are fixed or retractable structures, hung from the side of a building.
While some awnings utilize metal frames, the main covering is typically made of weather-resistant fabric like acrylic or synthetic leather.
Retractable awnings usually extend and retract via manual mechanisms, offering flexibility for shade control. On the other hand, fixed awnings are permanently extended to provide consistent shade.
Besides shade, some awnings can offer limited protection from light rain, but they’re not designed for heavy weather.
Awnings come in various sizes to fit different spaces. You can also customize an awning’s fabric, style, retracting mechanism, and more.
How Do Gazebos and Awnings Compare to Each Other?
Now that you know more about gazebos and awnings, here’s an in-depth look at the main distinctions between the two structures and how they compare to each other.
Providing Shade
Both gazebos and awnings are designed mainly to offer shade, but there’s a noticeable edge for gazebos over awnings.
Gazebos typically provide full shade over the enclosed area by effectively blocking direct sunlight from almost all angles. This makes them ideal for full sun protection during all hours of the day.
On the other hand, the shade coverage of an awning depends on how far it’s extended and angled.
This makes it less effective during low sun angles as it leaves parts of the space under the roof exposed.
Yet, you can solve this by constantly adjusting the angle of the awnings to maintain proper shade throughout the day.
Protecting from the Elements
Both gazebos and awnings are designed primarily to protect against sunlight, so they offer limited protection against rain and almost no protection against wind.
That being said, the solid roof of a gazebo can still handle light to moderate rain, although the open sides might cause some splash-ins depending on wind speed and direction.
In other words, unless either structures are equipped with side panels, they will offer virtually no protection against wind, dust, or bugs.
Privacy
One of the main advantages of setting up a gazebo or an awning in your backyard is that they offer an uninterrupted view of their surroundings.
However, this also means that they’re not perfect when it comes to enjoying privacy unless you have curtains or side panels installed.
All in all, without side panels, the two structures perform equally in terms of privacy, as both of them can only offer vertical privacy but not horizontal.
However, gazebos have an advantage here because you can easily install side panels and curtains to extend their privacy in exchange for a restricted view.
Aesthetics and Design
As previously established, while both gazebos and awnings are designed to protect against the sun, they have fairly distinct styles.
Of course, aesthetics are subjective, so the main deciding factor here is your personal preference.
However, if you have a large unused space in your backyard that would benefit from a standalone structure, a gazebo would be ideal for you.
On the flip side, if you’re tight on space or the space is mostly taken up by a patio, installing an awning with the same design elements of your property would be perfect for an improved curb appeal.
Ease of Installation
Gazebos can range from simple pre-assembled kits to complex structures requiring professional installation.
Depending on the size and weight of the structure, they may also need a prepared foundation like a concrete pad for stability and support.
Additionally, if you’re building a large permanent gazebo, you might need a permit from local authorities.
As for awnings, most of them involve a simple and fairly quick installation process, although they might still need professional installation and permits.
Portability
Although a gazebo is mainly a permanent structure, you can still move it around by detaching the anchors and fixing them somewhere else.
This gives it a massive advantage over awnings that can’t be moved around. However, in some cases, awnings can be retracted fully when you don’t need them.
Maintenance Requirements
Both gazebos and awnings have specific maintenance requirements, depending on the design and size of the structure.
In both cases, you’ll need to periodically clean the structure and inspect their installation to make sure they’re sturdy and safe.
Since a retractable awning has multiple moving parts, it may require some professional servicing with time.
Cost
The cost of building a gazebo or an awning depends on a variety of factors, such as:
- The size of the structure
- The style and materials used in the structure
- Labor costs in your area (if you’re having it professionally installed)
Ideally, you should expect a professionally installed standard-size gazebo to cost you around $5000 to $10,000. If you have the necessary DIY skills, you can build your own gazebo for a lot less.
On the other hand, building an awning typically costs a bit less, with standard awnings costing anywhere between $1,500 and $4,500.
Of course, retractable awnings may cost a bit more, especially with professional installation.
Choosing the Right Option
Now that I’ve explained the details of the two structures, here’s a quick look at the main aspects to consider before choosing one:
- Functionality: Both structures are perfect if you want to stay protected from the sun. However, gazebos can offer extended protection with side panels.
- Available Space: Setting up a standard gazebo typically requires a large space in your backyard. On the other hand, awnings are attached to the property itself, so it doesn’t take up as much space.
- Your Budget: In most cases, a gazebo will cost you a lot more money, so consider your budget and what it can achieve before making up your mind.
Final Thoughts
This wraps up today’s guide that compares gazebos and awnings. As you can see, both structures have their unique features and limitations, so you should pick the one that aligns best with your needs.
Ideally, you should pick a gazebo if you have a larger budget and plenty of backyard space, especially if you’re looking for a permanent focal point to offer protection from various elements.
Alternatively, if you prefer a flexible, adjustable shade solution with minimal maintenance and budget-friendly installation, you should opt for an awning.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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