Pop-up gazebo hire is straightforward once you know how to handle wind, weights and setup. Here's what to know before you book.
Pop-up gazebo hire is straightforward once you know how to handle wind, weights and setup. Here's what to know before you book.
As the days get longer and the evenings get warmer, the amount of gazebo hire we deliver along with other outdoor hire goes up dramatically. If you have never hired a gazebo before, there are a few things worth knowing before you book.
We stock gazebos in two sizes. The 3m x 3m gazebo covers a small group of guests or a single serving station. The 3m x 6m gazebo is better suited to larger groups, a bar setup or an outdoor dining area.
As a rough guide, a 3m x 3m gazebo seats up to eight people around a single table, or provides shelter for a standing group of around ten to twelve. A 3m x 6m covers two tables or a bar counter with room for staff to operate behind it.
If your event requires more covered space than one gazebo provides, multiple gazebos can be arranged side by side. Position them with entrances facing outward for a more connected outdoor room. For anything larger than two gazebos, a marquee will give better coverage with fewer separate structures to manage.
One of the most common questions about gazebo hire is how hard they are to install on site. They are straightforward to erect, but two people are needed to do the job properly.
Pop-up gazebos work via a telescoping mechanism. When you first take a gazebo out of the bag, the frame will be completely folded up and needs to be gently opened out. The temptation is to do this on your own, but this can ruin the mechanism as it opens unevenly. Two or more people allow the frame to be evenly telescoped apart to full size.
Once the frame is fully telescoped out, the cover can be placed over the frame before the legs are extended to full height. The legs each have a locking pin that clicks into place when the leg is extended, make sure each one is locked before adding any weight or standing under the gazebo.
Derigging is a much easier job and can be done by one person. Bring each corner back into the middle and close the gazebo so that it fits back in its bag.
All gazebos should be anchored at each leg. How you do this depends on the surface.
On hard surfaces such as patios, car parks or event flooring, leg weights are the correct method. Weight bags slot over each leg and add enough mass to hold the frame steady in moderate conditions. We supply weight bags with each gazebo hire, fill them with sand or water on site for best results. Empty bags provide no resistance to wind.
On grass or soft ground, ground pegs and guy ropes provide a better anchor. Drive the pegs into the ground at an angle away from each corner, attach the guy ropes to the corresponding points on the frame, and pull firm. Combined with leg weights, this gives the strongest possible anchor on soft ground.
Do not rely on the gazebo weight alone to hold it in place. Even in light wind, an unanchored gazebo can shift and cause injury. Weights and pegs are not optional, they are a minimum safety requirement for any outdoor use.
Wind can pose a significant problem for gazebos. Weights and guy ropes help anchor them down, but even with these in place, strong wind can cause problems.
In windy conditions, we recommend two things:
First, limit the height of the gazebo as much as practically possible. The lower a gazebo sits, the lower its centre of gravity, making it harder for wind to pick it up. This means shortening the legs from full height to the lowest practical height for use.
Second, if using side panels, use two at most so the wind can pass through the gazebo unobstructed. With three or four panels in place the wind has nowhere to go, and the build-up of force can end with the gazebo being lifted into the air.
We recommend gazebos are manned at all times so that someone is on hand if things start to go wrong. If you are genuinely not sure about the weather, the safest option is not to use a gazebo at all. We understand that means taking a loss on a product you have not used, but the alternative is a replacement or damage charge which could be considerably more.
Each gazebo hire comes with side panels included. Panels attach to the gazebo frame using toggle loops and velcro tabs. A full set of four panels provides full enclosure, though as noted above, this should be avoided in windy conditions.
Gazebo covers and side panels are water-resistant but not fully waterproof in heavy or sustained rain. For light showers and general outdoor use they perform well. For events where heavy rain is forecast, consider whether a more substantial structure is more appropriate.
Side panels also provide a degree of privacy and reduce wind chill, making them useful for evening outdoor events even without strong wind.
A gazebo on its own provides shelter, but most outdoor events need more. Common additions include:
All pricing and availability for gazebo hire and other outdoor equipment is shown online. Add the products you need to your basket and check out. Our delivery area covers England and Wales.
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