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So we recently brought home one of those gazebos (it looks like this one) from BigLots… we loved that it provided a shelter with curtains (netting) on all four sides. We figured it would make our patio feel more like another room of the house. Like another living area. We were super excited to bring it home.

It came in a relatively small rectangular box. By the time we got home, we opened the box and checked out what was inside. Well, there were a bunch of metal rods and a bunch of white plastic connectors. We put together the frame of the gazebo pretty easily. The canopy simply slides on top of the metal framework and hooks into little holes on the legs. There are also rope tie-downs on all four posts, to keep the canopy from ever flying off.

When we looked at the way this gazebo canopy was intended to be secured down, we were a little nervous at first about how we were going to make sure it was strong and secure and could withstand the (sometimes high) winds here in NJ. Here is what worked for us (and some tips on alternate, even more secure options):

Tips to Secure a Gazebo Canopy on a Paver Patio

 

Each of the four posts simply slide down into these small white bases.

The white bases have a slot for the metal rod, plus two more tiny holes for the stakes. The stakes are simply straight metal rods that slide through the white base and into the ground. They look just like these ground stakes:

In order to get these to work on our paver patio, we fiddled around with the placement of the white bases, so that we could slide both metal stakes IN BETWEEN adjoining bricks. The stakes were then able to go all the way down into the ground. We repeated this for all four posts, and we had two ground stakes per post. So there were a total of 8 stakes that we drove straight down into the ground in this way.

Then, there are the rope tie-downs. You can see them in this picture here:

These are basically white ropes that connect to hooks in the canopy and to more ground stakes. There are two rope tie-downs per post, and I hooked them up the same way. I simply found spots where I could get the stakes down all the way into the ground by going BETWEEN adjacent bricks. Or in the case for the posts close to the grassy area, I just drove the stakes down through the grass and soil.

So far, our gazebo has been holding up pretty well. It’s been up for about 2 months, and we’ve been through a couple storms and some very windy days. I do occasionally go out there to reposition some of the stakes and/or tighten the ropes. It does sway a bit with heavy winds, but it hasn’t been knocked down yet. Overall, I am very pleased with how it looks and how it’s been holding up.

If the need arises to secure it down more aggressively, I have a number of different options. Here are some other ways to secure a gazebo canopy onto a paver patio!

Alternative Methods to Secure a Gazebo Canopy on a Paver Patio

1. Use masonry screws and a masonry drill bit to attach the white bases to the bricks. This will make the white bases and bricks one unit, and it should stabilize the gazebo considerably.

2. Fill large planters with a layer of sand and a thick layer of concrete. Insert the posts into the concrete while still wet. Let harden. Make sure there is about 100lbs of material in each planter. You can even plant some flowers on top around the posts. Alternatively, you could use concrete footers, which are concrete bases to stabilize the posts.

3. Use soil anchors to grip the ground more firmly.

4. Place heavy bags of sand on the post bases to keep them from wiggling or toppling over. If I know there is a big storm heading this way, I will sometimes do this to keep things more secure.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in construction, nor am I qualified to give advice on proper construction techniques. This post is simply for informational purposes only, and is meant to simply share what has worked for me in the past (and what I plan to do in the future, if necessary). Please consult a local expert in construction if you are trying to secure a gazebo in your backyard. We cannot be held responsible for any damage that may result if you follow any of the tips in this post.

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