In order for a pavilion to be able to withstand strong gusts of wind, it is important to fix it professionally. Here you can find out what options you have with solid surfaces on the terrace.
Table of Contents
increase stability
There are different methods of making pavilions stable. If you cannot anchor the pavilion to the ground, the only option is to use weights or straps to prevent it from lifting off or tipping over. Most pavilions are already equipped with a plate for ground anchoring on the feet.
complaining with weights
Methods that use weights to secure a gazebo are particularly useful for a garden party or barbecue. Here the pavilion has a service life of a few hours. They can withstand the occasional strong gust of wind, but they don’t offer enough support in storms.
ballast bag or stand
If you want to avoid tripping hazards or have no way of attaching the pavilion to the terrace, you can use ballast bags or so-called feet to fix it. These are quick to assemble and require neither great preparation nor technical know-how. The empty containers weigh little and can be attached to the fully assembled pavilion frame with either Velcro or screw fasteners. To add weight, fill in water, sand, or a mixture of both. Some of the models are also stackable.
- Suitable for stand diameters from 25 to 38 mm
- Weight when filled with water (per stand): 9 kg
- Weight when filled with sand (per base): 15 kg
- Mixture of both materials: higher weight
- Cost per sack: around 30 to 35 euros
- Fees for stands (pack of 4): around 30 euros
tent weights
So-called tent weights are commercially available, which consist of a flat-round or cylindrically shaped block of cement or metal with a plastic cover. The beauty of these weights is that you can stack them on top of each other to add weight to the gazebo. The disadvantage, however, is that you cannot attach them to the base and they may slip under load.
- Suitable for stands from 20 x 20 to 30 x 30 cm
- Weight per item: about 2 kg
- Size: approx. 20 x 4.5 cm
make your own weights
Buckets filled with sand are not quite as stylish and stable as ballast bags, but they are still functional. To pull the gazebo down with additional weight, you can place the feet next to a bucket and fill it with sand or gravel. To attach it, stretch a rope or a tension belt from the side rods on the roof to the handle of the bucket.
ground anchoring
Sturdy gazebos are designed for year-round use and can easily be wintered outside. The use of feet, tension ropes or ballast bags is only suitable for temporarily attaching the pavilion to the terrace. These methods are not suitable for long-term use and for all steel and aluminum pavilions with a high dead weight. In these cases it is better to fix the legs in the foundation of the terrace. Depending on the surface, there are different options for this.
open pavement
Paving stones usually have joints that you can use for anchoring. The use of pegs is often difficult here because they cannot be driven into the narrow joints without bending. In this case, ordinary wood screws at least eight centimeters long may help. Make sure that the threads of the screws are wide enough to touch the plates on both sides. Only use screws with a hexagon head, as screwing them into the hard surface requires a lot of force.
assembly Instructions
Depending on the width and filling of the joints, first knock in the wood screw a little with a hammer and tighten it with a wrench. If you hit a small rock, move the wood screw slightly to the side to avoid the resistance. If the screw head is too small for the holes in the anchor plate, use a suitable washer.
Screw connection in the concrete foundation
The most stable fastening method is a screw connection to a solid base. Here, too, various methods of fixation are possible.
heavy duty anchor
It is irrelevant whether the terrace consists of a single poured concrete slab or is covered with heavy terrace slabs such as aggregate concrete slabs. These patio slabs are usually so heavy that there is no risk of them coming loose. Since strong winds act on the garden pavilion, it makes sense to use heavy-duty anchors for assembly. You need:
- Hammer drill with 10 mm drill bit
- 10mm hex head anchor bolts
- Length: 12 cm (fits most slabs and foundations)
- blower (for the dust in the drill hole)
- wrench
assembly Instructions
- Place the assembled gazebo in the desired location on the terrace and position it so that the drill holes are at least five centimeters from the edge of the terrace slab so that they do not tear when drilling. Mark the first drill hole with the drill, slide the base a little to the side and drill the hole completely. The depth of the hole is the length of the anchor bolts plus one centimeter.
- Use the blower to clear the hole of drilling dust. This is important so that it does not prevent the expansion clip from sticking in the drill hole. Then hammer in the anchor bolt completely with a hammer and first only lightly fix it with the wrench.
- Now check the alignment of the base again and drill the second hole. Here you proceed as already described. Now that the plate is firmly fixed, you can drill the other two holes without re-aligning. Finally, tighten all nuts securely. If the plate is not level, remove the plate and shim it up until it is level.
- Proceed accordingly with the remaining feet until the pavilion is fixed to all feet.
Concrete screws
Using concrete screws to fasten a gazebo is fairly easy. Since most terraces are in the blazing sun in summer, plastic anchors are not recommended. The plastic becomes soft with heat and can only withstand loads to a limited extent. Concrete screws are anchored without dowels. As with the heavy-duty anchor, assembly is carried out under the following conditions:
- Concrete screw diameter: 10 mm
- Length: 80mm
- Drill hole size: 8 mm
- Drill hole depth: 115 mm
storm protection
In heavy rain and strong winds, a storm protection provides additional support. It consists of robust tension belts with ratchet tensioners. The lashing straps should be made of strong, weather-resistant fabric material and contain a steel hook at the end for attachment. Lay at least two tension belts over the pavilion roof so that they lie across (at right angles) to the frame. Alternatively, you can also attach the straps to the roof bars. Only stable surfaces are suitable as anchoring points:
- floor
- housewall
- Mauer
- fence post
Protection against slipping
Concrete, tiles and smooth stones on the terrace pose an additional challenge as these surfaces are very smooth. If you have not fixed the legs to the floor with screws, they will not find a hold and will slide away despite the additional weight. To ensure better traction, you can use rubber honeycomb floor mats, for example, which you can get in any hardware store. Simply cut suitable pieces with a utility knife and place them under the weighted legs.
frequently asked Questions
Placing flower pots on the ground anchors does not provide adequate security. These are usually too light, slip quickly or fall over.
Slight unevenness can be leveled out with washers when screwing. Larger differences in height can be bridged with wooden wedges or rubber mats that you place under the base.