mutantpoodle wrote:is there space for a gazebo? you can usually pick them up from small ads for £10 ish...
As it happens, I do have a gazebo that I picked-up end-of-season from Tesco for £15 many years ago. By coincidence, I did have it out the other week for my daughter's birthday socially-distanced camping sleepover with a couple of her friends. It partly prompted my post as I did consider it. However, it is very flimsy and probably wouldn't have survived the mini-storm we had last week. Dismantling it each time we get strong winds is a real pain.
It just occurred to me though that we do have an ageing cantilevered parasol umbrella by the french doors that I could relocate and is easy to raise/drop with the weather. Its present position is a pain as it's low (for sitting rather than standing) doesn't clear the patio doors, but it does give some shade to a small outside table. Moving it to the back of the garage might work as a temporary measure, although a proper canopy would be more effective.
bungeejumper wrote:Just one question. How are you going to stop Fido from doing his business under the cover, where you're standing?
Good idea, though. You can't go too far wrong at that price, as long as you've got something to tie it onto. Anchor it down firmly, though. You'd be surprised at the tonnage of lift that sails and gazebos can create in a stiff wind.
[Edit: I loved one reviewer's description of the coverage you get from a 3 metre triangle. "Think thong, rather than granny pants".
Good point on where Fido does his business. He's a border collie but seems to have an aversion to rain at present. That might be encouraged as long as he doesn't hold it in to the point of accident.
I did read the 'thong' comment which made me laugh. You would think Pythagoras could have put more surface area into triangles when he invented them.
More seriously, that is an issue with triangles as opposed to an awning which would provide more cover, but needs more anchoring points. That might be difficult.
