Amish gazebos

ll I'ANY families are finding that IYlthe stressful pressures of today's society can be relieved by relaxing in a handsome backyard gazebo. It's a growing market for retail dealers, specialty contractors and d-i-yers.

The Amish carpenters of Pennsylvania are nationally known as highquality gazebo producers. Now, the son of an Amish family has taken this unique craftsmanship West, manufacturing them in California.

term durability and attractive appearance. There is a growing demand for gazebo kits to be shipped to Hawaii and other overseas customers.

Beiler has sold gazebos to Disneyland, UCLA and celebrities such as Billy Joel. Although his customers have included Hilton Hotels, Harrah's Casino and the University of Oklahoma, Beiler says Amish Country Gazebos "focus primarily on serving individual homeowners who want to add value, charm and a casual comfort image to their landscape."

Some of his most memorable sales: a harried husband who surprised his wife with a new gazebo to help save a faltering marriage.

a wife who provided an outdoor "room" for her husband to enjoy his cigars.

. a terminally ill woman who wanted to enjoy her final days.

Chet Beiler, owner of Amish Country Gazebos, Ontario, Ca., sells through retail dealers, as well as direct to the homeowner. His crews can usually install a gazebo in one day. Many of his calls come from potential buyers who have seen one of his structures in a friend's yard. Others get the "urge" from inspecting the display gazebos in front of his plant at Ontario, or at an off-site display of 12 units at Oak Hill, Ca. "We're selling leisure, romance, family togetherness and refuge from the pressures of everyday life," he says.

The gazebos are decorative and functional. Most are sold with a package price including materials and construction from $3,000 to $6,000.

Realtors report that the handsome structures significantly increase property values. They are built of pressure treated southem pine lumber for long- a father who staged a spectacular backyard wedding in a tulle-draped gazebo for his daughter.

The gazebos are octagonal shaped and topped with cupolas. The "Majestic" version, the most popular design, has a one-tier roof, while the more expensive "Pagoda" model features a two-tiered roof.

Sizes range from 8 to 20 ft. in diameter. The most popular size is the l0-ft. design. Treated southern pine is used for the gazebo joists flooring, spindles, roof, rails and cupola.

DISPLAYS (top left) outside Amish Country Gazebo's plant at Ontario, Ca., include a onetier unit priced about $3,000 including construction, and a two-tier model in the $6,000 price range. Roofs are usually composition shingles. Above: The gazebos feature (top) 24" wide and 24" tall cupolas, (cente| octagonal treated parquet floor screwed to 2x6 joists, then coated with a water-repellent finish, (bottom) upper rails, corbel and braces, all treated southern pine. Owner Chet Beiler says southern pine is the prefened material for gazebo construction because the preservative penetrates deeply into the wood without incising, and the density ol the wood helps avoid lraying during machining. At left: Turned 30" spindles are used for the lower rail of the gazebo.