STC Madrid Gazebo, 10 by 13-Feet

Some background first.I think this is the 5th gazebo I've installed on my deck. For years, I kept asking, "Why can't someone build a quality gazebo and charge more?" I was buying the typical $400 versions from box stores. All junk. Max of 2 years on the canvas top. So, I thought this was the answer. It is, almost. I just put it up yesterday so, my thoughts are fresh.Pros: - Reasonably well built. About equivalent to my initial unit costing $500 about 12yrs ago. - Instructions are clear. - A few extra screws of each type are included. - It looks like the materials and coatings will last. Probably not the length of the warranty but, longer than box store versions.Cons: - Color. It's essentially gun metal gray. I even asked that question on Amazon and was told is was the dark brown that outdoor furniture is typically made of and like shown in most of the pictures. It's gray. No way to soften that. Look at the pics on the product page and in one, you will see a gray post with brown roof structure attached. My entire unit is the gray color of the post. Amazing the color is a mystery until you open the box. - The plastic film protecting the roof panels is assembled under the frame pieces so, it's very difficult to remove cleanly. - Permanent stickers. Yes, there are 2 semi-permanent (do not come off clean) on the top of each roof panel. At what point do companies figure out such an incredibly simple issue? - The mounting holes on each leg have no combination that match 16" centers used on wooden deck construction. It talks about mounting it to a wood deck in the instructions and yet, make no provisions to attach all 4 legs to the structural part of the deck. Wow. - No mounting hardware supplied for decks. They provide 12 stakes for the ground and 12 really nice expansion type bolt devices for concrete but, if you have a wood deck, you get nothing. I would say I paid at least $20 - $30 for hardware I can't use and got none for my application which, I doubt is unique. - No decorative covers for the leg mounting plates. So, the bolts stakes, or whatever you use are forever visible. The $500 version had a decorative metal cover that slide down the post to cover the hardware. I now have the heads of 12 stainless steel lag bolts to look at. Stated simply, they cheaped out. Remember, I paid $1,400 for this gazebo. - 236 bolts and screws. Yep, that's right, 236. That's a lot. It took two of us, both handy, 6.5 hrs to assemble this thing. Actually, I don't think that would seem so bad if it weren't for the only OK structural quality.In summary, had I known exactly what I was getting, I probably wouldn't have purchased it and kept up the search. I was desperate to get something better than the previous versions installed and ordered it back in March. It's not a horrible gray and I didn't want to hassle with returning it so, I stuck it out.So, if you don't mind having an army gray gazebo of reasonable quality for 3 times what you would pay at a box store, it's a good buy. If you want something dark brown and of high quality, keep looking. I'm guessing this is maybe a 5 yr product at best and that's if the MI snow doesn't crush through the flimsy polycarb roof panels.Good luck!!

5/2017 update. Mold is getting worse, lots of pinholes in the roof panels. We have written this off as a sunk cost, bad investment. Going back to less expensive canopy style gazebo.This is our second season with this gazebo. It is very attractive and well machined parts. Overall it looks great, and much classier than an awning style gazebo. I have added LED rope lights around the perimeter of the top of the outer frame, which provides very nice, subtle light in the evening.We have gone through several awning-style gazebos, despite bringing the awnings in every winter. We wanted something more durable, which this definitely is, but has issues.The downsides:1. Still lets a lot of sun through compared to an awning style gazebo. We get strong afternoon and evening sun on our deck, and the poly-carbonate panels do little to attenuate the sun. I will have to design and install additional material to block the sun, such as a black privacy fence screen (like at construction sites).2. It leaks in even moderate amounts of rain due to the design of where the upper and lower panels meet. There are small metal channels riveted to the lower end of each panel (horizontal) to carry the water away to the vertical rails that support the panels. Problem is there is no way for the channels to adequately carry the water. The result is water overflows on the inside of the channels and drips right where we sit! The channel design is weak at best. I will have to do like other reviews here and use caulk or Gorilla tape to prevent water from going into the channels, and instead flow straight down the roof to the edge.3. Related to the design issue above, the polycarb panels are made up of tubes just like insulated greenhouse panels. The rain water that backs up in the channels then migrates slightly up the tubes. After enough time, I now have black mold inside the tubes on every panel, anywhere from 1/4" to 1" from the metal channel (see attached picture). Very noticeable and unattractive. The only way to clean it will be to pull every panel back down, drill out the rivets to remove the channel, and somehow wash the ends of each panel. Then reattach the channels with rivets or screws.As attractive as the design is of this gazebo, I feel for the price it should not have so many design flaws. I would not purchase this again unless the roof design is improved.

Like most folks I had the canvas canopy tents that would warp, leak, rip and eventually break. I needed something nice for my small deck, but was tired of buying crap. After reading lots of reviews I settled on this unit. One reason was the size. It's 13 x 10 at the roof but 12 x 9.5 at the base which worked out perfect for my deck. The unit itself looked grayish while unpacking in my garage but looks as pictured on my deck...a brown shade....looks good. It seems to be well made, strong and sturdy. The design is odd, because it has no cross members from the legs to the arms. However, once bolted down its solid. I did not fill the legs with gravel which I still could. It's possible when assembled but more diffcult. I had a professional company come out and assemble. It took them 3.5 hours and cost me $600. Seems pricey but their work was guaranteed and in my view since I spent $1500 on this I saw not point of skimping on install. It's been up for two weeks and gone through a couple of blustery, heavy thunder storms ( I live in Cincinnati) and has not even budged. The plastic glass on top is flexible so that allows it to take a beating. Like some one else said it will let in a good amount of light. Also, I have a small fire pit and it can burn a 4 hour fire log without getting the roof too hot or filling up with smoke. The roof is quite high. We have hanging plants, humming bird feeders and lights from it and it looks awesome. I am very pleased. It's solid, functional, looks very professional and I am confident it will stand the test of time. I would recommend.