The gazebo in your garden is supposed to be relaxing. A place where you can wind down with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and not have to worry about life—or a sagging gazebo canopy.
But with many types of gazebos, how to fix sagging canopy is a common problem. Still, if the roof sagging a bit is the only problem, no need to worry. There’s an easy fix to this problem and it doesn’t require any tools or hard work.
When most people start having problems with the roof of their canopy, they start fiddling with the poles or adding a few extra ones. That won’t solve the problem as the poles aren’t usually the issue. It’s the fabric you need to deal with.
How to keep water from pooling on gazebo canopy and fix sagging
In most cases, the roof of a gazebo starts sagging because the fabric is worn out by constant exposure to the elements—UV rays, wind, and especially water.
Believe it or not, the easiest way to get rid of that annoying sagging is to use pool noodles.
If you never had one before, a pool noodle is a buoyant cylinder of foam that you can use for swimming, playing in a pool, and lots of other things around the house, including fixing a sagging gazebo canopy.
Tip: Pool noodles often come in bright colours that clash with the white fabric of your gazebo canopy. If that bothers you, look for cylindrical insulation tubes at your local home improvement store. They’re quite inexpensive and usually white, so they’ll be less noticeable.
Things you’ll need:
- 4 pool noodles or cylindrical insulation tubes
- Sharp knife or similar cutting tool
- Ladder, if the canopy is hard to reach
- Another pair of hands—it’s best to have someone around to help you, though you can manage on your own too
Good to know before you start: The pool noodles will be placed at the four corners of your gazebo, between the support poles and the canopy. That’s assuming you have a regular square gazebo. For irregular shapes, the process is the same, but you may need additional pool noodles for each extra corner.
Step 1 – Cut some notches
You can skip this part if you want, but it helps keep the noodles in place. Use the knife to cut some notches where the pool noodle will meet the support beams that keep the canopy up.
In most cases, it’s just one beam, so it’s an easy job. Don’t make a deep cut if you don’t want to cut the noodle in half.
Step 2 – Lift the fabric
This is where an extra pair of hands will come in handy. Have your assistant lift the fabric while you insert the pool noodle between the canopy and the support beams.
Step 3 – Fix the noodle in place
Make sure the ends of the pool noodle are securely wedged between the fabric and the lateral support beams. The notch should be aligned with the support beam.
Repeat the operation for the other three corners of your canopy.
And that’s it. The pool noodles will keep the fabric taut, preventing it from sagging.
How to stop a gazebo canopy from collecting water
Water accumulating on your gazebo roof is not only annoying and unsightly, but it can ruin the fabric more quickly. It’s also one of the most common causes of a sagging canopy.
Use a water repellent
To prevent water from collecting on the roof, the first thing you need to do is treat the fabric with a water repellent every year. It’s good to do this even if the canopy is manufactured to be waterproof.
You can use a spray or a waterproofing solution that you add to your washing machine when you wash the canopy.
Use anti-water pooling devices
Another thing you can do is use an anti-water pooling device. This is a glass-filled plastic peg you can place at the four corners of your gazebo canopy.
These pegs keep the fabric taut and prevent water from pooling on the gazebo roof even in a heavy downpour.
The wrap up
The easiest way to fix a sagging gazebo canopy is to get hold of four pool noodles and place them at the four corners.
All you need to do is insert the noodles between the fabric and the support beams and there you have it. The fabric will stay nice and taught, and the noodles will prevent water from pooling on the roof.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to waterproof your gazebo canopy. Giving it a bit of care means you won’t have to replace it anytime soon.
Where do u get this pegs what store.
Hi Richard,
What country are you based in? Amazon or the local DIY store should have what you need.