It's always easiest to work on framing that's laid out on a flat surface rather than upright. So take a tip from the pros and build the walls in sections on the floor, then raise and attach them to each other to complete the frame.
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Prebuild four of the seven wall sections (the eighth is the entrance) by attaching horizontal ties between pairs of posts, using 3-inch galvanized deck screws. To speed your work, make a small 22.5 degree pie-shaped block to keep each post in position as you screw in each of the ties.
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After assembling each section, stand it in position. Brace each section temporarily with a 2×6 screwed to the top of a post to hold the section upright until the gazebo is complete.
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With the first sections in place, use the rest of the horizontal wall ties and post cutoffs as spacers to lay out the octagonal shape of the gazebo.
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Next, nail the 2×4 top plates to the tops of the posts, then secure 20-gauge metal strap supports to the outsides of the top plates at the corners. These metal straps provide a strong supporting band against the outward pressure exerted on the top plates by the weight of the roof.
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Lastly, cut and install the corner braces before working on the roof. Use a jigsaw to cut shapes and 1.5- and 3-inch hole saws to make cutouts. Since the vertical edges of the brace pairs have 22.5 degree bevels in different directions, make eight left-hand and right-hand pieces.
The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc./GID
Building the gazebo’s walls on a flat surface rather than upright makes the job easier.
