If you’re searching for a metal gazebo with sides, you’re likely after three things: reliable shade, privacy on demand, and better bug control. Metal frames can deliver a slim, modern look, but most “with sides” options rely on fabric or screen panels that zip on and off. In real backyards, the biggest differences come down to wind behavior, corrosion over time, and how easy the structure is to assemble and anchor.
Here’s the practical take: if you want the “with sides” experience (privacy curtains or mosquito netting) without giving up warmth and longevity, a cedar hardtop gazebo is often the better buy. Backyard Discovery’s cedar frames pair beautifully with a powder-coated steel roof and accept universal curtains or netting kits, giving you the same privacy-walls effect people expect from a metal gazebo—but with a sturdier, more comfortable outdoor room feel.
What to look for in a metal gazebo with sides
- Anchoring: Whatever you choose, plan solid anchors into concrete, deck framing, or pavers with proper fasteners. Sides act like sails in gusts.
- Roof type: A hardtop keeps rain off and runs cooler and quieter than polycarbonate in heat or storms.
- Side panels: Decide if you want bug netting, privacy curtains, or both. Zippers and tie-backs should be robust.
- Corrosion resistance: Powder-coated steel or aluminum helps, but salt air still wins. Cedar and stainless/galvanized hardware age more gracefully.
- Gutters and drip edge: Small details that keep water off your patio and out of curtain tracks.
- Assembly: Pre-cut, pre-drilled parts with labeled hardware save hours and headaches.
Our pick for the “with sides” experience: Arcadia 14′ x 12′
For most patios, the Backyard Discovery Arcadia 14′ x 12′ Cedar Wood Outdoor Gazebo hits the sweet spot. You get a substantial footprint for dining and lounge seating, a handsome cedar frame, and a durable, powder-coated steel roof. Add universal privacy curtains or mosquito netting (mounted to standard curtain rails or ring clips) and you’ll have the same “with sides” functionality people seek in metal gazebos—only with a more welcoming, long-lasting structure.
From builds we’ve done, the Arcadia’s pre-drilled holes, clearly labeled hardware, and straight, pre-cut cedar make it genuinely approachable for two motivated people. It also looks finished from day one, with clean fascia lines and beefy posts that don’t flex the way lighter metal frames can. If your space is tighter, the 12′ x 9.5′ Arcadia works beautifully; for entertaining, you can scale up the Arcadia line without changing the core design.
Watch a Real Backyard Discovery Gazebo Build in 4K
Before you commit to a gazebo, it helps to see one go together in the real world. Preston and his brother built a Backyard Discovery Arcadia 12′ x 9.5′ cedar gazebo in a single evening, start to finish.
In the 4K video below, you can see how the pre-cut, pre-drilled cedar pieces fit together, how the hardware is organized, and how manageable the process is for just two people. The fresh cedar smell, solid posts, and overall build quality are a big part of why we like Backyard Discovery so much.
If you want to see more photos and details from this exact build, Preston also wrote about the process on his personal site: PrestonShamblen.com/backyard-discovery-arcadia-gazebo-setup. It includes tips, notes, and behind-the-scenes details from the same evening.
Quick planning checklist
- Measure your patio and furniture layout; leave 30–36 inches for walkways around seating.
- Choose your “sides”: netting for bugs, curtains for privacy, or layered for both.
- Plan anchoring: concrete wedge anchors, heavy-duty deck screws into framing, or paver anchors with proper substrate.
- Mind wind: use tie-backs for curtains and open panels during storms to reduce lift.
- Stain/seal cedar as desired to match your home and extend color life.
The bottom line
A metal gazebo with sides sounds straightforward, but in real use, the “sides” are almost always fabric or screen panels. You can achieve the same privacy and bug control with a sturdier, more inviting structure by choosing a cedar hardtop like the Arcadia and adding curtains or nets. It looks better, ages better, and—as our own experience and the video above show—two people can realistically assemble a very similar Backyard Discovery gazebo in an evening.
