Gazebos are stylish and great for the housing market, but a metal gazebo might seem like a storm hazard. We all know that metal and water both attract lightning strikes, which is why a lot of homeowners are worried about whether or not their metal gazebo will be a lightning rod. You’re about to learn the surprising truth below!
A metal gazebo should be grounded if you want to keep it safe from lightning strikes. You can ground it by mounting copper rods to the base of the gazebo. Drive the rods into the ground, ensuring that they’re at least six inches deep. This placement will keep your gazebo safe from lightning.
Throughout this article, you’ll also learn the following about grounding metal gazebos:
- Whether or not you should ground a metal gazebo
- A step-by-step process to get the job done safely and efficiently
- Common problems that people encounter when grounding their gazebo
Do Metal Gazebos Attract Lightning?
If you have a metal gazebo in your backyard, then there’s a high chance that you’ve thought about grounding it. After all, why else would you be here? You’re probably trying to figure out whether or not it’s necessary, or how you can get it done in an efficient manner. Fortunately, you’re about to learn everything you need to know.
Will your gazebo attract lightning strikes? Find out below.
- Do you live in a place with a lot of lightning storms? There’s no need to ground your metal gazebo if there’s no lightning. It doesn’t serve any other purposes, so you’ll be wasting your time, money, and energy. However, even a small amount of storms are enough to make it worth grounding.
- Is the gazebo standing on the ground? As mentioned by the Stack Exchange community, you’ll have a whole lot of extra work to do if your gazebo isn’t on the ground. Some people don’t know this, but a metal object that’s raised off of the ground won’t have as much of a chance of getting struck by lightning.
- Is it a stand-alone gazebo, or is it attached to something? If your gazebo is standing by itself, then you should ground it. However, if it’s part of your home, then it’s likely already grounded with the rest of your house. If it’s attached to a separate structure, make sure that they’re both ground together.
- Is the whole gazebo made out of metal? If it’s only the roof that’s metal, then the wooden legs will stock the electrical current from shocking the whole unit. The best way to keep yourself safe is to stay inside when there’s lightning, but it won’t be as big of an issue if the whole gazebo isn’t metal.
As you can see, there are a few reasons that you should ground your gazebo. However, not everyone has to get it done. Fortunately, it’s quite simple to ground an all-metal structure, especially one that’s as small as a gazebo.
If you want to read the full step-by-step process, read on.
How to Ground a Metal Gazebo
Now that you know whether or not you need to ground your metal gazebo, it’s time to break it down. Get all of the supplies (metal rods, a drill, screws, and screw glue) and you’ll be good to go.
Here’s the short, detailed guide to ground your metal gazebo:
- Get four copper rods that can be mounted to the gazebo’s legs. Electrician Talk shows us that you only need one rod, but you can use one per leg if you want to be extra safe. Try the 4ft Copper Grounding Rod by The Cimple Co that you can get on Amazon. It comes with four feet of copper grounding rods that’s about ⅜ inches wide.
- (Optional) drill holes in the deck or cement underneath the gazebo. If your gazebo isn’t on the dirt, but you want to ground it, you’ll have to drill through the surface below it. You can use a hole saw to cut out a hole the size of the rod, then push it through to ensure it reaches the ground.
- Mount the copper rods to all four legs (or just one rod to one leg). Every set of grounding rods should come with a rod clamp. If yours doesn’t, grab a few of them at the hardware store. Drill the clamp into the leg of the metal gazebo, then slide the copper rod about two inches through the clamp. Tighten the clamp and proceed to step four.
- Drive the rod into the ground. You’ll need to push it at least 6 inches into the ground, but anything more than that is better. The goal is to make it so the rod can’t wiggle in the dirt. Many experts recommend that you push it about one foot (12 inches) into the ground to get a secure hold.
- Secure the rod with cement (or another material). If you’re worried about it wiggle in loose soil, consider pouring cement around the edges of the copper rod. The cement will hold it in place, prevent it from breaking free during heavy wind and rain. Use the aforementioned screw glue on the copper rod clamp and let it sit for 24 hours.
It’s not too challenging to get the job done, but it’s also not uncommon for beginners to make mistakes. There’s no shame in searching for help. In the next section, you’ll discover a few common mistakes and misconceptions that you can avoid to finish the project on time.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
If you’re an expert, then you won’t need to worry about the common mistakes found in this section. Beginners might think they have it under control, but it’s crucial that you know all of these problems before you start drilling.
Not driving the stakes deep enough can be a problem
If you’re in a rush, it’s easy to understand why you might not pay attention to the depth of the copper rod. Sadly, this mistake can make your grounding rod useless. It needs to be deep enough to prevent wiggling, but it also needs the depth to stop the electrical current from shocking your gazebo.
Make sure the stakes are made out of the right material
You can’t use plastic stakes, despite what countless at-home experts might suggestion. It’s tempting to use tent stakes, but they’re typically not long enough or made out of the right material. Fortunately, copper grounding rods are super cheap, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank to save your metal gazebo.
Grounding a gazebo doesn’t make it invincible
Despite your efforts, there’s a small chance that the gazebo could be shocked. It’s drastically reduced, but that doesn’t mean that you should start sitting under the gazebo during a lightning storm. Remember that the safest place to be during a storm is inside. Don’t risk it just to hang out under the gazebo.
Conclusion
Metal gazebos should be grounded like any other metal structure. There’s no reason to leave it sitting outside without protecting your investment. Not only can it keep your gazebo safe, but grounding it will also keep you safe.
Here’s a quick recap of the post:
- Use thin copper grounding rods and clamps to ground the gazebo.
- Make sure you drive the rods between 6 to 12 inches into the ground.
- If your metal gazebo is elevated on a deck or cement pad, there’s a lower chance of electrical shock.
- Remember that you shouldn’t be outside during a lightning storm, even if your gazebo is grounded.