We're really enjoying the gazebo Fred. We always loved the deck but now we can enjoy it raining or not. Another room in the house. By the time you buy all the materials needed and to have a privacy and bug curtain made up just buy the complete thing and assemble it. A lot less work and probably works out about the same price anyway Fred and virtually no maintenance either being aluminum. If you make it out of wood then you never have to stain/paint it. Something to think about the older you get.