With all the options available today, deciding to purchase and customising a canopy can be quite a daunting experience for a first timer. From ensuring the correct sizing & ground conditions, to the style of roof and colour finish, the number of options available on many standard range canopies verges on overwhelming.
That’s why today we’ve put together a short and simple guide to explain some of the options you might see when browsing for a canopy.
Length & Width
Obviously an important part of the whole project, being aware of your preferred dimensions before you contact a canopy supplier can ease the process of getting your vision across to them, and gives the company an opportunity to apply their expertise to the area you have.
Fixing Type
Once you’ve decided where your canopy will be going and how much coverage you’re going to need, it would pay to take a look at your ground conditions as this can greatly affect the cost of the installation.
Ideally, you’ll want to have at least a 200mm – 300mm thick concrete base to securely fix your canopy’s support posts to. Having a solid concrete foundation means you can select Above Ground Fixed support posts and save yourself several 100’s of pounds on the installation.
However, life isn’t always so easy and so if you do find yourself with a tarmac, block paved, or grassed area just be aware that whilst you can still install a canopy over the area, the company providing the installation will need to provide you with the more expensive Below Ground Fixed installation.
Roof Sheeting Material
Most canopies are offered with a clear plastic roof sheet such as Pet-G or Polycarbonate. Functionally, these two types of plastic provide the same purpose. Pet-G tends to be better looking for the end user, whereas Polycarbonate tends to be slightly more impact resistant at the cost of visual appeal.
It is also not uncommon for a canopy to be offered with Corrugated Steel Roof Sheeting. This type of roof material is certainly much more popular in the commercial sector where visual appeal isn’t valued quite as highly as sturdy reliability. For these customers a corrugated steel roof is the ideal combination of cost efficiency and practicality.
Roof Style
Monopitch – the most popular roof shape. Valued for its tried and tested design, cheap production, the vast majorities of canopies supplied on a budget are fitted with a Monopitch roof
Curved – The go-to design for someone looking for a little more elegance than a Monopitch. This type of canopy roof is a popular choice for entrances & covered walkways
Wave – Popular with schools for their unique and fun design, these roof styles are often used to cover large exterior areas on school grounds to create a dry but spacious area for students to use at break time.
Cantilever – perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing design covered on our list today, the single leg combined with an almost gravity defying roof gives off a very sleek clean look that is sure to impress any visitor. Ideal for use as walkways & shade creators along a row of windows
Curved Pent – one of the newest designs on our list uses a combination of a monopitched roof and a curved roof to create a truly unique design. Often preferred by professionals as smoking or waiting areas, and homeowners to create a shaded summer house
Side Walls
Securing some shelter from the worst of the weather is one of the primary motivations for buying a canopy, and so what good is a roof only design when the wind is blowing!
Including a set of sidewalls along the length of your canopy will offer your students & visitors a level of weather protection far above what a roof only design could offer.
In conclusion, whilst there are a number of customisable options available, its important to take the time to fully understand what each option will change about the finished product. This guide will have broken down the options and what they mean, providing you with the information you need to purchase the perfect school canopy.
