Polycarbonate canopies adjacent to the house - what is it? Do-it-yourself polycarbonate canopies for a private house: photos of modern canopies Make polycarbonate arches yourself.

The construction of a residential building on the site does not mean the completion of all work; over time, outbuildings appear around the main building, in most cases built with one’s own hands. A lean-to polycarbonate canopy is at the same time a simple and multifunctional structure that can be used as a gazebo, covered parking for a car, a place to store firewood and for various household needs.

The polycarbonate coating allows you to get a design with a modern appearance at low financial costs.

Features of polycarbonate

Polycarbonate belongs to the group of modern high-tech materials made on the basis polymer plastic. This material has a cellular structure, transmits light well, and can be colorless, colored or patterned. A polycarbonate canopy is perfect solution for an extension to a house or a separate structure.

The popularity of the material is ensured by the following advantages:

A light weight. A sheet of polycarbonate weighs 7-8 times less than a sheet of glass of the same size. This allows it to be used in the construction of structures that do not require a solid foundation.
Good flexibility. The material can be bent without pre-processing and without the use of special devices, which makes it possible to create various arched structures, including a round polycarbonate canopy.
Ability to transmit light. About 90% passes through polycarbonate natural light, while the material creates reliable protection from ultraviolet rays. Therefore, under such a canopy it is always light and comfortable.
High strength characteristics. The load-bearing capacity and impact resistance of the coating are at a high level, far exceeding the similar properties of glass. The cellular structure of the polycarbonate coating allows it to withstand significant snow caps or hail impacts.

In addition, polycarbonate is characterized by excellent sound insulation properties and a long service life, about a quarter of a century.

Do-it-yourself installation of a lean-to canopy

The lean-to canopy has enough simple design, which allows you to do the installation work yourself. The main elements of a building of this type are: support pillars, trusses, sheathing and polycarbonate itself. Construction stores offer ready-made kits for assembly, but you can make a drawing yourself.

However, when drawing up a project for a polycarbonate lean-to canopy with your own hands, it is very important to take into account the following:

Slope angle. This parameter is determined depending on climatic conditions terrain. In regions where there is a large amount of precipitation, the slope of the canopy should be 35-45 degrees. In this case, the risk of roof destruction from snow mass becomes minimal. In regions where gusty winds prevail, it is better to build canopies with a slope of 20-25 degrees. For middle zone In Russia, the best option would be canopies with a slope of 30-35 degrees.
Material for making sheathing. Elements of the canopy rafter system can be made of wood or profiled pipe. Before installation, it is recommended to protect the wood with an antiseptic solution and paint it with paint, since wood is easily exposed to moisture. As for the metal sheathing, in this case the canopy will be lighter and more durable.
Type of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate can have different colors and structures, in construction stores sheets are presented in large assortment. When constructing gazebos and canopies, polycarbonate sheets in green or blue colors are used; cool shades make you feel cool and fresh.
Canopy location. A lean-to structure can be attached to the house, or it can be separate. In the first case, it becomes possible to save some money due to the absence of support posts. In addition, the extension is protected from the wind on one side.

The trusses of a canopy with one slope are made in the shape of a triangle, the base of which corresponds to the width of the canopy, and the hypotenuse corresponds to the length of the slope. Lathing laid in increments of no more than 50 cm helps prevent damage and deflection of polycarbonate. In the same way, you can build a shed for firewood, which will not seem out of place near the house.

Step-by-step installation

You can solve the question of how to cover a canopy with polycarbonate with your own hands within one day, and this can be done by one person or with an assistant. The assembly of the structure is carried out using a standard set of tools: a screwdriver, a welding machine, a grinder or a hacksaw.

Direct installation of a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands is carried out according to the following scheme:

They prepare the construction site by removing debris and large vegetation and leveling the surface with sand, soil or gravel.
Make markings for the future structure, marking with pegs the locations of the supports.
Next, holes are made for the pillars; if the canopy is of small size, then there should be at least four pillars. A larger structure will require more posts.
A mixture of sand and gravel is poured into the bottom of the prepared holes, supports are placed and concrete is poured. To ensure the required slope of the slope, the supports on one side must be lower.
The upper parts of the pillars are connected by piping from a profile pipe. The strapping elements are secured by welding or special brackets.
Rafter trusses are assembled on the ground, and then they are lifted up and welded to the framing elements.
The sheathing is fixed to the rafters.
Polycarbonate is cut into pieces of a certain size, holes for fasteners are drilled using a drill, then attached to the frame using thermal washers.
A special profile is installed at the joints.

After welding, the seams on the polycarbonate lean-to canopy frame are cleaned and coated with a layer of primer. Metal elements are painted with special compounds. The edges of the polycarbonate are glued with reinforced tape.

Polycarbonate canopies are outdoor structures, universal for economic purposes. The material is light, flexible, translucent in large quantities color scheme, convenient format, are presented in different thicknesses, which allows you to design canopies of simple and complex curved shapes. The buildings look light, elegant, do not overload the landscape, and fit into any stylistic decision architectural ensemble on the site.

In the article we will give step by step instructions, how to make a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands, how to choose the right shape, calculate and design the structure.

What you need to know about polycarbonate canopies - general criteria

The manufacture of polycarbonate canopies has become popular due to the ease of installation, practicality of the material, and aesthetics of buildings. There are:

independent, free-standing - canopies over the pool, greenhouses, car parking, gazebos, outbuildings for various purposes;
attached to the building: bathhouse, garage - verandas, terraces, canopies over the porch and gate;
mobile - easily move around the site, usually over barbecues and small gazebos.

Sheds attached to a polycarbonate house, photos of large curved extensions

These are simple rectangular or complex, curvilinear structures, sometimes two-story, for example, above a garage or summer kitchen. Open and closed type, for this purpose, the side walls are glassed, covered with panels, beautiful lattice, clapboard, blockhouse, or covered with thick curtains.

Indoor polycarbonate canopy

Advice: Soft transparent windows, sliding aluminum systems are the most universal option: do not block the view, open easily, and when closed they retain heat well.

Polycarbonate support canopy attached to the house, photo of a curved roof

Canopies consist of supporting vertical posts and a roof. The frame is made of wood, metal, less often of concrete, stone, brick.

Typical drawing of a freestanding polycarbonate canopy

Wooden sheds with polycarbonate roofing

Making awnings and canopies from polycarbonate on a wooden base is the most budget-friendly and easiest way to make your own small architectural form Location on. The work does not require professional equipment, household equipment is sufficient hand tools. To build a wooden canopy from polycarbonate with your own hands, you use glued and profiled beams 100*100 or 150*150 mm, rounded logs ∅150-200 mm, tree trunks, strapping and mauerlat made from the same material. For the rafter system of outbuildings, according to SNiP, a 40*100 mm edged board is required.

Sketch wooden canopy polycarbonate

The main disadvantages are flammability, poor moisture resistance resulting in rotting, fungal infections, loss of strength and aesthetics. Rodents and small bugs can cause significant damage to load-bearing elements. Wooden canopies and polycarbonate canopies must be treated with fire-resistant compounds, an antiseptic, and a durable finishing protective layer of oil or varnish.

A polycarbonate canopy attached to the house, in the photo there is a structure with a sloping roof

Metal canopies

Before making a polycarbonate canopy on a metal frame, you should choose the type of construction:

Welded from profiled or round pipes are the most popular polycarbonate canopies. For vertical racks they use pipes ∅50-150 mm, depending on the size of the building; for piping - a profile with an edge of 40-80 mm, for a farm -25-50 mm.
Forged ones are beautiful, elegant, but quite expensive from a financial point of view. On the construction market you can buy stamped forged parts and create an exclusive product yourself.
Prefabricated aluminum.

Canopy for the house made of polycarbonate, in the photo there is a hanging forged canopy of a cantilever type

For polycarbonate canopies up to 5 m, use a profile with a wall thickness of 2 mm, a cross-section of 40*20 mm, for buildings over 5.5 m, you will need a 3*40*40 or 2*30*60 mm rental.

An example of how to make a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands, drawings of an arched structure

An iron canopy will last for decades, although its main enemy is corrosion. It is necessary to clean the parts with a stiff brush from rust, scale, oil stains, go over the entire surface with an abrasive, then rinse with a solvent. Next, cover with primer and paint, preferably with hammer paint; it copes well with chemical, biological and mechanical loads.

Sketch of a suspended polycarbonate canopy over the entrance

Good to know: Metal products are heated by fire, sun rays, quickly cool down in cold weather, so for comfort in gazebos, porches, and terraces, it is better to provide wooden railings on the parapet.

Brick, stone and concrete

Brick, concrete, stone polycarbonate canopies in the yard look impressive, but light and not bulky, thanks to the translucency of polycarbonate. They do not require maintenance during operation, are fire resistant, and tolerate harmful atmospheric influences and physical and mechanical influences well, although they require significant time and financial costs. While canopies made from other materials can be disassembled and moved, such structures are stationary and cannot be dismantled.

Roof

Canopies made of polycarbonate, photos of interesting ideas are presented in the gallery, there are also quite a lot of pictures and projects on the Internet, there are single- and double-slope, arched, cascade, less common are conical, domed, and wavy.

Typical options for polycarbonate canopies

Making the base is not difficult; it is enough to take into account the wind and snow loads in the region, but the rafter system requires serious calculations.

Farm classification:

According to the characteristic outlines of the contour - polygonal, triangular, broken parallel belts.
By type of lattice - rhombic, triangular, semi-diagonal, diagonal.
According to the method of support - cantilever, beam, arched, beam-cantilever.

Cascade support-cantilever canopy made of polycarbonate

The simplest option is lean-to canopy made of polycarbonate, optimal angle roof slope 22-30 o. The rafters are made of wood or it is a truss - a horizontal, curved or triangular frame with supporting braces, angled posts inside the main structure.

Scheme for a lean-to building

To create a project you need:

Diagram of the canopy with the type of roof; the type of lower and upper belts depends on this.
Drawings of polycarbonate canopies must include the dimensions of the structure, since the load changes in direct proportion to the dimensions. It is important to determine the upper as well as the lower point of the slope; the lower the slope, the more snow will accumulate on the roof.
Take into account the size of the panels; the distance between the rafters depends on this, so that the edge does not fall into the void.
Wind and snow loads in the region can be found using special tables.

Gable polycarbonate canopy - project with forged elements

Trusses are calculated in accordance with the SNiP regulations in section 2.01.07-85, this is difficult for independent calculations, an engineering education and also special software are required. To avoid mistakes, it is recommended to use an online calculator or take finished project. Loads and impacts are specified in SNiP standards in part 2.01.07-85, rules for the manufacture of metal structures - P-23-81 SNiP.

Arched canopies made of polycarbonate, in the photo there are sketches for small buildings

Good to know: The greater the distance from the bottom to the top point of the roof, the higher its load-bearing capacity.

To avoid getting confused in complex calculations, use the following recommendations:

With a slope of 22-30 o in a building 6-12 m wide, the height and length of the triangular truss should have a proportion of 1:5;
If the slope is 15-22 o, the dimensions are in the proportion 1:5, but the braces must be low-sloping, an even number of belts must be made, optimally 8.
A smaller slope is appropriate for large industrial buildings; engineering calculations are required here; the length and height of the run should be in the proportion of 1:7, 1:9.

Simple diagrams on how to make rafters for a polycarbonate canopy

Calculation of a polycarbonate canopy from a profile pipe

Let's take a canopy as a basis, size 6000*4000 mm, this is an ergonomic solution: a comfortable gazebo or covered parking for a car.

Standard dimensions of polycarbonate in width and length:

cast 2.050*2, 3, 6.12 m;
cell phone 2,100*3,6,12 m.

For private buildings, a sheet thickness of 6-12 mm is suitable.

Polycarbonate performance table

Trusses must be placed under each edge and in the middle of the sheets, so the distance between them will be 1 m.

For the racks we will take a pipe ∅80-100 mm, the pitch is 2.0 m along the long side of the canopy. For the roof:

main elements - profile pipe 30*30 mm, length of the lower ones - 3.1 m, remember the Pythagorean theorem: the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the legs, calculate the length of the upper ones, in our case - 3.9 m;
inclined spacers - profile pipe 20*20 mm, location - at an angle of 25 degrees.

We will install perpendicular jumpers every 0.5 m from each other.

Standard diagram of a small farm

Step-by-step instructions on how to build a polycarbonate canopy for your house yourself

To weld metal canopies for a polycarbonate dacha, a number of conditions must be met:

Details as well load-bearing elements should not be cracked.
The roughness of the end of the supporting rib is determined by GOST 2789-73 - Ra £ 12.5 microns.
It is unacceptable to use steel with an internal layer and coarse slag inclusions for the lower chord of the truss.
According to GOST 14771-76, connections are best performed by mechanical welding, in a carbon dioxide environment or its mixture with argon.
According to GOST 2246-70 and 26271-84 it is recommended to use welding wire PP-AN-8.
To fasten rafters to sub-rafter elements and vertical columns, class 5.8 bolts are used according to GOST clause 7798-70.

Drawing of an asymmetric arched canopy

Practical construction

We mark a place for the pillars, dig holes 700 mm deep, make a cushion of 100 mm sandstone, 100 mm crushed stone, and tamp it. We pour 100-200 mm of concrete into the bottom, install a pillar in it, insert it with force, in a circular motion, so that it goes deep. We fill the hole with concrete, check the plumb line, correct it if necessary, and also strengthen it with supporting slopes.

Important: Professionals recommend placing supports along the house, but if this is not possible, then load-bearing wall a beam of 60, 80*80 mm should be placed on the anchors, the trusses should be supported on it, connected by welding, this will allow the load to be distributed over the entire surface.

A way to secure vertical supports

When the solution has completely risen, we tie the pillars together at their heads, check the geometry, the diagonals must be equal.

It is better to cook farms on the ground, according to the chosen scheme; the most common ones are shown in the photo above. The finished parts are lifted and distributed evenly along the harness, in our case, every meter. The fastening points of the longitudinal strips and rafters are made using steel gussets, as well as welding or bolting.

The next stage is the sheathing (perpendicular purlins), from a 20*40 mm pipe, with a pitch of 400-600 mm, and sheets will be attached to it. The finished metal structure is cleaned and then painted.

The purlins will strengthen the frame, this will allow the polycarbonate to be fixed more securely

Watch video tips on how to properly attach a polycarbonate canopy to your house, this will help you avoid major mistakes when building with your own hands.

How to work with polycarbonate correctly

Cutting polycarbonate is better circular saw, equipped with a carbide disc with undetected fine teeth. Holes should be made using a drill with a metal drill, between the stiffening ribs. At the upper ends of the honeycomb panels, strips and self-adhesive tape should be installed for sealing; the lower ends should not be covered.

There are 2 ways in total:

Thermal washers - the holes are made 2 mm larger than the mounting leg; the part should fit tightly until it clicks. The length of the washer is equal to the thickness of the polycarbonate; it is necessarily equipped with an elastic band that seals the connection, which prevents precipitation and dust from getting inside. This type of fastening is called a point fastening; the washer tightly holds the polycarbonate and prevents it from deforming when heated.

How to secure polycarbonate to a canopy using a thermal washer

A special profile is a strip with grooves on both sides into which polycarbonate is inserted. The method is preferable if the sheets have to be joined. The edges are screwed with thermal washers. Profiles are provided for different connection: corner, docking, one-piece, wall, detachable and special for docking, if you need to change the roof configuration.

Photo instructions on how to attach polycarbonate to a metal canopy frame using a profile

There is also a wet method, the panels are attached with putty, but if you are making a canopy with your own hands, then it is better to limit yourself to the previous 2 tips.

Types of fastening polycarbonate to the sheathing

Polycarbonate is one of the types of synthetic plastics (otherwise known as thermoplastics). The unique chemical structure of the material and its inherent physical properties have placed the material among the most popular. The most popular products are arched canopies made of polycarbonate, canopies of other designs, canopies, and other lightweight and prefabricated structures for various purposes.

When constructing structures for various purposes, two types of material are used. These are monolithic (less common option) and cellular (another name, cellular) polycarbonate. Let's take a closer look at them.

Cellular polycarbonate

The cross-section of the material is very similar to a triangular or rectangular honeycomb. It is to this that he owes his name. The initial raw material for its production is polycarbonate granules. This polymer material belongs to thermosetting plastics and is characterized by a number of properties, thanks to which it has become so popular in the building materials market.

Most often, arched polycarbonate canopies are built with your own hands using this type of material.

Classification by structure and geometry of honeycombs

The internal honeycombs are formed by stiffening ribs (oblique and straight), between which air is contained. This determines the high noise insulation properties of the material and its thermal insulation capabilities. According to this parameter, cellular polycarbonates are divided into:

Panels “2H” are two-layer, having a honeycomb of rectangular cross-section. With a sheet thickness (h) in the range of (4 – 10) mm, the stiffeners are made in the form of simple perpendicular partitions.
“3X” - three-layer sheets that have not only straight, but also additional (inclined) stiffeners. The thickness of the latter is determined by the manufacturer.
“3H” - are also three-layer and have rectangular honeycombs (their length is much greater than the width). Manufactured with h= 6 mm (other sizes: 8 mm or 10 mm). This sheet is the best choice to build a canopy in the courtyard of a private house with your own hands;

“5W” - five-layer sheets with rectangular honeycombs. Produced with h= (16 – 20) mm;
“5X” - have inclined and straight ribs. Consist of 5 layers. h=25 mm.

Sheet dimensions:

Thickness – (4 – 32) mm;
Width - 2100 mm;
Length - when sold, the material is cut to length into sheets (1 - 9) m or is offered in a standard length of 12 m.

Monolithic polycarbonate

This material belongs to the group of thermoplastics. The most popular brands are those containing aromatic compounds produced by synthesis from bisphenol.

Expert opinion

Sergey Yurievich

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The thickness of the sheets is set in the range of 2 mm – 12 mm. Standard sheet dimensions are 2050 x 3050 mm.

Country canopies made of polycarbonate with pitched roof, located separately, it is better to make using of this material.

There is a third version of polycarbonate, profiled. But it is practically not used for making canopies.

Advantages of using polycarbonate

The demand for the material in question is explained by its inherent properties:

Ease. Due to the insignificant weight of the sheet, the structures do not place significant additional load on the load-bearing elements. Volumetric structures mounted using it (for example, a gable canopy made of polycarbonate) provide an increase in the actual area of light-transmitting surfaces and expansion of spans. At the same time, special lifting mechanisms for performing installation work not required. Sheet monolithic polycarbonate twice as light as glass, and cellular - almost six times. This reduces the required volumes of materials for arrangement load-bearing structures and reduces the cost of work.
Strength. Despite its lightness, the material is highly durable. The panels confidently withstand high mechanical loads, which is their undoubted advantage compared to glass. This is achieved by the presence of stiffeners and the special molecular structure of the material.
Transparency. Cellular polycarbonate has a light transmittance of 85%, and monolithic polycarbonate has a light transmittance of 90% (for the visible spectrum of radiation).
High thermal insulation properties, soundproofing characteristics.
Flexibility. The sheets are easily bent, which allows the installation of arched structures, vaults, canopies and polycarbonate canopies over the door, etc.
Easy to care for. Natural fabric, water, and household detergents can give the material pristine purity.
Ease of processing.
Ease of use.
Safety.
Significant resistance to high/low temperatures (-40°C/+120°C) and chemically aggressive substances.

Types of canopies

These designs are usually divided according to a number of parameters.

By configuration

Depending on the purpose and location of construction, there are the following types of canopies:

Gable awnings;
Combined type canopies;
Structures, the construction of which requires installation that is highly complex;
Semi-arched and arched canopies.

Expert opinion

Sergey Yurievich

Construction of houses, extensions, terraces and verandas.

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Each of the above types has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Pitched awnings

Shed options almost always represent a continuation of the existing roof. Capital hanging structures made of polycarbonate, due to its plasticity, are practically not made, except in those rare cases when materials of increased strength are used, supported by a significant number of pillars (supports). A gable canopy made of polycarbonate is quite expensive. This is explained by the many expensive elements that make up such a design.

Combined and complex canopies

Typically, such products are built according to individual design developments and are supplemented with decorative fragments and original architectural details. The design of a combined canopy can organically combine flat and arched areas. Such designs are made in single copies, exclusively to order.

Semi-arched or arched canopy

In this embodiment, the manufacture of a polycarbonate canopy requires the use profile pipes, bent to the desired radius. All dimensions (arch bend, profile length and cross-section, chord width) are calculated before work begins.

Canopies of these designs differ favorably from other options in that:

have high rigidity;
minimize wind loads;
prevent snow accumulation.

The fact that the manufacture of polycarbonate canopies is most often carried out in an arched version is due to the increased strength of such structures. They are not subject to wind vibrations, are reliable and very durable. Despite the complexity of their construction and the significant cost of performing the work, these canopies are bestsellers.

By purpose

Taking into account the tasks that canopies will solve, they are divided into several groups.

Canopies mounted above the porch or entrance doors

These canopies are a full-fledged element of the architectural decor of the facade, solving a dual problem:

protect from the effects of atmospheric factors (rain, snow, sun rays);
increase the visual appeal of the building.

Based on the type of construction, polycarbonate door canopies are divided into:

monolithic - canopies that create a single whole with the facade of the building. They are characterized by durability and strength;
modular - have a number of prefabricated elements, are easy to install and are often equipped with side canopies.

The shape of the canopy that we make with our own hands is determined by the project given in the technical specifications and is limited solely by the preferences of the customer.

Based on the type of fastening, these structures are divided into:

hanging;
complete with supports.

First presented lightweight structures and have small dimensions. They are usually secured using special hangers.

The latter are fixed with special supports (vertical, in the floor, or corner, in the wall).

Canopies can be made to size to suit general sizes structure and customer preferences. In this case, the width of the canopy should be wider than the entrance door, at least 500 mm. And the installed supports should not interfere with the full opening of the door leaves.

Carports for vehicles

When deciding how to make a polycarbonate canopy that protects your car from bad weather, the design is selected taking into account a number of factors:

Location (canopy adjacent to the house or a separate structure);
Availability of free space;
The number of cars that are planned to be covered;
General design of the building and site.

The greatest demand for free-standing canopies is the arched roof shape. This is explained by significant advantages:

The structure is monolithic, there are no joints or gaps that need to be closed;
Water and snow do not accumulate on roofs of this configuration;
The arch and semi-arch look very advantageous.

When attached to a house with your own hands, sheds require less space and time to construct. One side is fixed on the wall of the house, the second rests on two or more columns (supports).

Usually for carports it is pre-arranged concrete base, designed for the weight of the car. A polycarbonate canopy frame can have metal or wooden posts (depending on general design territory and main building). Possible options for construction from brick, natural stone or concrete.

Shade canopies

These structures are installed when it is necessary to create shade in a specific area. The solution is perfect for gazebos, summer cafes, terraces and walking areas of kindergartens.

For such canopies, polycarbonate is selected that is designed to transmit ≤ 60% of sunlight. Optimal materials for them, lightweight metal or wooden frame structures are considered.

Pool covers

In terms of demand among solvent customers, canopies for swimming pools take second place after similar structures for cars. This is explained by a number of significant advantages that their owners receive:

Water in indoor pools becomes polluted much more slowly, which allows you to significantly save on cleaning them;
You can use the pool for its intended purpose in bad weather (strong wind, rain);
Bathers are protected from direct UV radiation, so they will not get sunburned;
The cost of heating the water poured into the pool is reduced;
The intensity of evaporation is reduced, which means that water needs to be added less frequently;
The structure is protected from bad weather during the cold season.

Modern polycarbonate canopies for swimming pools are divided into:

Stationary;
Sliding or telescopic.

In the first case, your pool can safely be classified as indoor. Such structures have reliable foundations, a monolithic roof and cover an area larger than the surface of the pool. In fact, it is a separate building. It perfectly accommodates furniture for relaxation, a bar counter, etc., it can be electrified and supplied with heating.

In the second case, polycarbonate canopies over the pool are made in the form of a mobile structure, which extends only when necessary and can provide both complete and partial coverage of the pool surface.

In addition to these parameters, pool canopies can vary in the height of the roof. With the value of the mentioned characteristic being 1 meter, it plays a role protective structure, which covers communications and the pool mirror if necessary. If the distance to the ceiling exceeds 2 meters, this is already a full-fledged universal pavilion.

The construction of a polycarbonate canopy for these objects involves giving them various dome shapes:

Classic (visually represents a half-cylinder assembled from several sections);
Rectangular;
Complex shape;
Trapezoid shape;
The canopy can be made in an asymmetrical version.

Such polycarbonate buildings represent a metal frame covered with a translucent material, and fit perfectly into landscape design any style.

Canopies for terraces and balconies

Modern materials and technologies have made a polycarbonate canopy for a balcony or terrace one of the most acceptable options. This material is bright, strong and very durable.

Polycarbonate sheets are mounted on a lightweight metal frame. Awnings can be of any size and shape. And made from this material vertical walls visually make the balcony very attractive.

The decision to make a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands allows you to realize any designer’s plan. For example, turn the terrace into an attached winter garden.

conclusions

Both existing varieties polycarbonate are the optimal and balanced solution in terms of the cost of the material, its quality and the cost of performing work for arranging canopies of any purpose and configuration.

Video instructions on how to build a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands

To figure out how to calculate a polycarbonate canopy, you need to clearly imagine the structure and draw up a plan or drawing of the building. By and large, polycarbonate panels are just a covering that defines the total area, but in addition to this, there are also racks and a rafter system. In addition, the necessary materials will include connecting, corner and end profiles, fastening materials and (possibly) lighting. It is important to calculate every detail in order to obtain a strong and durable structure.

What parameters to consider when calculating polycarbonate for a canopy?

Bent roof on a garden plot

Please note that the strength of polycarbonate is much higher than the similar characteristics of glass (200 times), plastic and polyvinyl chloride. But not all panels can be bent, so their structure should be taken into account (sheets with triangular cells cannot be bent).

Selecting polycarbonate by thickness

First of all, in order to calculate a polycarbonate canopy, you need to take into account the possible mechanical load (snow, wind), on which the thickness of the panels depends. For monolithic panels, the thickness is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 8, 10 and 12 mm, they are called “vandal-proof”, since the sheets are difficult to break mechanically.

The difference in the structure of cellular polycarbonate

The honeycomb structure implies not only thickness, but also cell configuration:

SX is a five-layer 25mm sheet with inclined stiffeners. The thickness can also be 32 mm. Panels with triangular cells are not suitable for curved roofs;
SW - the sheet also consists of five layers, only the honeycombs have the shape of a rectangle (the ribs are located vertically). Thickness ranges from 16 to 20 mm;
3X - the sheet has 3 layers, the thickness is 16 mm, and the stiffeners are adjustable in density:
3H - made of 3 layers with a rectangular structure. The panel is produced in 6, 8 and 10 mm;
2H is the simplest sheet with square cells. Sheets are made in 4, 6, 8 and 10 mm.

Monolithic standard polycarbonate sheet

The thickness of the polycarbonate honeycomb structure varies only by 2 mm. That is, if the thinnest cellular sheet is 4 mm, and the thickest is 32 mm, then all intermediate dimensions will be a multiple of two.

Dimensions of polycarbonate sheet around the perimeter

Standard calculation of a polycarbonate canopy monolithic type made to dimensions 3050x2050 mm. If desired, you can agree with the manufacturer to change the perimeter of the panel, but a special order usually costs more.

Standard size cellular polycarbonate

Standards for cellular polycarbonate vary in two parameters, these are 210x600 cm and 210x1200 cm. Long sheets are convenient to use for wide canopies, for example, in collective parking lots with curved roofs, where joints are made only along the side edges. Also, upon request, the factory cuts from 1 m to 9 m, but this is only for colored panels.

There is also a profiled sheet, where the thickness does not exceed 1.2 mm, but, thanks to the wave, the height of which reaches 5 cm, the strength increases and precipitation is easily drained. The standard width is 126 cm and length is 224 cm.

Profiled (wavy) polycarbonate sheets

Calculation of materials by types of canopies and types of roofs

To calculate a canopy made of corrugated sheets, polycarbonate or any other material, you need to take into account the roof configuration and the type of supporting frame. Such canopies are made in three types - single-pitched, gable and curved (oval). The most complex is the bent type, but the whole problem lies only in manufacturing, not in operation.

Sheds attached to the house

In cases where one side of the frame rests on the wall of the house, the calculation of the canopy from rectangular pipe will be minus half vertical supports. That is, one side of the sheathing rests on the wall of the building. In any case, there must be a profile at the joints of the sheets, therefore, the distance between them is 126 cm, 210 cm or 205 cm, but this does not mean that the entire sheathing consists only of these profiles.

One side is attached to the wall of the house

In any case, the width of the roof must correspond to the parameters of the car and this is at least 3 m so that there is free passage. But such a length of the profile will cause its deformation (deflection), and this should be avoided; therefore, a rafter system will have to be made for the canopy.

When calculating a canopy for a house, you will need 6 vertical supports - only on one side, but if the structure is autonomous, then you will need twice as many risers - 12 pieces. The principle here is as follows - for each rafter leg, supports should be installed on both sides, but if one side is attached to the building, then risers are not needed there.

In addition, beams are installed along the length, and for a 6-meter width you will need 6 pieces - 2 at the edges of the overhangs, 2 along the pillars and 2 in the middle of the roof. If the length of the canopy is 10.5 m, then 10.5*6=63 m or 63/6=11 pieces of profiles. The ends of cellular polycarbonate are jammed with an end profile.

Drawing with dimensions for a lean-to building

Calculations for a free-standing canopy

To calculate the canopy in the yard, you should take into account not only its width and length, but also the amount of precipitation that falls in winter. The fact is that snow exerts a strong mechanical load and will have to be restrained in some way. The most optimal option for imparting rigidity to the frame is a triangle - this is the only geometric figure that does not provide for play.

For calculations, take a conventional roof width of 6 m, a length of 10.6 m and polycarbonate with a width of 2100 × 600 mm. Rafters can be made from a pipe profile 60x40 mm or from a wooden board 100x50 mm. Of course, a metal profile is better than wood and its service life has virtually no restrictions in the foreseeable future.

The principle of rafter construction

The drawing above shows a design where the upper part of the slope is 240 cm, and the rafter structure consists of 11 triangles - this is the best option. Considering the fact that metal profiles are usually 6 m in length, the width will be slightly less, but for each rafter leg 6 profiles will be required, taking into account vertical and inclined jumpers. In total you will need 6 rafters and 5 polycarbonate sheets.

Of course, you can save on metal and make only 2 triangles, as shown in the top photo. In this case, the calculation of the canopy frame will be reduced by at least 2 profiles for each rafter leg, but if there are 6 of them, then this is already 12 profiles. However, for an average amount of precipitation this is quite enough - you can calculate a lean-to canopy in budget mode, saving on metal.

Single-pitch autonomous design

Gable carports

For gable roofs calculation metal frame canopies are very similar to single-pitch ones, that is, the rigidity is created by the same triangles. Such canopies are usually made for large parking lots, the width of which exceeds 6 m, that is, there is room for parking several cars or buses.

The principle of installing polycarbonate does not change - at each joint there must be a profile and in this case This rafter legs. The number of triangles directly affects the rigidity of the structure - the more, the better. The best option is as follows - each linear meter is divided by a vertical profile, and this figure is divided diagonally into two triangles.

The principle of installing a gable canopy

To calculate a metal canopy, you need to immediately determine the dimensions of the roof, and for example, you can consider the same option of 10.6 × 6 m. To cover here, you will also need 5 sheets, but they will have to be cut in half, connecting in the center with a ridge profile. The number of metal vertical supports is twice the number of rafters; if there are 6 of them, then 12 risers will be required.

More longitudinal beams are needed here - 7 pieces - a ridge beam is added. Total:

2 profiles along the edges of the overhangs;
2 on pillars;
2 between the supports and the ridge;
1 – on the skate.

Scheme of gable construction

If we convert the longitudinal beams into pieces, then 10.5 * 7/6 = 12.25 or 13 six-meter profiles. The cross-section for such beams is the same as the rafters (usually 60×40 mm), but for risers they use a pipe of 80-100 mm or a pipe profile of a similar cross-section.

Advantage for gable roof is that the calculation of the metal structures of the canopy will be more economical. Two rafter legs with a jumper already form a triangle, which can be divided into two parts in the middle. As a result, you will get two figures with horizontal (bottom) sides of 3 m each.

Calculation of materials for a curved canopy

Calculating a canopy with a curved roof on your own is more difficult, since much here depends on its convexity, that is, the steeper the bend, the more materials are consumed. But you can start from the same dimensions: 10.5 m in length and 6 m in width, although the width here will be reduced due to bending.

Curved Carport

The clear advantage of this design is the saving of material when assembling the rafter system. For a given size, you can get by with only two or three rafter systems, along the edges and in the middle - all other legs are simply made in the shape of an arc without a lower jumper, as in the photo. A curved metal profile mounted on two supports in itself represents a rigid figure and the only question here is a good fastening of the risers.

In this case, the design of the carport will consist of 6 bent six-meter profiles, two or three of which are equipped with a jumper and divided into several triangles. Supports will also be required for each arc, which means there will be 12 of them. 6 longitudinal beams are enough:

2 along the edges of the overhangs;
2 on pillars;
2 along the roof.

Arched canopy design

In total, you get 12*10.5/6=21 and 4 more profiles for jumpers.

It is quite natural that for narrower canopies less material is consumed, but here it is important to take into account the length of the polycarbonate. That is, if you work with 6-meter sheets, then they should be used either entirely or cut in half so that there is no waste. In this case, the roof will be 6 m or 3 m wide, and the length will be adjusted as necessary.

As a result, we can say that the most economical design for a canopy will be with a curved roof, although this is the most complex option. However, in such designs you can save on metal profiles, so the benefit here is obvious.

If difficulties arise during the calculation process, you can use special programs and professional services.

Living in a private house, it is stupid to constantly be within four walls. And for a comfortable stay on the adjacent site, some kind of roof is needed. Preferably close to home. Or in other words – a canopy.

Canopies made of polycarbonate. Durable and practical design.

Types of canopies

A canopy, if you remove all the husks, is primarily a roof. He can be:

Without supports or with racks.
Stand alone.
Attached to the house.

In any case, the presence of walls is not specified. And the shape of the coating varies quite a lot. But the gradation is quite simple. Coverage can be:

1. Direct. It in turn is divided into:

Single slope.
Gable.

2. Figured. They have more gradations:

Concave.
Convex, or marquise. And depending on the relationship of the linear dimensions to each other and the method of arrangement of the guides, awnings can be made in the form of:
- Domes.
- Elongated dome.
- Arches.
- Elongated arch.

Various options for canopies. For every taste.

To make a canopy with your own hands, it is better not to consider shaped options. They require enviable skill and equipment to create bent profiles in strict accordance with the drawings. In this case, the curvature of the guides must be maintained along the entire length of each plank. The slightest deviation will visibly manifest itself during installation.

Direct awnings are much easier to make. It will take no more than one day to create them, and they will delight you for quite a long time.

Criteria for optimal canopy selection

We stopped at a straight awning. It’s easy to make it with your own hands, but you need to figure out the number of slopes and the degree of inclination.

A gable canopy is usually made over front door. It provides protection against rain penetration through open door. And nothing more. Its size is too small to allow one to rest under it. Organization of a gable canopy large sizes, will require an unjustified increase in material costs. This means that what remains is a lean-to canopy.

The angle of inclination is a little more difficult to figure out. To do this, you need to consider a cross-section of a lean-to canopy. He looks like right triangle, which one:

The vertical leg is attached to the wall.
The horizontal leg is parallel to the ground.
The hypotenuse is the canopy.

Canopy material and dimensions

To organize a canopy you will need:

Beam.
Two asbestos cement pillars.
Polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate for a canopy is ideal for the following reasons.

For a canopy, it is best to use cellular polycarbonate with a thickness of 8 mm or more.

The cheapest of transparent materials.
Has the highest strength.
It is safe when destroyed (it does not produce sharp fragments).
Easy to process.
Available in any region.

And what captivates us most is its long service life - 10 years.
The choice of color is the prerogative of the owner, but we would recommend green.

Now let's calculate the dimensions and amount of material.

The length and width of the canopy are selected purely individually. It is impossible to make recommendations without knowing the size of the house and your desires. As a recommendation, we advise making the length of the canopy a multiple of 2 m. This will avoid unnecessary work on fitting polycarbonate.

To calculate the quantity required material, to install a polycarbonate canopy you will need to measure several planes.

To calculate the length of the beam, again consider the canopy with a section, that is, like a triangle. And remember the school geometry course for the 6th grade. And so, we have:

The lower part of the canopy, or adjacent leg – A.
The vertical part of the canopy adjacent to the wall, or the opposite leg - B.
Hypotenuse, or canopy covering - C.
Angle between A and C = 30°
Tangent is the ratio of the opposite side (B) to the adjacent side (A). For an angle of 30°, the tangent is 0.577.
If the length of the lower leg is 4 m, then the vertical leg is 4 x 0.577 = 2.3 m.
We calculate the length of the canopy, or hypotenuse, using the cosine. That is, through the ratio of the adjacent leg (A) to the hypotenuse (C). For an angle of 30°, the cosine value is 0.866.
Length of the hypotenuse (C) = 4/0.866 = 4.62 m.

You will need timber of various sizes.

In addition, you will need the following material sizes:

Beam 200x100x6000 – 1 pc. (mauerlat between pillars)
Beam 200x100x6000 – 2 pcs. (bench and skating run)
Beam 150x100x4000 – 6 pcs. (contractions)
Beam 150x100x4620 – 6 pcs. (rafters)
Beam 100Х100х2100 – 2 pcs. (vertical fixation on the wall)
Polycarbonate, width 2 m, length 4.7 m – 3 pcs.
Asbestos-cement pipes ∅150 mm, 4 m long – 2 pcs.
Connecting one-piece profile for polycarbonate – 15 m.
End profile for polycarbonate – 16 m.

Consumables: self-tapping screws for timber and polycarbonate, plates and angles for fastening timber, a bag of cement and 3 bags of ASG, a kilogram of steel fiber, two pins 1 30 and ∅2 cm long.

Tools:

Shovel.
Screwdriver.
Hacksaw.
Plumb.
Rule.
Level (preferably laser).
Square.
Roulette.
Drill.

Sequence of work

There are many options for installing poles. Which one to choose is up to you.

Marking and installation of poles

Mark on the ground a place for the future canopy so that its long side (6 m) is adjacent to the wall of the house. As a result, two corners of the canopy will be adjacent to the house, and two will be at a distance of 4 m. It is necessary to dig holes in these two corners. The depth of the pit, you must adjust the height of the canopy. That is, taking into account the height of the asbestos-cement pillars (4 m) + the height of the timber (0.2 m), you determine the height of the canopy. Remember, the minimum depth of the hole should be 1 m.

A 10 cm layer of sand is poured onto the bottom of the pit and pillars are installed. The distance between the pillars should be 5.85 m. Please note that the distance is measured not between centers, but between the nearest points. Considering that 7.5 cm is half the diameter, then in total the distance between the centers of the pillars will be 5.85 + (0.075 + 0.075) = 6 m.

In the same way, the distance from the wall to the pipe is controlled, but the distance is already 3.93 m.

IMPORTANT: in both cases, the distance must be the same along the entire height of the pillar. This confirms the verticality of the installation, which is controlled by a plumb line.

The lower part of the post should be wrapped with a piece of roofing felt, which inside it must be thickly lubricated with grease. This procedure, coupled with sand cushion, will protect against squeezing out the support in case of possible swelling of the soil during frosts.

Concreting of supports. For dispersed reinforcement, use steel fiber in an amount of 0.7% of the total volume of the mixture.

The pit is filled with large crushed stone, and a small, 20-30 cm layer of concrete is poured on top. At the same time, concrete must be poured into the pipes themselves. This operation will serve as insurance for the stability of the support in case of damage. The volume of one pipe ∅15 cm and height 4 m is approximately equal to 70 liters. Filling two pillars and holes will require about 200 liters of concrete. To mix it, use a bag of cement and 3 bags of ASG. IMPORTANT: On top of each pipe, it is necessary to bury a pre-prepared wooden cube with a side of 10 cm flush in the concrete. The timber will be attached to it. For better fixation, you can slightly screw several large screws into the bottom side of the cube.

After pouring, once again check the verticality of the installation and the distance between the control points.
The time it takes for concrete to gain sufficient strength to further work, at an air temperature of 20-25°C, approximately 3 days. During this time, you can complete the second stage.

Installation of a support on the wall of a house

It is necessary to fix 2 horizontal beams on the wall.
The lower beam, the bench, must be fixed at such a height that its upper side is 20 cm higher than the level of the pillar.

Video: Flooring installation

The upper beam, the ridge girder, is fixed parallel to the beam. In this case, the distance between them should be 2.1 m. Taking into account the size of the ridge girder, this will give a height of 2.3 m. That is, it will allow maintaining an inclination angle of 30°.
Both beams are attached to the wall using corners that are placed around each element. This approach is less complicated, because screwing self-tapping screws into a wall through a 100 mm thick beam is extremely difficult. The corners should be twisted every 70-80 cm along the entire perimeter of the beam. One element will require 15-17 corners.

Between the ridge girder and the bed, two vertical beams are installed. They can be placed 20-30 cm from the edge of the structure. They should be secured only to horizontal structural elements through plates and corners.

IMPORTANT: During work, constantly monitor with laser level horizontal fit of elements. And before screwing the screws into the timber, be sure to drill a hole ∅1.5-2 mm.

Laying the mauerlat, fastening rafters and contractions

After the concrete has hardened, you can determine the location of the Mauerlat. It is laid on the end, and to fix it it is necessary to drill two through holes (one on each side). The continuation of these holes should be in wooden cubes that are recessed into the pillars. Pins 1 are inserted into these holes. Rigid fastening is not required here. Since the Mauerlat will be pressed down by the total weight of the structure, and the slight vertical mobility will protect the structure from destruction in the event of soil swelling in winter.

Fastenings are made using angles and plates.

Important: When working with the Mauerlat, check its horizontalness using a laser level. Remember that the upper end of the Mauerlat must be in the same plane as the upper end of the bench.

The next step is recording the contractions. The first two of them are attached to the edges of the structure and fixed with corners on the sides and top, and with plates at the bottom. Please note that the mauerlat and the bench have a height of 200 mm, and the contractions are 150. Therefore, they must be aligned along the lower end!

After attaching the two extreme contractions, the remaining 4 are installed and fixed in the same way, at an equal distance from each other.

The last step is installation of the rafters. Start working with the outermost elements. But unlike scrums, each rafter must be sawed off at the ends for a tight fit on both sides: to the ridge passage and the corner between the mauerlat and the scrum. Important feature At this stage, it is possible to determine the quality of previous work.

The fact is that all six rafters must be sawed down equally if the accuracy and scrupulousness of the previous work was carried out at a high level. Therefore, first attach one rafter to the place of fixation, mark the sawing points, and after adjustment, try to attach it to the other 5 points. If the discrepancies are not too large, then the reason may be linear defects in the lumber. And if the parameters match at all 6 fixation points, the work can be considered excellent.

Canopy structure installation diagram

But first you need to prepare, lay and fix all the rafters. Remember that on the top of the rafters there should be no protruding screw heads, much less plates.

Cellular polycarbonate flooring

At the last stage, only three sheets of polycarbonate need to be laid. The first sheet can be fixed without stepping on it, but by securing screws from a ladder or stepladder placed on the side. In this case, the screws must be screwed into each rafter, the step between each fixation element is 50 cm.

Each sheet of cellular polycarbonate is closed at the ends with a profile, and between them it is necessary to secure a connecting one-piece profile. When attaching the second and third sheets, to tighten the screws, you will need to climb onto the surface of the canopy. To protect the polycarbonate from damage and your own safety, use a board 40-50 cm wide. The steps are placed on it. It is still better to perform this stage of work together, using a safety, mounting belt.

You will have to work from a ladder, so be careful and careful.

Don't forget the following points:

After fixing the polycarbonate sheet, remove the protective film from it.
Cellular polycarbonate is fixed with special screws.
Before tightening the self-tapping screw, you need to drill a hole in the polycarbonate, the ∅ of which is slightly larger than the same parameter as the self-tapping screw.
All lumber should be treated with drying oil.

Canopy Decoration

By and large, this beautiful canopy it can't be done better. But you can create original lighting underneath it. Let's say using LED strip.

If necessary, the triangular ends of the canopy can be covered with cellular polycarbonate. Moreover, this will require only two cuts of a standard width (2 m) and a length of 2.4 m.

If desired, you can arrange a circular curtain made of tarapulin or tarpaulin. Some owners of such canopies approach this creatively, and such curtains can very quickly be rolled up and fixed on top.

The main thing is that you already have a canopy made of cellular polycarbonate, assembled with your own hands. And decoration and decoration is a matter of time.