Polycarbonate canopies adjacent to the house - what is it? A canopy made of polycarbonate attached to the house photo: instruction Attach a canopy made of transparent.

Sheds made of polycarbonate - street structures, universal for household purposes. The material is light, flexible, translucent in a large range of colors, convenient format, presented in different thicknesses, which allows you to design canopies of simple and complex curvilinear shapes. The buildings look light, elegant, do not overload the landscape, fit into any stylistic solution of the architectural ensemble on the site.

In the article we will give step-by-step instructions on 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 awnings - general criteria

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

  • independent, detached - canopies over the pool, greenhouses, parking for a car, 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, photo of large curved outbuildings

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

Indoor canopy made of polycarbonate

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

Sheds are supporting vertical pillars and a roof. The frame is made of wood, metal, less often of concrete, stone, brick.

Typical drawing of a free-standing polycarbonate canopy

Wooden sheds with polycarbonate roofing

Making canopies and canopies from polycarbonate on a wooden base is the most budgetary and easiest way to independently make a small architectural form on the site. The work does not require professional equipment, household hand tools are enough. To build a wooden canopy made of polycarbonate with your own hands, glued and profiled timber 100 * 100 or 150 * 150 mm, rounded log ∅150-200 mm, tree trunks, strapping and Mauerlat are made of the same material. For the truss system of outbuildings, according to SNiP, a 40 * 100 mm edged board is required.

Sketch of a wooden canopy made of polycarbonate

The main disadvantages are combustibility, poor moisture resistance as a result - rotting, fungal infections, loss of strength, aesthetics. Rodents, small bugs can cause significant damage to the bearing elements. Wooden canopies and canopies made of polycarbonate 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 building with a sloping roof

metal awnings

Before you make a canopy of polycarbonate on a metal frame, you should choose the type of building:

  • Welded from a profiled or round pipe - the most popular polycarbonate canopies. For vertical racks, pipes ∅50-150 mm are used, depending on the size of the building, for strapping - a profile with a rib of 40-80 mm, for a farm - 25-50 mm.
  • Forged - beautiful, elegant, but quite costly from a financial point of view. On the construction market, you can buy stamped forged parts and create your own exclusive product.
  • Prefabricated aluminum.

A canopy to the house made of polycarbonate, in the photo is a hanging forged cantilever visor

For polycarbonate canopies up to 5 m, a profile with a wall thickness of 2 mm, a cross section of 40 * 20 mm is used; for buildings over 5.5 m, a roll of 3 * 40 * 40 or 2 * 30 * 60 mm is required.

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. Then cover with primer, paint, preferably hammer paint, it copes well with chemical, biological and mechanical stress.

Sketch of a suspended polycarbonate canopy over the entrance

Brick, stone and concrete

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

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 network, there are single and double slope, arched, cascading, cone, domed, wavy are less common.

Typical options for polycarbonate awnings

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

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

Cascade cantilever canopy made of polycarbonate

The simplest option is a shed polycarbonate canopy, the optimal angle of inclination of the roof is 22-30 o. Rafters are made of wood or it is a truss - a horizontal, curved or triangular frame with supporting braces, racks at an angle inside the main structure.

Scheme for a shed building

To create a project you need:

  • The scheme of the canopy with the type of roof, the type of lower and upper belts depends on this.
  • Drawings of polycarbonate canopies should include the dimensions of the building, since the load varies in direct proportion to the size. It is important to determine the upper and lower points of the slope, the smaller the slope, the more snow will accumulate on the roof.
  • Consider 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 load in the region can be found in special tables.

Double slope polycarbonate canopy - a project with forged elements

Farms are calculated according to the SNiP regulations in section 2.01.07-85, it is difficult for independent calculations, engineering education is required, as well as special software. To avoid mistakes, it is recommended to use an online calculator or take a ready-made project. Loads and impacts are specified in the SNiP standards in part 2.01.07-85, the rules for the manufacture of metal structures - P-23-81 SNiP.

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

In order not to get confused in complex calculations, use the 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 ratio of 1: 5;
  • If the slope is 15-22 o, the dimensions are in a ratio of 1: 5, but the braces should be low-descent, an even number of belts is necessarily made, optimally - 8.
  • A smaller slope is appropriate for large industrial buildings, engineering calculations are needed here, the length and height of the run should be in a ratio of 1:7, 1:9.

Simple diagrams of how to make polycarbonate rafters for a canopy

Calculation of a canopy made of polycarbonate from a profile pipe

We take as a basis a canopy, 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:

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

Polycarbonate performance table

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

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

  • the main elements are a profile pipe 30 * 30 mm, the length of the lower ones is 3.1 m, we recall the Pythagorean theorem: the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the legs, we 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 °.

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

Standard scheme of a small farm

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

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

  • Details, as well as load-bearing elements, must not be cracked.
  • The end roughness of the support rib is determined by GOST 2789-73 - Ra £12.5 µm.
  • 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 made by mechanical type welding, in carbon dioxide 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 the rafters to the rafter elements and vertical columns, class 5.8 bolts are used according to paragraph 7798-70 GOST.

Drawing of an asymmetric arched canopy

Practical construction

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

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

How to fix vertical supports

When the solution is completely up, we connect the pillars along the heads, check the geometry, the diagonals must be equal.

Farms are best cooked on the ground, according to the chosen scheme, the most common ones are shown in the photo above. The finished parts are lifted, distributed evenly over the strapping, in our case, every meter. The attachment points of the longitudinal slats and rafters are made using steel scarves, as well as welding or bolting.

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

Runs will strengthen the frame, this will more securely fix the polycarbonate

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

How to work with polycarbonate

It is better to cut polycarbonate with a circular saw equipped with a hard-alloy disc with undiluted fine teeth. Holes should be made with a drill with a drill for metal, between the stiffeners. At the upper ends of the honeycomb panels, strips and self-adhesive tape for sealing should be installed, the lower ones cannot be closed.

There are 2 ways in total:

  • Thermal washers - holes are made 2 mm larger than the fastening 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. Such fastening is called point, the washer tightly holds the polycarbonate and prevents its deformation when heated.

How to fix polycarbonate on a canopy with a thermal washer

  • A special profile is a bar 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 connections: corner, docking, one-piece, wall, detachable and special for docking, if you need to change the configuration of the roof.

Photo instruction on how to attach polycarbonate to the metal frame of the canopy using a profile

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

Types of fastening polycarbonate to the crate

Arched canopies made of polycarbonate and other structures, 30 PHOTOS, as well as schemes and types of farms, the manufacture and installation of a canopy made of polycarbonate with your own hands


Arched and gable canopies attached to a polycarbonate house, photo designs. The choice of farms, the manufacture and installation of a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands

Do-it-yourself polycarbonate canopies for a private house

Living in a private house, it is stupid to constantly be within four walls. And for a comfortable stay in the adjacent area, 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

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

  • Without supports or with stands.
  • 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:

2. Curly. They have more gradations:

  • Concave.
  • Convex, or Marquise. And already, depending on the ratio of linear dimensions to each other and the way the guides are located, awnings can be made in the form:
    • Domes.
    • Elongated dome.
    • Arches.
    • Elongated arch.

Various awning options. For every taste.

For making a canopy with your own hands, it is better not to consider curly options. They require an enviable skill and the availability of 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 already during installation.

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

Criteria for the optimal choice of canopy

We stopped on a straight line. 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 performed above the front door. It provides protection against rain entering through an open door. And no more. Its size is too small to rest under it. The organization of a large gable canopy will require an unjustified increase in the cost of materials. So, there remains a single-slope canopy.

The angle of inclination is somewhat more difficult to deal with. For this, it is necessary to consider a shed canopy in section. It looks like a right triangle with:

  • 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:

Polycarbonate for a canopy is the best fit for the following reasons.

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

  1. The cheapest of transparent materials.
  2. Has the highest durability.
  3. It is safe when destroyed (it does not produce sharp fragments).
  4. Easy to handle.
  5. Available in any region.

And most of all it captivates its long service life - 10 years.

The choice of color is the owner's prerogative, but we would recommend green.

Now let's calculate the size 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 you to make the length of the canopy a multiple of 2 m. This will avoid unnecessary work on fitting the polycarbonate.

To calculate the amount of material needed, for installing 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, as a triangle. And remember the school geometry course for the 6th grade. And so, we have:

  • The lower part of the canopy, or the adjacent leg - A.
  • The vertical part of the canopy adjacent to the wall, or the opposite leg - B.
  • Hypotenuse, or canopy cover - C.
  • Angle between A and C = 30°
  • Tangent is the ratio of the opposite leg (B) to the adjacent one (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.
  • The length of the canopy, or the hypotenuse, is calculated through 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.
  • The length of the hypotenuse (C) \u003d 4 / 0.866 \u003d 4.62 m.

You will need a bar of various sizes.

And in addition, you will need material of the following sizes:

  • Beam 200x100x6000 - 1 pc. (Mauerlat between pillars)
  • Beam 200x100x6000 - 2 pcs. (lying down and skating run)
  • Beam 150x100x4000 - 6 pcs. (contractions)
  • Beam 150x100x4620 - 6 pcs. (rafter)
  • Bar 100X100x2100 - 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.
  • One-piece connecting profile for polycarbonate - 15 m.
  • End profile for polycarbonate - 16 m.

Consumables: self-tapping screws for timber and polycarbonate, plates and corners for attaching timber, a bag of cement and 3 bags of PGS, a kilogram of steel fiber, two studs 1 30 and ∅2 cm long.

Sequence of work

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

Marking, and installation of pillars

Designate a place on the ground for the future canopy so that the 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. In these two corners, you need to dig holes. The depth of the hole, you must adjust the height of the canopy. That is, given the height of the asbestos-cement pillars (4 m) + the height of the timber (0.2 m), you determine the height of the canopy. At the same time, remember - the minimum depth of the pit should be 1 m.

A layer of sand 10 cm is poured at the bottom of the pit and poles are installed. The distance between the posts should be equal to 5.85 m. Please note that the distance is not measured between centers, but between the nearest points. Given 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 over the entire height of the post. This confirms the verticality of the installation, which is controlled by a plumb line.

The lower part of the column should be wrapped with a piece of roofing material, which must be thickly greased with grease on the inside. Such a procedure, coupled with a sand cushion, will prevent the support from being squeezed out in case of possible swelling of the soil during frosts.

Pole concreting. 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 gravel, 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. Such an operation will serve as insurance for the stability of the support, in case of damage. The volume of one pipe ∅15 cm and a height of 4 m is approximately equal to 70 l. It will take about 200 liters of concrete to fill two pillars and pits. To mix it, use a bag of cement and 3 bags of PGS. IMPORTANT: On top of each pipe, it is necessary to drown flush in concrete a pre-prepared wooden cube with a 10 cm edge. A beam will be attached to it. For better fixation, several large self-tapping screws can be screwed 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 for concrete to gain strength sufficient for further work, at an air temperature of 20-25 ° C, is approximately 3 days. During this time, you can complete the second stage.

Mounting the support on the wall of the house

On the wall it is necessary to fix 2 horizontal beams.

The lower beam, the bed, must be fixed at such a height that its upper side is 20 cm higher than the level of the column.

The upper beam, ridge run, is fixed parallel to the bed. At the same time, the distance between them should be 2.1 m. Taking into account the dimensions of the ridge run, this will give a height of 2.3 m. That is, it will allow you to maintain an angle of inclination of 30 °.

Both beams are attached to the wall with the help of corners that are placed around each element. This approach is less complicated, because it is extremely difficult to screw self-tapping screws into the wall, through a beam 100 mm thick. Corners should be twisted every 70-80 cm around the entire perimeter of the timber. One element will require 15-17 corners.

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

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

Laying mauerlat, fastening rafters and contractions

After the concrete has hardened, the Mauerlat can be determined in place. It fits 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. Studs 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 a small vertical mobility will protect the structure from destruction in the event of swelling of the soil in winter.

Fastenings are carried out using corners and plates.

Important: When working with a Mauerlat, check its horizontal position using a laser level. Remember that the upper end of the Mauerlat should be in the same plane as the upper end of the bed.

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

After fastening the two extreme fights, the remaining 4 are similarly installed and fixed, at an equal distance from each other.

The last step is the installation of rafters. Start work with extreme elements. But unlike fights, each rafter must be sawn from the ends for a snug fit on both sides: to the ridge passage and the angle between the Mauerlat and the fight. An important feature of this stage is the ability to determine the quality of previous work.

The fact is that all six rafters should be equally sawn in the event that 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, designate the sawing points, and after fitting, try to attach it to the remaining 5 points. If the discrepancies are not too large, then the reason may be in the linear defects of the lumber. And if the parameters match for all 6 fixation points, the work can be considered excellent.

The installation scheme of the canopy structure

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 caps of self-tapping screws, and even more so plates.

Honeycomb polycarbonate flooring

At the last stage, it is necessary to lay only three sheets of polycarbonate. The first sheet can be fixed without stepping on it, but by fixing screws from a ladder or stepladder attached to 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 fix 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 polycarbonate from damage and their own safety, they use a board 40-50 cm wide. On which steps are stuffed. This stage of work is still best done together, using a safety, mounting belt.

You have to work from the stairs, so be careful and accurate.

Don't forget the following points:

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

canopy decoration

By and large, such a beautiful canopy can no longer be made better. But under it you can make the original lighting. Let's say with the help of LED strip.

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

If desired, you can organize a circular curtain of tarapulin or tarpaulin. Some owners of such canopies are creative, and such curtains can be rolled up very quickly and fixed on top.

The main thing is that a do-it-yourself canopy made of cellular polycarbonate is already there. And decoration and decoration is a matter of time.

Do-it-yourself canopies for a polycarbonate house, photos, instructions, drawings, videos


How to build a polycarbonate canopy for the house with your own hands - step-by-step instructions, choosing and calculating the amount of material for construction, mounting to the wall of the house, polycarbonate coating.

Recently, more and more often, owners of private households began to supplement their homes with such an element as a polycarbonate canopy. This design performs several functions at once. One of them is to protect part of the yard from precipitation and other atmospheric factors. In addition, the canopy attached to the house is also an element that performs an aesthetic function.

About the appearance of a polycarbonate canopy attached to the house, photos from the Internet will allow you to get a visual representation. When creating it, supports play an important role, which are brought to the required height, thereby providing comfort for the owner when moving under a canopy. It is enough to have free time and the desire to take a hammer in your hand to build such a structure with your own hands.

Types of structures for polycarbonate canopies

Regardless of whether the canopy is located separately from a private house or adjoins it, forming a single whole, the same rule applies to all structures: the object under construction must be in good harmony with the architectural forms of the structure and not violate the harmony created on the landscape area. design. Sheds that are attached to the house rest on racks. One of their sides adjoins the wall of the house or garage. At the moment, there are several varieties of such structures:

Polycarbonate canopies: advantages

Sheds attached to a private house are incredibly popular at the moment. Many homeowners decide to build such a structure. They are driven by different reasons. Some want transform your home and make it more beautiful. Others need protection from the weather, and besides this, a place for a comfortable rest in their free time. It should be said that structures created from polycarbonate have a number of advantages. Among them, the following should be noted:

Thus, we can say that the structures created from polycarbonate are affordable and easy to erect. If desired, its device in the house can be carried out at minimal cost, if you decide to carry out the work yourself. In this case, you get an inexpensive object that will serve you for a long time, delighting you with its aesthetic appearance.

How to make a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands: instructions

In order to create a polycarbonate canopy adjacent to the house with your own hands, you need to be well prepared for this important event. First of all you should think about the tools and materials that you will need during the work.

materials

If you want to create a reliable structure that will delight you with its appearance and serve for a long time, then you need to pre-calculate the material for your design. To carry out the work you will need:

Instruments

Effective and fast work on the construction of a polycarbonate structure is impossible without modern tools. It is necessary to prepare before starting construction:

  • welding machine;
  • screwdriver;
  • circular saw with a set of disks;
  • electric jigsaw;
  • level;
  • shovel.

Carrying out calculations

Quite often, owners refuse to invite professional specialists to create attached to the house polycarbonate canopy. At some point, they have a strong desire to do this work with their own hands. So that in the end, after performing all the manipulations, an object appears on your site that would become a source of pride for you, you need to thoroughly prepare for this responsible work.

First, it is worth seeing what a polycarbonate structure created by craftsmen looks like. Photos from the Internet will help you with this. If you are not aware of the operations that are performed during the construction of this structure, the sequence of their implementation, then worth checking out with a video on the construction of an object from polycarbonate. Then many questions will disappear from you. Getting acquainted with polycarbonate awnings, the drawings also deserve attention. To avoid unnecessary work, you can use a ready-made drawing from the Internet.

Before starting work, it is necessary to create a project, which should include sketches of the future structure. The latter should demonstrate how the structure attached to your house should turn out after all the work is completed. If you do not want to use the drawing of a structure already created by someone, you can create your own unique blueprint taking into account the size of your house, starting from your requirements for a canopy. All dimensions of the future structure must be entered in the drawing. It is on them that you will have to focus when calculating the amount of materials.

Installation of structures

It is worth starting the construction of the structure with the marking of the site. When you have done this, you need to dig recesses, the length of which can vary from 0.5 to 1.5 m. installation frame racks. The depth of the holes for the racks will largely depend on how high the canopy will be. Parts are installed in the trench, with the help of which the frame racks will be fixed. Then they need to be poured with concrete mixture.

Next, you need to remove the soil throughout the site to a depth of 15–20 cm. After completing this event, a pillow is arranged. People who have already been involved in construction know that it is necessary to use sand and gravel to create it. When it is ready, you should carefully tamp it.

After that, work is carried out on laying the finish coating in the form of a lawn grid or paving. Sometimes, in order to save money, they simply arrange a concrete screed. When creating a frame for a canopy adjacent to the house, photo and video instructions help to avoid mistakes. Often during construction use the same material that was used to create other buildings. The basis for creating the frame of your canopy can be wooden supports or blanks made of steel or aluminum.

Installation of polycarbonate sheets

When creating a canopy attached to the house, it is necessary to seriously approach the choice of polycarbonate. When choosing sheets pay attention follows the thickness of the panels. It must be sufficient. In this case, during operation, the canopy you created will easily withstand any load and, in addition, will please you with a long service life.

The first step is to decide where you will install solid sheets. Based on this point, then it is necessary to select the places of joining of the cut parts. To fix polycarbonate sheets, special washers or self-tapping screws should be used.

The use of washers is necessary in order to exclude the penetration of moisture through the holes in the sheets. They should be fixed quite reliably, while during this work the laying of materials should be controlled. Sheets should be stacked evenly without distortions.

The peculiarity of polycarbonate is that it has good flexibility, so the material can take the shape you need quite easily. Do not worry about the fact that when bending a sheet, it may break in a place where a bend is not provided.

The joining of sheets to each other must be carried out using special connecting elements. They can be easily purchased at a building materials store. In their appearance, they represent strips that made of plastic and has a groove on both sides. Such elements are designed to enter individual polycarbonate sheets. It is worth resorting to their use in cases where it becomes necessary to hide the seam.

When installing polycarbonate sheets, it is necessary to ensure a minimum gap for each sheet. In this case, during thermal expansion, the deformation of polycarbonate will be excluded. In addition, it is necessary to close all the ends of the material, since dirt can penetrate through them, which will spoil the appearance of your canopy.

Conclusion

A polycarbonate canopy in our time is an indispensable element of any country house. It is a functional structure that allows you to hide from the weather and make the house attractive. If you wish transform your home, then the choice in favor of such a structure is the right decision. You can easily build it with your own hands, since the construction technology of such structures is quite simple. It is only necessary to create a project, prepare sketches and drawings. And you can get to work.

Photos of polycarbonate canopies attached to the house will allow you to decide what kind of structure you want to see on your site. If you never did construction of such structures, then familiarization with the video instructions will allow you to understand how their construction takes place. Having learned how to build a canopy with your own hands, in the future you can easily realize your desire, avoiding mistakes.

Which canopy to build - it all depends on your desire. A simple option is a single-sided design. If you want to add originality to the look of your home, then you should choose an arched structure.

By using quality materials and following the directions in the polycarbonate building instructions, you will end up with a beautiful element attached to your home. He will decorate your private dwelling and add zest to landscape design. Together with a canopy, a place will appear on your site in which you can hide in bad weather. It can also be used to relax in your spare time.

Reading time ≈ 13 minutes

In our time, it is difficult to imagine a cottage or yard without various structures other than a house or a cottage. Lovely gazebos, practical carports and much more can be found in the yard. Most often, polycarbonate is chosen for such purposes. And how to make a canopy of polycarbonate with your own hands, let's talk further. Because buying a finished product is often quite expensive, and does not always meet your requirements.

Polycarbonate canopy

Polycarbonate, what is it?

Polycarbonate is a polymer plastic and is widely used today in the construction industry. It is highly durable and light weight. The material has become an excellent alternative to PVC panels. Polycarbonate sheets are produced by extrusion from polycarbonate granules.

Polycarbonate sheets

There are two types of polycarbonate sheets.

  • Cellular.

Impact-resistant panels that are transparent or matte. They have two balls or more, which are connected by internal stiffeners that are oriented to the length of the sheet. There is air between the ribs, which provides high thermal insulation performance. Thanks to the stiffening ribs, strength is increased, but at the same time, the lightness of the material is maintained. Despite being rigid, the sheets can be cold-bent. So it is often used in structures that have complex geometry.

  • Monolithic.

Such panels are optically transparent. The construction is solid and impact resistant. There are no voids inside.

Polycarbonate boards have many advantages that explain its high popularity and prevalence.

  1. Transparency allows enough light to pass through. But at the same time, it does not pass ultraviolet, which has a negative effect.
  2. Good flexibility allows you to create different shapes.
  3. High impact resistance.
  4. Light weight, which allows not to burden massive structures.
  5. Polycarbonate is non-flammable, so there is no possibility of fire.
  6. The constructed structures have a beautiful aesthetic appearance.
  7. Keeps heat inside the entire structure due to the special design.
  8. Due to the presence of a variety of colors, you can choose what suits you best in a particular case.
  9. It is easy to work with it, because it does not require special devices and tools. You can cut the sheets with a regular clerical knife. Attach to the overall structure easily with self-tapping screws.

But, despite such qualities, polycarbonate has some disadvantages, like any other material. They can be encountered both during construction and after - in the process of using a hinged structure. Namely:

  1. After some time, the sheets may crack. In this case, it will be necessary to replace the damaged sections.
  2. The destruction of polycarbonate can be caused by violations of the rules for mounting and fastening sheets.
  3. In the event of errors in frame design, the weight of snow can damage thin sheets of material. In other words, they simply cannot support the total weight of the snow cover.

As you can see, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. So the formation of hinged structures made of polycarbonate is fully justified. But do not rush into the pool with your head. Before you build a polycarbonate canopy, you need to think and design everything well. It is important to choose the right size not only, but also to create a sketch.

The use of polycarbonate canopies and their varieties

To date, the use of polycarbonate is very wide. Sheds made of this material can be found not only in the private sector, but also in the center of a big city. These structures serve different purposes. After all, they protect from bad weather and sunlight:

  • car parking;
  • Summer shower;
  • outdoor swimming pool;
  • barbecue and barbecue;
  • places for rest;
  • playgrounds;
  • gates and gates;
  • outlets;
  • open summer areas and terraces of cafes and restaurants.

Most often, a polycarbonate canopy is used not in white transparent, but in color. This is due to the fact that such polycarbonate has a very low level of light transmission. Its use to create canopies helps to keep them slightly cool and shaded, as the material prevents excessive heating under the roof.

In addition to wide application, there are many varieties of canopy configurations:

  • straight inclined;
  • straight straight;
  • curved or concave straight lines;
  • single-sided and double-sided;
  • domed;
  • arched;
  • wavy;
  • multifaceted;
  • pyramidal.

A correctly made calculation will help you personally create masterpieces of the most incredible form in your country house. And it does not need to resort to the help of a team of builders.


Video: polycarbonate canopy

Material selection and preparatory work

Before construction, you must clearly understand why you are building a canopy and what functions it should perform. Therefore, when calculating, it is necessary first of all to take into account several facts that will help to make the correct calculations:

  • functional task of the canopy;
  • design of structures that are around the future canopy;
  • dimensions of the object to be covered with a canopy;
  • location of the structure;
  • dimensions and technical parameters of panels;
  • wind strength in a given region, what maximum mark has been reached.

All these parameters are important for design, since not only the beauty of the structure, but also its strength and functionality will depend on it.

If you decide to make a canopy, then you need to decide on the sheets for installation. Therefore, you immediately choose the color of the polycarbonate sheets and their thickness in order to make blanks. The thickness of the sheets of the honeycomb version can be in the range of 4-12 mm. The standard size of a polycarbonate sheet is 2.1 m wide, six or twelve meters long. For a conventional canopy, a thickness of 4 to 8 mm is sufficient. The use of sheets of 10 and 12 mm is recommended in those regions where there is an increased level of snow cover and strong winds.

If desired, you can cut the sheets in accordance with the required dimensions (depending on the parameters of the future structure). And to minimize the waste of materials, optimize the dimensions of the canopy itself to the dimensions of the plastic plates. Therefore, the length of the canopy must be a multiple of the width of the sheet. So the length could be:

  • 2.1 m;
  • 4.2 m;
  • 6.3 m;
  • 8.4 m;
  • 10.5m and so on.

The width can be a multiple of 2, 3, 4, 6, 12 m and beyond. This will be the most rational construction.

Polycarbonate sheets of various thicknesses

How to choose the right sheet thickness?

It is necessary to be guided by the principle - the overall design must withstand the amount of snow that falls in the winter. It is worth noting that for the most part this will depend on how reliably the frame of the structure is made, and not on the quality of the material itself. So with the right calculation, you can mount even the thinnest polycarbonate sheets. In addition, such use at times will save you the construction budget.

Selecting design options with drawings

After choosing the thickness of the material, you need to choose the correct dimensions for the future canopy. To do this, you can go three ways.

In the case of creating a canopy under which the car will stand, you need to add at least 30 cm to its dimensions in all directions. As for the height, it must be at least 10 cm higher than the car itself. This is necessary for proper ventilation.

Canopy over the car

  • Porch of the house.

When making a canopy over the porch of the house, you need to add 30 cm to the left and right of the entrance door. This way you keep the floor dry when it rains and the person doesn't get wet when they enter.

  • Canopy over the pool.

After measuring the dimensions of the pool, make each parameter 30 cm longer.

Canopy over the pool

In any case, the height of the canopy should be no less than the average height of a man - 180 cm. So the canopy will not create inconvenience for the passage of people and other movements.

After determining the dimensions, you need to draw a drawing. Following it, it will be much easier for you to carry out construction. In addition, he will help to do everything right, without forgetting anything. A properly created drawing should include some basic information:

  1. basic design parameters (width, height, length);
  2. roof, what shape it will have;
  3. the material that must be used to create the supporting elements and the frame itself;
  4. the required number of all fasteners and accessories for the installation of polycarbonate sheets;
  5. materials and parameters of the site, which is under a canopy.

The canopy itself is in most cases formed in the form of an arch on the front side. In this case, the bending radius of the honeycomb polycarbonate sheet must be the same as the height of the entire extension.

Canopy over arched porch

When you have already prepared a canopy scheme, you can begin to calculate the amount of material that is needed for construction. For example, you need to build a canopy over the porch of a house that does not have arched elements. The front door is 80 cm wide.

Polycarbonate canopy drawing

Experts suggest using the following formula: the width of the structure is H \u003d 30 (left margin) + 30 (right margin) + 80 (door width) \u003d 140 cm.

Let's assume that from the wall of the house to the edge of the first step of the porch, the distance is 1 m. The canopy should also be 1 m long.

It is good to use a square-shaped profile pipe as a frame for a canopy. It is better to choose a cross section of 0.25 x 0.25 cm. Three segments of 1 m long are enough, which are interconnected transversely at the edge, which will support the polycarbonate sheets.

Canopy frame

As supporting elements, you can use a steel pipe with a diameter of 32 mm. Enough of two pillars that need to be fixed in the ground. The height should reach the upper edge of the door, but not less than two meters. Do not forget about the additional 0.5 m of the pipe, which will be dug into the ground.

When building with polycarbonate, you need to stock up on the following tools:

  • stationery knife for cutting sheets;
  • Bulgarian;
  • screwdriver for mounting a canopy;
  • tape measure for accurate measurement of parameters.

To build a polycarbonate canopy correctly, you must use the appropriate drawings. And detailed photos of the construction process are presented below.

Construction of a canopy from polycarbonate sheets

The construction itself is actually tied to a variety of factors. Including how the structure will be located relative to the walls. The shape of the roof is also important. It is chosen in accordance with the given functions, available finances and desires.

Proper extension of the canopy over the porch in a private house

The design can be made attached to the most private house. To do this, just do the following:

  • For support elements, take an ordinary square-shaped steel pipe. Its cross section should be 0.25 x 0.25 cm. Using a grinder, cut the pipe to the desired size. Based on the above formula, you need to cut three pieces of the profile one meter each. And one cut should be 1.4 m long. Plus, you need to take two pipes, the length of which is 2.5 m.

When working with a grinder, do not neglect the safety rules

  • Bury two pipes to a depth of half a meter, which will be the support of the canopy. You need to dig near the edge of the first step. It is better to fill the base of the columns with concrete to strengthen the structure. To do this, mix sand, cement and gravel in a ratio of 1: 1: 1 and mix with water. With this solution, fill the holes where the pipes are installed.
  • On the wall of the house, stepping up from the door by 20 cm, fix the ends of the sections of the square-shaped profile, the length of which is 3 m. Use metal corners and large self-tapping screws as fasteners. To make it easier and faster to work, use a screwdriver. In addition, it will securely fix the screws. Be prepared for the fact that you may have to work with a puncher if the house is built of brick. In this case, using a perforator, you need to make holes, where the screws are then inserted. But before that, you need to put plastic dowels into the holes. It is important that a couple of segments from the edge rest on the installed poles.
  • Next comes the installation of the transverse profile. Its ends also need to be supported on columns of pipes. To connect meter segments perpendicularly, you need to take self-tapping screws and fix the metal corners with them. Following the drawings in the end, you will get a frame that has a slight slope.

Sloped frame

  • Take a cellular polycarbonate of a suitable size from a single piece. Here you need to use a clerical knife. If you cut along the honeycomb, then cutting will be easy. But when cutting transversely, you should work a little. To speed up the process, you can use a jigsaw.
  • Using a screwdriver and self-tapping screws, attach the polycarbonate parts to the profile frame. To prevent the sheet from bending and breaking, during installation it is worth laying the sheets so that the honeycombs are parallel to the wall.

Canopy over the porch made of polycarbonate

As you can see, building a canopy from this material is quite simple and fast. This is especially useful in the country to give even more comfort.

Construction of a canopy with arched elements over the pool

Let's talk about the second option, when the canopy is separate from the house. For example, over the pool. How to independently make a polycarbonate canopy with arch elements, we will consider further. There are several nuances here that should be taken into account. After all, the house that serves as a support will not be here.

Therefore, the step-by-step instruction for this case is as follows.

  • Initially, you need to install support pillars. The technology of their installation is described in the first variant. They are made of the same steel pipe with a diameter of 32 mm. But there is one feature. You need to bury them indented at the corners by 30 cm along the diagonal of the pool, which we carry out in our minds.
  • On top of these supporting elements, a frame is installed, which is made of a square metal profile. It is best to use arched elements. In this case, the best option would be to contact a specialized construction company. Making it yourself is very difficult.

Frame with arch elements

  • The frame ends to create the roof must be welded to the supporting pillars using a welding machine. So the design will be more reliable and strong.
  • It remains only to lay the polycarbonate sheets one after another. So you need to continue until the entire frame is filled. Sheets must be carefully joined to each other.

Installation of sheets of cellular polycarbonate

The suspended structure above the pool is ready. If you want to make such a canopy over the barbecue, car, recreation area, then you should follow the same principle.

The built polycarbonate canopy is famous for its durability, especially if regular maintenance is carried out. All that needs to be done is to inspect the fasteners in what condition they are. Particular attention should be paid to the cellular polycarbonate sheets themselves so that there are no cracks or other damage. If any are found, minor repairs should be made. It involves the replacement of damaged self-tapping screws or the coating itself (where there are cracks).

In addition, on such a canopy, as on any other structure, dirt, dust, other debris and pollution accumulate over time.

It is forbidden to use such substances, which include:

  • ammonia;
  • alkalis;
  • phenols;
  • ethers;
  • acids;
  • other aggressive substances.

It is also forbidden to use sharp objects that can easily scratch and damage the polycarbonate, as seen in the photo.

Even more interesting features and nuances of the construction of a canopy made of plastic plates of an unusual shape can be seen in the video.

Everyone can build a good polycarbonate canopy with their own hands. This does not require much time or effort. You just need to be patient and, of course, building materials. The cost of construction is not expensive, but will bring many benefits and last a very long time. The main thing is to follow the given instructions and proper care.

Polycarbonate canopies are becoming more and more popular in private housing construction. This is well deserved - the material is available both for self-assembly and at a cost. The forms of canopies and visors with an intelligent approach will make the facade and the adjacent territory individual - bends, concavities, arches.

In combination with a metal frame, it looks stylish and expensive. However, to achieve a professional result is possible only with experience. And as a training, below is described - how to make a shed canopy with your own hands. This is the simplest form, however, has not lost its beauty.

Types of polycarbonate and the right choice of raw materials

The industry offers the consumer several types of building material, which have some differences from each other and, accordingly, advantages and disadvantages. All products are united by common qualities:

Any type of polycarbonate is subject to self-processing, and the light weight of the structure will allow installation almost alone. So the types:

Based on what has been written, it is better to choose cellular polycarbonate for the construction of a canopy.

Design choice

The type of polycarbonate, its color, and the shape of the canopy can influence the purpose of the structure. So, for example, a shed carport would not be the best option. It is also easy to make it with your own hands, but at the same time it will collect all the heat of the sun's rays under it, which will negatively affect the car.

For an iron horse, it is better to use an arch - it will scatter the ultraviolet beam, and an optimal temperature will be created inside without losing light. Direct designs for open terraces, verandas are very popular.

Domes and concavities are good for indoor pools, barbecues, gazebos. The steps for constructing a simple shed canopy are described below - as the least complex design for beginners.

Training

Any design must be carefully designed, otherwise it will pose a danger to others. It's not a bad idea to check with your local architectural department to see if a building permit is required to build a shed, as it can also be seen as an addition to a house. In order to avoid misunderstanding and not have to disassemble the canopy and dismantle the base, you need to acquire the necessary package of documents.

Drawing

A simple shed canopy is a rectangular or square structure according to the purpose. The required height and width dimensions should be set in advance, given that part of the frame will go under the concrete. Also, the scheme should take into account the thickness of all components - pipes, polycarbonate.

This is important, since the loads of snow and wind should not affect the strength of the structure. It is better to use special tables to determine the cross section and data on the climatic zone. Having applied all the required values ​​​​on the drawing, you can get to work.

Choice of materials and tools

If the type of polycarbonate has already been decided, then it remains to choose the raw material for the frame. Profile pipes became favorites in this - they are light, inexpensive, withstand maximum loads and are easy to install. Are subjected to assembly on bolts or welding. For the latter, you need to have a certain skill.

Profile pipes for the house canopy are selected according to the load - the wall thickness varies from 2 to 16 mm. Racks for the frame should not be less than 80 mm in width of the walls, for the remaining components - the truss system, trusses and the crate - the values ​​\u200b\u200bare less. In addition, you will need:

  • Roulette and level.
  • Bulgarian.
  • Drill.
  • Hammer.
  • Fasteners.
  • Thermal washers and rubber.
  • Welding machine.
  • Protective miniums.
  • Overalls.

The work is not for one day, therefore, after acquiring the materials, they must be stored in a dry place without the danger of mechanical impact, scratches may remain on the polycarbonate sheets if handled carelessly.

Installation of a shed canopy - instructions

Work should be divided into stages for a quality process. Strict adherence to each is the key to quality work.

Base

It is best to make a polycarbonate canopy recessed into concrete. This will increase its strength. For the foundation, a pit 30 cm deep is enough, which is arranged according to the rules of an ordinary foundation - crushed stone-sand cushion, reinforcement, pouring.

The site should be carefully leveled and holes should be dug in the corners for the glasses, in which the "legs" of the frame will be installed. They can be poured separately or in the whole structure. The time for solidification and shrinkage is 2-3 weeks.

Frame welding

A frame with uprights, a couple of which are higher than the others, can be made into a single whole, or the shape of the corners can be laid on the profile support pipes - whichever is more convenient for you. Then, a frame of the truss system is assembled to the side, representing several trusses - with large spans, they are necessary to increase reinforcement. Farms are rectangular blocks with pipes or corners welded in a zigzag pattern.

The upper belt can be made in the form of an arc and then the structure will be an arch. Since it was decided to make a shed polycarbonate canopy with your own hands, the task is simplified by the fact that both truss belts are straight - the upper one is prepared in advance for plastic fasteners, drilling holes for self-tapping screws in it. Finished structures are welded into place.

crate

The purpose of the crate is clear - to hold the weight of the roof with subsequent loads. For a shed canopy, the crate is arranged more often than for the arch, because the area is larger. The approximate value is 0.8 m.

Boil fittings, corners or a profile pipe should be tacked - so there will not be a large number of sloppy blots of molten metal and slag. By the way, you need to beat off the excess immediately after welding, until the waste has stuck to the frame tightly.

Installation of plastic sheets

Sheets are not cut right away. This must be done directly on the frame - so the true dimensions will be clear. If you make a cut in advance, then there may not be enough material or there will be a lot more of it - both of which lead to cost overruns.

The sheets are spread directly on the surface of the crate and appropriate marks are made on them for cuts and holes. At the bottom, polycarbonate is brought into the appropriate form - they are cut, drilled. Before starting laying on the frame, the holes of the battens and trusses are sealed with rubber o-rings - they will not allow moisture to seep onto the metal and will be completely pressed against the polycarbonate.

Laying takes place as follows:

  • The sheet is fixed with screws along one edge.
  • Then a connecting profile is put on, the edge of the second sheet is inserted and the middle is fixed.
  • The following elements are attached in the same way.

The decorative profiles put on the ends of the polycarbonate will complete the work - they will protect the plastic from the accumulation of water. In addition, we must not forget about the cavities of the pipes - they should also not be exposed to moisture - the ends should be welded.

Frame painting and maintenance

The design of the canopy, made of profile pipes and polycarbonate, does not require anything special. It is only important to cover the metal with a special paint that prevents corrosion. This must be done before the frame is covered with sheets of plastic, so as not to miss a single section and not to stain the polycarbonate.

For greater beauty, the frame is varnished on top. Roofing requires the simplest cleaning - water and mild, non-abrasive detergents. Timely prevention consists in identifying centers of corrosion, cleaning them from damage and covering them with a new layer of minium. Then the canopy is able to serve the owners much longer than the stated period.

If you want beauty and sophistication, then before purchasing polycarbonate, you should pay attention to decorative models - they can look like stained glass, have intricate patterns, colors. Some copies are made using silk-screen printing - such models are expensive. But they do have a beautiful view. For owners on a tight budget, it is quite possible to get by with a film of different colors and fix it from the inside of the canopy, thereby giving the design the desired color.

Increasingly, in the construction of private city and country houses, modern materials are used for wall decoration, roofing and canopies. One of these materials is cellular polycarbonate, which is great for building and, as well as canopies over the front door and canopies over pools and parking lots.

It is quite easy to mount a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands, especially since on sale you can find ready-made frame structures that have various configurations and sizes, from which you can choose the most suitable for a particular site.

It is easy to build a frame on your own if the canopy has a straight shape - without bends and intricate configurations. The frame does not require special strengthening, since polycarbonate has a small weight and will not give a significant load to the structure.

To understand how this material is suitable for installation, and how to do it correctly, you need to understand a little about its technical and decorative characteristics. So, as for canopies, cellular polycarbonate is mainly used, which will be discussed.

Characteristics of cellular polycarbonate


It has a considerable number of unique positive qualities, which makes it indispensable in some cases:

  • Good light transmission and transparency, which reaches 85 - 87%.
  • It perfectly scatters the light penetrating through it.
  • Sufficiently high flexibility of sheets, without their preliminary preparation.
  • High impact resistance, which exceeds the same quality of silicate glass by 180 ÷ 200 times.
  • At the same time, polycarbonate is lighter than glass by 7 ÷ 8 times.
  • The material has good heat-insulating and sound-proofing qualities. For example, during rain, the noise is minimal.
  • Such a coating with high-quality installation is able to withstand high snow and wind loads.
  • The material is resistant to chemical and ultraviolet influences, as it has a special protective coating.
  • Polycarbonate withstands temperatures from -50 in winter, and the upper limit reaches + 115 ° C.
  • The affordable price of cellular polycarbonate allows even an average income family to purchase it.
  • It is impossible not to note the aesthetic modern appearance.
  • The service life of high-quality polycarbonate with a protective coating is 20 ÷ 25 years.
  • The material is easy to install, which even one master can handle.

If we present some characteristics of polycarbonate of different thicknesses in numbers, they will look like this:

Table of main technical characteristics of structured polycarbonate panels:

Panel typePanel thickness in mmSpecific weight in gr./sq.mTensile strength and modulus of elasticity (according to GOST) in kgf / sq.cmImpact resistance in J.Thermal conductivity indicators (reduced heat transfer resistance)Noise absorption,dB (as per ASTM E90-83)
Strength Module
elasticity
DIN ASTM K. W/m2Co R(1/K) 1000Hz 3000Hz
SPK4 800 700 n.a.n.a.n.a.n.a.3.9 0.26 n.a.
6 1300 1050 n.a.n.a.2.1 2.1 3.6 0.28 18 23
8 1500 1400 653 20400 2.16 2 3.4 0.29 20 26
10 1700 1750 658 21300 2.332 2.48 3.1 0.32 22 30
16 2700 2800 705 22770 2.8 3.68 2.4 0.42 25 34
25 3500 4370 707 23120 2.98 3.82 1.75 0.58 30 42

It is advisable to consider some qualities of polycarbonate in more detail, since this information will help in the selection and installation of this roofing material.

Light weight material

Polycarbonate panels weigh not only less than glass, but also three times less than acrylic roofing material of the same thickness. This facilitates the installation of the structure, since it is possible to raise polycarbonate to a height without resorting to auxiliary lifting mechanisms. Due to the small mass of the material, it is possible to design complex canopy structures, since they do not make the frame particularly heavy.


Polycarbonate is used with pleasure by designers who plan to create a modern original exterior of the building, as it makes the roof airy and visually weightless. This parameter is especially pronounced if a light-colored transparent coating is selected, and the frame for the coating is painted white or made of thin elements.

High light transmission


The high light transmission of polycarbonate panels is suitable for structures that need to be sheltered from rain and snow, but well lit. Light transmission through a roof or canopy covered with this material reaches 85-87%, but it directly depends on the thickness and color of the material.


Table of light transmission coefficients for standard panels in percent, depending on color and thickness.

Material colorPremium sizereinforced
4 mm6 mm8mm10 mm16mm20mm25 mm4 mm - US6 mm - US
Transparent85/87 80/81 79/80 78/79 78 68 60 82 81
Bronze25/24 23/22 22/21 21/20 18 16 15
Lactic33/34 31/32 30/31 30/31 26 22 20
Green36/37 32/33 33/34 33/34
Blue34/35 33/32 31/30 31/30
Brown18/19 15/16 14/15 14/15
Turquoise36/37 28/29 26/27 25/26
Yellow74/75 74/75 72/73 71/72
Orange54/55 54/55 52/53 51/52
Red29/30 25/26 24/25 23/24
burgundy10/11 10/11 5/6 4/5
Silver33/34 31/32 30/31 30/31
crushed ice80/81 79/80 79/80 79/80
Crushed ice bronze24/25 23/24 22/23 21/22

The table shows that polycarbonate has a lot of colors, so choose the most attractive design and light transmission- won't be a big deal. Polycarbonate of any color perfectly diffuses sunlight and creates uniform illumination under the roof.

impact resistance

Polycarbonate can be called the most durable of thermoplastic materials, even when subjected to mechanical action at high and low temperatures. By itself, polycarbonate is 200 times stronger than glass, but, thanks to the internal cellular structure of the panels, the surface springs upon impact, as if repelling the blow.

The proposed table shows the internal structure of the panels, and what thickness they are produced.

Structure typeProfile graphicOverall thickness in mmMinimum bending radius in mm
Single chamber standard4 700
6 1000
8 1400
10 1750
Double chamber standard16 2700
Reinforced (US)4 910
6 1400
Four-chamber25 4400

Roofing material is not traumatic, so how not to break into numerous fragments, as happens with glass. With a very strong accented impact, of course, it can crack, but it will not shatter into separate parts and will not deform.

During the tests, it was found that a hailstone with a diameter of 45 mm, flying from a height at a speed of 25 m / s, was not able to break through a roof of 16 mm thick panels.

UV resistance

It should be noted that polycarbonate itself is destroyed by exposure to the ultraviolet component of sunlight, and its service life will be no more than 2-3 years if it is not covered with special sun protection. If the material was originally transparent or milky white, then it will appear yellowing, or it will become cloudy. UV exposure makes unprotected panels brittle and brittle. Polycarbonate without a protective film is cheaper, and this criterion attracts many, but when buying this material, you should not save money, because in a couple of years the roof will have to be closed, and this is not only unnecessary expenses, but also unnecessary labor costs.


Polycarbonate coated on one or better on both sides with a stabilizing coating can be safely used outdoors, with direct exposure to the sun. In this case, ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of up to 400 nm, which is dangerous not only for humans, but also for plants, will be weakened by the protective coating, and the rays penetrating the roof become harmless.


In addition, such a coating will last a long time, even a little more than the manufacturer guarantees.

If the protective coating is installed on the panel only On the one side, then the installation is made with this side out.

The coating is almost completely invisible on the surface, so manufacturers indicate the desired side with a special marking applied to the plastic film.

Chemical resistance

Polycarbonate is sufficiently resistant to most chemicals that may come into contact with it in the conditions of its use as a roofing. However, there are also substances that destroy this material - chlorinated hydrocarbons, ketones, alkalis and aldehydes. This information can be useful when choosing sealants or other materials that may come into contact with polycarbonate during installation work or during maintenance. Therefore, when purchasing such compositions for cleaning a polycarbonate roof or for sealing it, you must definitely consult with the seller or carefully study the instructions for use.

thermal insulation

Compared to acrylic panels or silicate glass, polycarbonate has a great advantage in terms of thermal insulation, where it is needed, as it has a significantly lower thermal conductivity. Even if the thinnest polycarbonate panels are used, having a thickness of only 4 mm, they are twice as good as glass in terms of heat retention, for example, in a winter garden. 8 mm thick polycarbonate gives the same thermal insulation effect as a conventional double-glazed glass unit, and the material with a thickness of 16 ÷ 25 mm exceeds that of triple-glazed glass units.

In the summer, polycarbonate reflects the sun's rays, preventing excess heat from penetrating into the room.

In winter, when the sun is low, the material transmits rays well inward, and this contributes to heating the room.

Material Flexibility

The great advantage of polycarbonate is its flexibility, which allows the construction of semi-circular or cone-shaped roof structures. And, you can bend it without resorting to heating. When purchasing material for a specific roofing option, you must definitely pay attention to such an indicator as the minimum bending radius for a certain thickness of polycarbonate, which can be found in the table above.


One of the indisputable advantages is the flexibility of the material.

Load bearing capacity

This coating is able to withstand heavy loads due to its high strength. So, with a thickness of 16 mm, it can withstand a load of up to 400 kg / m² with a frame arranged under it, even having such a significant crate size as 1000 × 1000 mm. That is, if 400 kg of snow is laid on one square meter, the material will easily withstand this load. But such an amount of snow per unit area does not fall in nature, so you should not worry about this. Especially if the canopy is arranged in the form of an arch on which snowdrifts will not linger.


Heat resistance

Polycarbonate can ignite when it is exposed to open fire for a long time and reaches a temperature of 560 ÷ 580 ° FROM, while it must be taken into account that wood catches fire already at + 270 ÷ 300 ° С.


At the same time, polycarbonate is a self-extinguishing material - if contact with an open flame is interrupted, it does not support combustion and quickly goes out. When exposed to open flame, polycarbonate often smolders and deforms, emits smoke, but does not ignite. The smoke from it does not contain heavy metals, but it contains water vapor and carbon dioxide, which can also be harmful to human health.

Ease of installation

For the installation of polycarbonate, no special tools are needed - it is enough to have a saw, a jigsaw, a screwdriver or a drill, various drills for metal or wood, as well as those capable of drilling holes in the panels.


Due to the fact that the material is light, it is quite possible to manage the work of installing it yourself. The only moment when someone's help is needed is laying the sheets. The size of the polycarbonate panel is large enough, and it is inconvenient to lay it yourself. Another pair of hands will not hurt here.

Guarantees

Firms - manufacturers of high-quality polycarbonate with a protective coating guarantee the preservation of the appearance and technical characteristics for 10 years from the date of its installation. You need to know that usually manufacturers give a guarantee for a minimum service life, but practice shows that a good-quality material will last 20 ÷ 25 or even more years without changes in decorativeness and without losing its positive qualities.

Find out how to do it, and also study the construction instructions from the article on our portal.

Prices for cellular polycarbonate

Polycarbonate

Canopy installation

In the manufacture of a canopy over a pool, veranda or parking lot, it is difficult to replace polycarbonate with another material that is so well suited for these purposes, so it is increasingly chosen from all roofing.


With the right choice of frame, the canopy can be installed separately or attached to one of the walls of the house. Reliable fastening will make it invulnerable to strong winds, and the material itself will create comfortable conditions for people to stay or for parking a car at any time of the year, as it will protect it from direct precipitation and from damaging ultraviolet rays.

Building materials

In order to properly install the canopy, you must be able to choose the right materials and accessories, know some of the nuances of their structure and purpose.

  • The most used types of polycarbonate for covering canopies and canopies are the so-called honeycomb panels with internal stiffeners. Their structure and dimensions are shown in the table below.
Profile type (graphical)Thickness in mm (A)Standard Width
sheets in mm
for all types
profiles
Distance between ribs
stiffness in mm (D)
Weight g/sq.mMinimum Radius
bending for arches, m
4 980
1050
1200
1250
2100
5.7 800 0.7
6 1300 1.05
8 11 1500 1.4
1700
10 1700 1.75
2000
16 20 2700 2.8
2800

Panels are produced in lengths of 6 or 12 meters. Stiffening ribs are located along the length of the sheet. These data will help to correctly calculate the design of the frame and the amount of necessary roofing material for it.

  • To connect individual panels to each other, it is necessary to purchase a special profile, which is produced in a length of 6 meters.

It is of two types:

- a profile into which polycarbonate sheets are inserted from both sides by pulling them into a special groove;

- detachable profile, which consists of two elements. One of them is installed under the roof sheets, and the second is put on it, after fixing the polycarbonate to the crate.

  • The ends of the polycarbonate after its installation on the crate are finished with an end profile. These elements are usually produced in lengths of 2100 mm.
  • In the holes for attaching the material to crate it will be necessary to purchase thermal washers with lids. They are available in various shades - you can match the selected color of polycarbonate.

  • Self-tapping screws are sold separately. Their length should be 40 ÷ 60 mm, depending on the thickness of the material.
  • To drill even holes for installing thermal washers and further fastening, special core drills are required.

  • To install the crate and load-bearing racks, you will need a wooden beam with a cross section of 50 × 50 and 100 × 100 mm or a square pipe with dimensions of 30 × 30 and 50 × 50 mm.

The dimensions of the lathing depend on the magnitude of the planned load on the roofing. The amount of material can be calculated after the drawing of the frame for mounting the polycarbonate is drawn up. It is possible, with a perfectly acceptable degree of approximation, not to carry out calculations, but to use the recommendations given in the table.

Table of sizes of the supporting structure sheathing for covering with cellular polycarbonate (in accordance with the graphic diagram):


6 mm8 mm10 mm16 mm
A (cm)H (cm)A (cm)H (cm)A (cm)H (cm)A (cm)H (cm)
100 kg/sq.m105 79 120 90 132 92 125 95
90 90 95 95 100 100 110 110
82 103 90 110 90 115 95 120
160 kg/sq.m88 66 100 75 105 75 115 90
76 76 83 83 83 83 97 97
70 86 75 90 75 95 85 105
200 kg/sq.m80 60 85 65 95 70 110 85
69 69 76 76 78 78 88 88
62 78 65 85 70 85 75 95

You can also purchase ready-made bent frames with racks of the right size and with fasteners. They are sold unassembled and are easy to install, but it is not always possible to find a canopy of the required size and shape.


Installation nuances

Before work, you must definitely familiarize yourself with some important points that should be considered when buying material and when installing it.


  • When creating arched structures, the polycarbonate panel is bent across the length of the stiffeners, since if you bend along these elements, a hall can form, on which a crack forms over time. In addition, when planning such a design, it is necessary to look in advance at the table, which summarizes the data on the minimum bending radius for a particular material thickness.
  • For structures of different shapes, it is recommended to use your own material thickness, for example:

- for arched structures, a material having a thickness of 8 mm is needed;

- for canopies of a small area above the front door, a thickness of 6 mm is sufficient;

- for a large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe canopy, which has an inclined direction, panels with a thickness of 10 mm are used;

- for a horizontal canopy with a slight slope, you need to choose polycarbonate with a thickness of 16 mm, since a small slope will help retain snow on the roof in winter.

  • The end of the upper edge of the sheet must be sealed with a protective tape to prevent insects, moisture and dust from entering the polycarbonate channels.

Before mounting the end profile on it, it is recommended to seal the lower edge of the panel with a perforated film, which will protect the channels from the mentioned troubles, but will not retain moisture inside.

  • Holes for self-tapping screws are drilled larger than the caps of the fasteners, since thermal washers will be installed in them. These parts will not allow moisture to penetrate under the coatings and will allow the material to expand and contract with temperature changes.
  • The first holes for fasteners are drilled at least 40 mm from the edge, otherwise there is a risk of cracking the polycarbonate.

  • The head of the self-tapping screw screwed into the washer must be closed with a special cover, otherwise water from precipitation will certainly fall under the coating.

Video: an example of attaching polycarbonate to the base

Canopy installation process

Having prepared everything you need and having studied the individual nuances, you can proceed to work.

  • If the site for the installation of a canopy is not equipped, then work should begin from it.

If it is poured with concrete, then simultaneously with its construction, support posts can also be installed on which the frame for polycarbonate will be mounted.


To get started - preparing the site
  • First, the selected place is marked out and cleared of sod. Then it is leveled, and with the help of a hand drill, holes are dug for the installation of support posts, 500 mm deep and at a distance of 2000 ÷ 2500 mm from each other.
  • Further, sand is poured into the pits, with a layer of 100 mm and well compacted. On top of it, crushed stone of the middle fraction is backfilled and also compacted. Metal posts with reinforcing bars welded to them at the bottom are installed in the pit, leveled, poured and left to set.
  • On the second day, you can carefully carry out further work. Around the site, which should also include embedded posts, formwork is made of boards 180 ÷ 250 mm high.

A layer of sand of 50 ÷ 70 mm is poured onto the fenced area, wetted and compacted. Gravel or crushed stone is laid on top of it, which also needs to be compacted. A reinforcing cage is installed on the entire prepared area.

If the posts are planned to be installed on top of the finished site, then when installing the reinforcing cage, embedded elements are mounted to which the supporting racks will be attached.

After that, the formwork is completely filled with concrete mortar and well leveled.

  • The frame can be mounted on racks only two ÷ - three weeks after pouring, after the site has solidified and embedded parts or posts embedded in it.

If the racks have not yet been installed, then they are fixed to the elements embedded in the concrete with prepared holes.

If wooden posts are installed, then they must be pre-treated and coated with paint. When installing them in the ground or in concrete, it is recommended to treat their lower part with tar or bituminous mastic.

  • Next, transverse support elements are installed that will tie the vertical supports together and give the structure rigidity. They can be made of flat beams or welded in the form of trusses. The second option is preferable, since the farm will more reliably connect the posts together.

  • The next step is to fix the arched load-bearing elements on the horizontal crossbars. It is impossible to make an exact bend on your own if there is no special machine, so you will have to turn to the master for help or purchase ready-made arch or semi-arch elements.

Provided if it is planned to make an even slope or two slopes, then the frame for them is installed from even square pipes or wooden bars. You can find out how you can do it by clicking on the link to the corresponding article on our portal. But, after all A polycarbonate canopy is best made in the form of an arch - this shape is optimal for scattering light and for protecting the site from rain and snow.

  • The fastening of the bent horizontal element to the uprights is carried out with the help of two triangular elements, called the "kerchief".

If the canopy is wide enough, then the arched frame elements are also made in the form of a truss with additional retaining parts.


  • Trusses or arches are interconnected by horizontal pipes. calculated depending on the thickness of the polycarbonate. More precisely, its parameters can be found in the table above.
  • When the frame for coating is ready, proceed to its coating. The length of the polycarbonate sheet should be equal to the length of the bend of the arch plus 120 ÷ 150 mm.

  • Cutting polycarbonate is carried out using an electric jigsaw. You can also cut it using a hacksaw, but in this case the edge will be sloppy.
  • Having prepared polycarbonate sheets of the required size, the protective polyethylene film is removed from the outer surface and the first sheet is laid on the crate in such a way that the sheet protrudes beyond the first pipe of the crate by at least 40 mm.
  • With the help of a special drill holes are made - thin in a metal profile and wide - in polycarbonate.

  • Then a thermal washer is installed in a wide hole, a metal screw is screwed in, and a special cover is put on top. The distance between fasteners should be 300 ÷ 350 mm.
  • Before fixing the second side of the sheet, the lower part of the connecting profile is installed under it and screwed to the frame.

  • Further, the next sheet is laid, also fixed, and the upper part of the connecting profile is immediately installed between it and the first sheet. From the end it is closed with a special plug.

Thus, all other sheets are mounted.

  • The work ends with the end profile being put on the end of the mounted sheets.

For clarity - video on the device.

Video: self-assembly of a polycarbonate canopy

If the installation of the material is carried out in accordance with all the rules and with the use of all the elements intended for its long-term operation, the coating will last for a sufficiently long period without repair and without particularly complex personal care.