How to choose the right canopy

Choosing the right canopy for your home can be confusing with the wide array of designs, materials, and options available. At The Canopy Shop we sell a wide range of Canopy types and our staff have many years of experience of supplying outdoor living spaces and covered areas to customers. Hopefully this guide will help you choose the canopy that is right for you but if you need assistance please call Lisa or Danielle on 01536 446393.

What types of Canopy are there?

You can have a canopy that is attached to the wall with legs at the front, which is known as a Lean To Canopy, or one that is Free Standing, with legs on all sides. It can have a flat roof with a shallow pitch or it can have a curved roof. Your canopy can be fitted above a Front or Back door or over bifold or patio doors, or it can stand on its own in the middle of the garden. The structure can have 4,6 or even 8 sides and can be a variety of colours, have different glazing on the roof and be made of different materials. Confused? You should be, there are many canopies to choose from, but we can make the whole process very simple.

What you going to use the canopy for?

The most important question you need to answer is what is the canopy for? Answering this will narrow down your choices and mean you spend more time looking at what you want rather than what you don’t want.

DOOR CANOPIES

If the canopy is to go over a front or back door to provide shelter and a welcome to your home, then you want an Overdoor canopy. Front or Back Door Canopies come in a choice of materials such as Glass or GRP (fibreglass) and in traditional or modern designs. Door canopies are easy to install yourself and offer a cost effective alternative to building a porch. Door canopies can improve the look of your property and can provide shelter to visitors waiting at your front door. GRP or fibreglass canopies may look bulky but they are very light and are easy to install.

See our full range of Overdoor Canopies.

PATIO CANOPIES

Patio Canopies are very popular and, as the name suggests, cover a patio at the rear of your home and tend to be attached to a wall at the back with legs at the front. The wide range of sizes allow you to match the canopy to the size of your existing patio and you can choose between polycarbonate or glass on the roof and different colour frames. You can also buy a Free-Standing Canopy if you don’t want to attach to the back wall of your home or want the patio canopy away from the walls of your property. Patio Canopies come in a range of colours, including the currently fashionable anthracite grey, so you will find one to match your home.

Patio Canopies are simple to install, although you may need a friend to assist with certain parts and are designed to last for years. If you want to get an idea as to how they go together have at look at the Assembly Instructions which are located on the tabs on the Product Pages.

See our full range of Patio Canopies.

CARPORTS

The purpose of a Carport is to cover your vehicle, protecting it from the elements. If placed next to a side or back door they can be useful for unloading the car in wet weather. Carports can also be used to cover other vehicles such as caravans and mobile homes by lifting the roof height by setting the wall plate higher up the wall and fitting longer legs. Carports can be attached to the wall of the property(a Lean To) or Free Standing and tend to be supplied with a polycarbonate roof.

Cantilever Canopies are very popular when used as a carport because they are clear all the way around, having no legs. The clever design of the fibreglass beams mean you can get out of your vehicle without worrying about catching the door on a post.

Read our Comprehensive guide to buying a Carport.

VERANDAS

Verandas are a more luxurious type of Patio Canopy with a Glass or Polycarbonate roof and have the option of filling in the sides with glass creating a “sun room”. The front can be fitted with sliding glass doors allowing you to open up the space on warmer days and closing them if the weather turns cooler. Verandas have a more robust frame and have features such as integral gutters where rainfall is discharged along the gutter / eaves beam and down the legs. They can also be fitted with extras such as LED lights.

Read our comprehensive guide to Verandas.

GAZEBOS

Gazebos are free standing structures with 4 or 6 sides that can be located anywhere in your garden. With different types of roof and either square or round columns (legs), Gazebos come in a range of styles and sizes to suit most gardens. Gazebos tend to have a traditional design, the shape reflecting Bandstands, but have a modern twist. Gazebos nowadays tend to be made from aluminium which is cheaper than steel and easier to handle and install.

See our full range of Gazebos.

Hopefully this simple guide will have helped you to choose the canopy that is right for you, but If you are still unsure then please call Lisa or Danielle at The Canopy Shop on 01536 446393 and they will be able to assist you.