Do-it-yourself polycarbonate canopies for a private house: photo of modern hanging structures. Which polycarbonate is best used for a canopy Canopies combined and complex

08.11.2019

Cellular polycarbonate is a very popular building material. It is used for the construction of light and inexpensive structures. Most often it is used for peaks, canopies and greenhouses.

How to choose the material for the visor

Polycarbonate is very popular in country and suburban construction. With it, you can build with your own hands a reliable and beautiful canopy over the porch, a carport or a greenhouse, which is not afraid of any frost. A large selection of colors and ease of installation also speak in favor of choosing this material.

Currently on the market are a large number of types of polycarbonate. The first thing you need to pay attention to is the thickness. This parameter determines how the material can be used. The following polycarbonate thicknesses are encountered:

4 mm, most often used for the construction of greenhouses;
6 mm is suitable for arranging various canopies, canopies, and can also be used for the construction of greenhouses;
8 mm - used for peaks and roofs;
10 mm - for the construction of partitions and noise barriers;
16 mm - for a roof of a large area.

By color, transparent (sometimes called white) and colored polycarbonate are distinguished. Choose a material suitable for external design home is easy. So, blue polycarbonate will look appropriate above the pool, green and brown - on the country visor, etc.

What you need to remember when starting calculations

When arranging a canopy, it is necessary to take into account the wind and snow load. This will determine the frame step frequency, as well as the thickness of the sheets themselves. So, too thin polycarbonate can break, so additional structural reinforcement will be required. Thick sheets are more difficult to bend, have a smaller bending radius, weigh more, and are more expensive.

Construction stages

Do-it-yourself construction can be divided into stages. First conducted preparatory work: a design is being developed, the appearance of structures is being determined, colors are being selected, etc. A canopy project is being developed. The amount of building materials is calculated. Then they buy everything you need for the visor.

Then they proceed to the actual construction: they make a frame, mount supports if necessary, fix the structure, sheathe it with polycarbonate.

Create a project

First of all, you need to decide on the placement of the visor. As a rule, they are installed above the porch. The visor should be slightly wider than the surface it covers.

Design is a necessary step. Any construction should begin with it. It is at this stage that the final dimensions of the visor and its appearance are determined. At the same stage, the required amount of building materials is calculated, it is decided how much and what consumables and tools will be needed. Drawings of a polycarbonate visor will help you calculate everything exactly. Also, at the design stage, all types of loads are calculated. And those that will experience the canopy, and those that he will create himself.

First, measure the porch or that part of the building that will be covered with a visor. Canopy size may be slightly smaller, larger, or equal to that the surface it protects.

When developing a project, it is necessary to take into account the features of the materials used. The fact is that polycarbonate not only redistributes the load, but also takes it upon itself. Therefore, thin sheets are not suitable for visors, it is better to use material with a thickness of 6 to 10 mm. With a smaller value, polycarbonate is too fragile, with a larger value, it is not elastic enough and heavy.

For sheets up to 8 mm thick, the optimal step of the frame lathing for a polycarbonate visor is from 60 to 70 cm. Squares of 60x60 cm or 70x70 cm can be made. up to 100 cm - in the transverse.

Attention ! When calculating, it is necessary to take into account the climatic features of the area. So, for areas with frequent and strong winds or snowfalls, reinforcement of the structure may be necessary.

Site preparation

First prepare the construction site. To do this, with the help of a tape measure and a pencil, they make markings on the wall of the building with their own hands, where they will presumably find the visor. Mark where the fasteners will be located.

The boundaries of the polycarbonate visor are also marked on the ground. It is most convenient to use pegs or cords for this. If it is planned to install additional supports, then note their location. Pegs can also be used for this. It is desirable to level the construction site.

Installation of supports

Many types of visors provide for the installation of additional do-it-yourself supports, so you need to consider how they are made.

First, note where the racks for the polycarbonate visor will be located. Then in these places they dig holes for poles, which can be made of wooden beams or logs, or metal pipes. The supports should be buried about a meter into the ground. If the soil is loose, then you can increase this value. Racks under the visor are leveled and fixed in the ground. You can concrete them or fix them with mortgages.

Attention ! The lower part of the supports must be treated with anti-rotting compounds! Otherwise, they will quickly become unusable.

In order to grab, the concrete will take 2-3 days. The same period is necessary for mortgages so that the supports are stable. Only then can further construction works close to the porch. Now it will be possible to proceed with the installation of the visor.

Assembly and installation of the frame

The frame, as a rule, installs fully or partially assembled. It will depend on its final dimensions and weight. It is most convenient to make a single or gable visor with your own hands. The frame in this case will have a triangular shape.

If there are additional supports, then they are connected to mortgages. Usually the perimeter is collected first. When the overall harness is ready, it is supplemented with longitudinal and transverse beams. For thin sheets, the optimal step width is 60-70 cm, for thick sheets - no more than a meter. When working with wood for installation, it is better to use self-tapping screws, if metal is used, welding is ideal. It will make the connections reliable and almost invisible. To mask the seams as much as possible, they must be cleaned and sanded, and then painted over. Only treatment with special primers will save them from rapid destruction.

The finished visor frame is attached to the embedded parts on the wall of the house. For these purposes, brackets can be used. Climb finished construction do-it-yourself can be a difficult and time-consuming process.

Installation of polycarbonate sheets

Do-it-yourself installation of polycarbonate is carried out on a finished frame. The reliability of the entire structure as a whole will depend on the quality of this work, so all work must be done well, carefully and carefully.

For construction you will need:

Construction knife or circular saw for cutting sheets;
Drill or screwdriver for mounting with self-tapping screws;
Thermal washers;
Self-tapping screws for fasteners, it is better to use with a wide hat.

Thin sheets are easily cut with a knife, for thicker sheets (over 10 mm) a circular saw is suitable. In this case, a disc with fine teeth should be used so as not to crumble or break the edges of the polycarbonate. To get a good result, work must be carried out on a hard, flat surface.

Polycarbonate is cut, not only taking into account the size and shape of the visor, but also the orientation of the air channels of the sheets themselves: they must run parallel to the bends or the line of inclination.

The material is coated on one side with a special film that protects it from ultraviolet radiation. Manufacturers often put various images on it: quality marks, trademarks, instructions and warnings. It is not recommended to remove the protective film before starting installation work. It will save polycarbonate not only from radiation, but also from pollution and minor damage. The film can be easily removed even after the sheet is attached to the base.

Pieces of cut polycarbonate are adjusted to each other and attached to the frame. They are drilled with self-tapping screws. For sealing, special thermal washers are used, which have a thick rubber or silicone lining. Optimum diameter for work - 30 mm. Holes for fasteners should be a couple of mm larger than they are. Self-tapping screws should be placed every 30 cm. Fasteners are placed between the stiffeners.

Attention ! When fixing polycarbonate sheets with your own hands, you need to monitor the pressure. There is a risk of being overdrawn. In this case, the edges may break.

Between the sheets of polycarbonate, it is necessary to leave a small gap of 2-3 mm. This is the so-called expansion margin. With temperature changes, polycarbonate changes slightly in size. This allowance is necessary for compensation. It also allows the sheets to move relative to each other with further shrinkage of the house.

It is important to securely fasten the polycarbonate panels to each other. For this, special profiles are used. They are attached from the inside.

To prevent dirt, dust, seeds, etc. from entering the polycarbonate cavities, its cut-off part must be closed with special overlays into which miniature filters are inserted. For fixing - glue the edges with a sealant. This will also make the installation more secure. Thanks to such a simple and simple measure, it will be possible to significantly reduce the amount of condensate and pollution.

Conclusion

Making and installing a polycarbonate visor with your own hands will not take much time. It will also take some strength. You just need to carefully prepare and calculate everything correctly. In the future, the replacement of individual elements will be as simple as possible.

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. At the same time they are driven 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 with minimal cost if you decide to do 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. Primarily 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 long time, then it is necessary 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 canopy made of polycarbonate 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.

Using quality materials and by following the instructions in the instructions for building a polycarbonate object, in the end, you can get 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.

Original canopies, spacious pavilions and translucent canopies today adorn the courtyards of many plots. Buildings decorated with modern building material- polycarbonate, look very attractive, harmoniously fitting into the architectural ensemble. Owners of private houses are increasingly equipping polycarbonate canopies with their own hands, creating picturesque arched structures. Semi-matte and transparent canopies made of colored polymer base, in addition to their direct purpose, become a spectacular decoration of the front area, playground or patio.

Polycarbonate is a versatile roofing material. Acting as a worthy alternative to wood, glass or metal, it serves as the basis for the construction of sheds, which are quite widely used in suburban construction.

Option # 1 - canopy over the balcony

Equipping the balcony with a plastic transparent canopy that freely passes the sun's rays, you can create a real greenhouse that will decorate the house throughout the year.

The device of a polycarbonate canopy will protect the walls of the house and the site attached to it from the development of mold and fungi and extend the life of the wooden elements of the building

Option #2 - carport

Rather rigid structures are able to withstand strong gusts of wind, a translucent roof creates a small shadow.

Rectangular and arched canopies are able to perfectly protect the car not only from snow and rain, but also from other external factors that have a negative impact

Option # 3 - canopy for a gazebo or patio

Polycarbonate is ideal as a roofing material for a pergola, indoor seating area, or barbecue.

A semi-matte or transparent roof will give a diffused shadow, thanks to which a slightly muted interesting lighting will be created inside the gazebo.

Option # 4 - a canopy over the porch

Due to the wide variety of polycarbonate colors and the special structure of the material, which easily takes on any shape, it is always possible to create a design that fits perfectly into the architectural composition of an existing building.

A beautifully designed canopy will protect the front part of the house and the adjacent veranda with a porch from the scorching sun during the summer months and bad weather during the cold season.

The choice of material for the construction of a canopy

In suburban construction, cellular polycarbonate is most often used for arranging canopies. Durable panels, consisting of several layers of plastic, which are interconnected by means of vertical stiffeners, have excellent quality characteristics. In addition to the fact that they have an aesthetic appearance, polycarbonate panels are quite easy to install and bend, taking an arcuate shape. Due to the special structure of the material, polycarbonate is able to protect against the negative effects of UV radiation.

When choosing a material for arranging a canopy, one should be guided primarily by the purpose and type of the future building.

When calculating a canopy made of polycarbonate, you need to take into account: wind and snow load, crate step and bending radius

A competent calculation will prevent unnecessary costs: when purchasing sheets that are too thin, a more frequent sheathing step will be required, at the same time, installing the most durable panels will also entail additional costs.

When choosing polycarbonate panels, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the material:

Panels with a thickness of 4 mm are designed for the construction of greenhouses and greenhouses.
Honeycomb panels with a thickness of 6-8 mm are designed for the construction of partitions, sheds, canopies and roofs.
Noise barriers are erected from sheets 10 mm thick, they are used for the construction of vertical surfaces.
The thickest panels with a thickness of 16 mm are characterized by increased strength. They are used for roofing large areas.

The palette of shades of cellular polycarbonate is wide enough, which allows you to choose the option that is best suited for arranging a particular building.

Green and blue translucent plastic panels will decorate the canopy over the pool. Brown and cherry shades of the canopy will complement the picturesque picture of buildings entwined with greenery.

The main stages of arranging a canopy

Deciding on a location building structure, you should develop a project for a canopy. The design, which is performed before, from polycarbonate, allows not only to correctly calculate the required amount of materials during construction, but also to prevent the occurrence of possible deformations during operation.

When designing the base and the above-ground part of the canopy structure, it is necessary first of all to measure the parameters of the site and, on the basis of this, calculate the frame, taking into account the longitudinal and transverse steps

When developing a project, one should also take into account the climatic features of the area and the loads created by external factors.

To install polycarbonate sheets with a thickness of less than 8 mm, a step of 600-700 mm is sufficient. When arranging heavier panels, longitudinal steps are performed with a size of 700 mm, and transverse steps - up to 1 meter

Stage # 2 - erection of a platform for a canopy

The site for the arrangement of the canopy is marked with pegs and leveled. Along the perimeter of the site at a distance of 1-1.5 meters, with the help of a drill, they dig holes for the installation of support posts, which are most often used as wooden beams or metal poles.

The supports are buried directly into the ground by 50-150 cm, leveled with the help of a building level and concreted, or fixed to embedded parts specially dug in according to the same principle.

When using wooden beams as support posts, the lower part of the pillars is treated with bitumen or any protective compound that prevents the wood from rotting.

After waiting a couple of days for the supports to settle down and the concrete to gain sufficient strength, a layer of soil 15–20 cm thick is removed from the entire territory of the marked site.

At this stage of construction, it is desirable to provide for the arrangement of grooves and the placement drainage pipes to drain rainwater.

As a final coating, you can use:

concrete screed;
paving slabs;
lawn grill.

To lay this coating around the perimeter of the site, formwork is installed. The bottom of the pit, lined with a gravel "cushion", is poured with a concrete solution 5 cm thick, on top of which a mesh of reinforcement is immediately laid and re-poured with the same layer of concrete. The formwork is removed after 2-3 days, when the concrete hardens. The site itself filled with concrete should stand for at least 2-3 weeks: during this period, the concrete will gain the necessary strength and naturally get rid of excess moisture.

Concrete screed is well suited for flat areas, the soil of which is not subject to displacement

Paving slabs are more suitable for "floating" and heaving soils. Unlike concrete screed, covered paving slabs does not form a monolithic layer, thereby allowing the earth to "breathe"

The tile is laid directly on the sand "cushion", tamping the elements with a rubber mallet that does not damage the surface of the coating. As a frame that will not allow the coating to spread outside the site, it is better to use a curb stone. After laying the tiles, the surface of the site is watered. Can also be used as a coating a natural stone, clinker bricks or paving stones.

Lovers of natural materials can opt for lawn grate, through the cells of which grass grows

The polymer material that acts as the basis for the grate will provide drainage and protect the lawn from trampling, keeping it attractive throughout the season.

Stage # 3 - installation of the frame

Vertical support posts are attached to embedded parts. During the construction of the frame from metal poles, the upper trim around the perimeter and vertical posts of the structure is performed by electric welding. After that, with the help of vertical struts, the transverse elements of the frame are fastened to the supporting beams.

Most often, the transverse elements are given arched and domed, single and gable shapes. In addition to the presentable appearance arched structures prevent the accumulation of snow, dirt and fallen leaves

All frame welds are cleaned, primed and painted.

Stage #4 - laying polycarbonate sheets

The reliability and durability of the building directly depends on the quality of the installation of the roof of the polycarbonate canopy.

For laying polycarbonate panels, you will need tools:

construction knife;
circular saw;
drill;
screwdriver

Sheets up to 8 mm thick can be cut with a construction knife, and thicker panels can be cut with a circular saw with discs that have fine, undiluted teeth. All work on cutting sheets should be carried out only on a hard and even surface.

Cutting sheets must be performed taking into account the orientation of the air channels. Those must match the direction of the bend or slope

The outer side of the panel, which protects against UV radiation, is covered with a special transport film, on which the manufacturer applies images with installation instructions. All work on cutting and drilling holes can be carried out without removing the protective film, removing it from the surface of the panels only after mounting the canopy.

Advice. To bend a plastic panel with an arc, you need to attach a profile to it along the line of channels, in which you make small cuts and bend, giving the desired shape.

Fitted polycarbonate sheets are laid on the frame and fixed with self-tapping screws and thermal washers with a diameter of 30 mm.

Such thermal washers, having a silicone base, are able to provide excellent sealing of seams.

Mounting holes, the diameter of which should exceed the size of self-tapping screws and thermal washers by 2-3 mm, must be placed between the stiffeners at a distance of 30 cm from each other. When fixing the sheets to the frame, the main thing is not to overtighten so as not to break the edges of the holes in plastic panel. The sheets themselves are fastened together using H-shaped profiles, under which the edges of the panels are inserted by 20 mm, leaving small gaps.

When connecting polycarbonate sheets to each other, it is necessary to follow the rule for arranging compression seams: leave 3-5 mm gaps to allow sheets to be displaced during temperature changes.

The edges and open ends of polycarbonate panels are covered with special overlays, aluminum or perforated tapes with microfilters, and then glued with a sealant

Such treatment will prevent the penetration of debris, dust and small insects into the empty cavities of the panels, as well as prevent the accumulation of condensate.

The canopy is ready. Construction maintenance consists only in the timely cleaning of the surface using ordinary water without the use of detergents, which can damage the protective layer of polycarbonate panels.

Polycarbonate is one of the most practical and beautiful modern building materials. It is relatively new, because. appeared only a couple of decades ago. Polycarbonate is not only reliable and has excellent strength, but also transforms the entire structure with its presence on garden buildings. landscape design! Experts say that such transparent panels give the surrounding space an element of airiness and lightness.

Especially beautiful are polycarbonate canopies for a summer residence or a country house. If you opted for just such a coating, then study the technology of its installation with us!

Polycarbonate - lightweight and durable modern material, indispensable for creating translucent structures - domes, canopies, canopies of any size, as well as those reliable and airtight.

By itself, it is a thermosetting plastic, released in the form of a monolithic or honeycomb sheet. All of its types have fairly good strength, and therefore are suitable for both private and industrial construction. A variety of colors pleases the soul of even the most demanding designer!

Types and types of polycarbonate for private housing construction

According to the internal structure, polycarbonate is produced today as follows:

To get an idea of what the cells look like, look at the side of a cut polycarbonate sheet. You will see a honeycomb-like pattern formed from stiffeners. These are rectangular and triangular cavities with air, thanks to which the necessary heat and noise insulation of the material is achieved. Of course, the more complex the structure of cellular polycarbonate, and the thicker it is, the stronger the roof will be.

Polycarbonate without honeycombs is called monolithic. It is a single solid transparent slab that looks like ordinary glass, only much stronger and lighter in weight. As a covering for a country canopy, it fits perfectly.

Today they also produce profiled panels with a wave shape, which are popularly called "transparent slate". In work, this material is as simple as ordinary polycarbonate, the only thing is that special profiles are needed for it:

By the way, corrugated polycarbonate is so durable that it is not even damaged by hail and is not scratched. Really useful novelty of the construction market.

Which is better: colored or transparent sheets?

Thanks to a large selection of shades, you can build a polycarbonate canopy in such a design that it will please the eye and will not bother. What is it worth yellow, which looks sunny in any bad weather and cheers up!

Here are the most popular shades and profiles of polycarbonate:

Today they produce gold, silver, and bronze sheets. In general, colored panels are a little more expensive, but they are painted over the entire volume even at the factory, so that they do not lose their hue saturation even with time.

And when choosing the color itself, consider such a funny feature of the translucent canopy: everything that will be under it will be painted in the color of the roof. That is, if you install blue polycarbonate over a barbecue, do not be surprised that the meat will look unappetizing.

It is rather annoying when a luxury car in its new parking lot under beautiful roof suddenly acquires such a dull shade that it is a shame to show the guests. Therefore, in terms of aesthetics, be guided not so much by the color of the roof of the canopy, but by whether all the cats under it will turn gray.

Here is an interesting video review of modern polycarbonate for small buildings:

Separately, we point out such a pitfall. Since polycarbonate is needed in our case specifically for a canopy, it is logical that it will protect from the sun. This means that polycarbonate sheets will be constantly exposed to direct sunlight. That's just high-quality sheets for this purpose are covered with a special film from ultraviolet radiation.

This is an important co-extrusion layer, and low-quality products are sometimes produced without it. As a result, the service life of the material is at least 10 times lower. To understand if there is ultraviolet protection on the sheet, carefully examine the cut, which should shimmer in the sun with a faint blue tint. And do not confuse it with UV protection of a protective transport film, which is easily removed from the panels after installation.

Also, at this stage, you need to decide which accessories you will use for attaching polycarbonate. This will largely determine the durability of the canopy and how often it will require repairs.

After all, not always everything is decided by the fastening step - the quality of fasteners is also important. For example, it is not uncommon for a completely solid roof of the canopy to collapse due to the fact that the head of the self-tapping screw was torn off from it or the washer itself pushed through the polycarbonate.

Calculation of the bearing capacity of polycarbonate

So, as for the parameters of the sheets, start from the fact that most of them produce 210 centimeters wide and about 2-2.5 cm thick. The length is 6 or 12 meters. With apparent visual lightness, this material still has a weight that is important to consider when making polycarbonate canopies: about 800 g per square meter.

The extent to which the selected type of polycarbonate is able to withstand the pressure of snow is always indicated on its packaging. AT total in the design of the crate, be guided by the following data:

There is also such an unpleasant moment: from insufficiently strong connecting profiles, the panels can simply jump out under load, if not burst. And most often, unfortunately, this happens precisely with arched structures.

The weakest points, in which the bearing capacity is almost 1.5 times lower, are in the ridge and cornice zone of a gable or arched transparent roof. Therefore, in these places it is necessary to reduce the pitch of the crate by 2-3 times than throughout the rest of the roof.

Also consider this: it is quite difficult to remove snow from polycarbonate, plus it easily damages the coating, so initially count on maximum loads. And not only on the roof, but also on the structure of the canopy as a whole.

The fact is that if the polycarbonate itself collapses, then it will cost "little blood" - the panels do not form fragments and are quite easily replaced. But a cap of snow, which could not break through the roof, but will break the racks, will lead to much more serious consequences.

It would seem that there is nothing complicated in such calculations. But keep in mind that often European manufacturers often indicate only the critical load, and not the calculated one. This is a destructive value to which a degrading safety factor must be applied. That is, if, for example, the critical load is 250 kg, then when applying a coefficient of 1.4, it will already turn out to be significantly less - 178.5 kg / m 2.

In addition, parameters from different manufacturers cannot be directly applied to similar materials even if they look almost the same. The fact is that a lot depends on the thickness of the sheet, the pitch of the stiffeners, and even the raw materials used for the production.

And not all of the above can be determined by eye. That is why, the lighter version of almost identical sheets than the second one, the more fragile it is and the less able it is to withstand loads. Do not be lazy to find out all the necessary information about the purchased products!

Choice of fasteners for quality construction

The main difference between polycarbonate and many modern roofing materials that it has a high coefficient of thermal expansion. This gives a lot in terms of ease of installation, because. now the sheets have some “space”.

And your main task is to make this space as tight as possible, for which there are special fastening systems. They are quite easy to use and do not require the use of special equipment or tools.

In Russia today, mainly polycarbonate sheets are attached to each other with the help of profiles, but abroad the locking system is more popular. We have such locking systems only come into use, so when you meet them for sale or on a specialized website, you will now find out.

Carefully select washers as well: there must be a seal that will ensure tight connection, and a high-quality hat with a cap.

The process of installing a polycarbonate coating on a canopy

If you have decided on the color, thickness and shape of polycarbonate sheets, then let's take a closer look at the very technology of mounting this coating on a wooden and metal canopy.

Shed canopy for cellular polycarbonate

First of all, we will teach you how to build a simple but reliable shed canopy with a transparent polycarbonate roof. The scheme of such installation is quite simple:

So, step by step:

Step 1. Dig a hole for the foundation in advance and cover it with a piece of geotextile.
Step 2. Install a pole in the middle of such a hole, and fix it with temporary supports. Preliminarily waterproof the end of the column with heated bitumen.
Step 3. Fill the free space with crushed stone, and then fill it with cement milk.
Step 4 Drive the lower end of the post into the pipe section.
Step 5. At the bottom of the pit, pour a layer of crushed stone at a level of 15 cm and install supports.
Step 6. Now in the resulting free space add regular soil and tamp well.

We proceed to the installation of rafters:

Step 1. building level mark a line on the wall for the future beam.
Step 2 Fix the binding with anchors.
Step 3 Install a beam on the front supports, which will subsequently hold the entire roof on itself.
Step 4. Fix the floor beams to the strapping using special mounting plates, in which there are at least three hardware.
Step 5. At this stage, treat the entire wooden canopy with an antiseptic and fire retardant.

And now we mount polycarbonate:

Step 1. Prepare thermal washers with self-tapping screws. Calculate their number for each sheet.
Step 2. Fix the screws strictly perpendicular to the roof surface, try not to overtighten.
Step 3. Connect the polycarbonate sheets to each other with a profile with a rubber gasket. It consists of two parts, the first of which is fixed to the tree, and the second snaps onto the first, thus firmly clamping the sheets together.
Step 4. Seal the cuts of polycarbonate sheets with punched tape, on which put on the trim profile.

As you can see, nothing complicated!

Flat canopy with colored monolithic polycarbonate

See how much more advantageous the same canopy looks like the previous one, but with colored polycarbonate and painted in White color frame details:

Let's take a closer look at the construction technology of such a canopy:

Step 1. First, piles are arranged for the future foundation. Frame racks are attached to them.
Step 2. For this canopy, it took 8 rafters from boards 20x5 cm.
Step 3. Now you need to make a crate of 50x50 mm bars. In the rafters themselves, special grooves are cut.
Step 4. The crate is fixed with galvanized screw nails.
Step 5. It is necessary to paint the crate and rafters with paint for an open atmosphere, which will not fade over time under the sun and will reliably protect the entire frame from destruction.
Step 6. At this stage, you can already proceed to the installation of polycarbonate.

And here is a solid frame ready!

Arched canopy for curved polycarbonate

And now - about the technology of manufacturing an arched canopy made of polycarbonate. Fortunately, this material is similar in its strength characteristics to silicate glass: it does not scratch, does not break, and, unlike glass, it also bends, easily taking on an arched shape:

To make such a canopy, you will need a pipe bender, as in step by step master class below, or it will be more convenient to order farms of the desired form in some company:

Polycarbonate itself makes even the dullest metal frame, which was welded to the house, stylish:

Now look what beautiful awnings obtained by making arches of a slightly more complex shape:

For comparison: covering such a canopy with an ordinary protective awning is a troublesome business, because all this does not protect the pool well from wind-blown dirt. But a translucent stationary canopy is perfect for this purpose!

Let's look at the manufacturing technology of such a canopy:

Step 1. Make double metal arcs for polycarbonate. It is most convenient to order these at the factory - they turn out to be both more accurate and more reliable.
Step 2. Put the racks under the canopy.
Step 3 Weld the harness and install the arcs.
Step 4 Weld the crate to the arches.
Step 5 Lay the 8mm thick polycarbonate directly on the poles.

This project uses sheets 12 meters long. For installation, use special screws. The blue color here, by the way, was not chosen by chance: it affects the color of the water in the pool in the best way.

Canopy made of colored polycarbonate and forged metal

If you have a two- or three-story private house and even there is a balcony, why not make such a beautiful colored visor for it? Today, this architectural element is quite fashionable, but its implementation is not complicated:

Let's analyze the very technology of manufacturing a metal canopy for colored polycarbonate:

Step 1. We assemble the metal frame directly on the object, using welding or screws.
Step 2. Now you need to raise the polycarbonate to a height so that it is not damaged. To do this, attach a ladder and secure the ropes that will help lift the sheet.
Step 3. Install polycarbonate on the roof using aluminum strips and roofing screws designed for this task. It is extremely important to fix the sheet so that it is not subsequently torn off by the wind, and the wind at a height is much stronger.
Step 4. Remove the protective film, and fix the plugs on the end of the sheet.
Step 5. Additionally, on one side of the canopy, optionally install another polycarbonate wall, fix it in the same way and cut off all the protruding parts.

Such a canopy looks great, and serves not only as protection from the rain, but also as a spectacular architectural element of the house, which is noticeable from afar.

The combination of transparent sheets and wooden inserts

And finally, one of the most stylish design solutions, when the transparency of polycarbonate is effectively combined with white wood and carved circles. Love sun bunnies? There will be many!

The construction technology of such a canopy is the most common, only on top of the monolithic panels are covered with an additional roof made of plastic or thin wood:

If you have any questions about the installation of such canopies - ask, we will be happy to answer you!

Sheds made of polycarbonate - street structures, universal for household purposes. The material is light, flexible, translucent in large color scheme, a convenient format, are 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 how to make a polycarbonate canopy with your own hands, how to choose the right shape, calculate and design a 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

Advice: Soft transparent windows, sliding aluminum systems are the most versatile option: they do not block the view, they open easily, and in closed keep warm well.

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

Production of canopies and canopies from polycarbonate on wooden base- the most budgetary and easiest way to make a small one yourself architectural form Location on. Work does not require professional equipment, enough household hand tool. 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, it is necessary edged board 40*100 mm.

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 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

Good to know: Metal products heat up from fire, sunlight, quickly cool down in frosts, therefore, for comfort in gazebos, on the porch, terrace, it is better to provide wooden railings on the parapet.

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.

Roof

Canopies made of polycarbonate, photo interesting ideas are presented in the gallery, there are also quite a lot of pictures and projects in the network, there are single- and double-slope, arched, cascading, cone, domed, undulating 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 rafter system requires serious calculations.

Farm classification:

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, also special software. To avoid errors, it is recommended to use 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

Good to know: The greater the distance from the lower to the upper point of the roof, the higher its bearing capacity.

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 suitable for large industrial buildings, engineering calculations are needed here, the length and height of the run should be in the proportion 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:

cast 2.050 * 2, 3, 6.12 m;
cellular 2.100 * 3.6.12 m.

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:

main elements - 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 roughness of the butt end 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 on bearing wall you should put a beam of 60, 80 * 80 mm on the anchor, support the trusses on it, connecting by welding, this will allow you to 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

Cut polycarbonate better circular saw, equipped with a hard-alloy disc with undivided 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