After a hard working week, I want to relax and unwind in the open air. But the sultry heat or unexpected rain makes you hide in the room. Rescue in this case will be a country canopy for relaxation. They will help to shelter from the weather, while remaining outdoors. In addition, they will become a protection for storing things or an alternative to a closed garage for a car. You can make them from various materials, which allows you to independently select the desired shape and structure of the structure.
What explains the popularity of awnings
Country canopy is very common. It can be seen next to a private house on almost every site. And this is not surprising, given all its advantages over other structures. The advantages include:
- Simple and lightweight construction that does not require a foundation.
- The design is solid, but not fundamental.
- Fixed roof that does not need to be changed every year.
- Protects from bad weather.
- Construction is cheaper than with the construction of other similar structures.
Along with this, there is only one drawback - wind blowing. Open side parts are not able to protect from wind. This disadvantage should be considered during construction. It is important to make the structure strong and reliable so that the wind does not manage to destroy it.
Variety of species
Photos of country canopies flooded the Internet. They are found everywhere. And they are all so different in shape, color and design.
The design flaw, which manifests itself in wind-blown winds, can often be circumvented if the canopy is attached to the house. In this case, the canopy is a continuation of the roof of the house. The visor is firmly attached to the house. Thus, on the one hand, wind protection will be provided.
The second type of canopy suggests that the structure will stand separately from all buildings. Freestanding awnings resemble an umbrella, only in larger sizes.
Types of roof
Country canopy may differ in the type of roof. In this regard, it can be:
- With a direct roof (for example, a parking lot).
- With a sloping roof: single and double. Thanks to the angle of inclination, water drains from the roof in a timely manner.
- With a complex roof, which can be of any shape. Up to the semi-arches.
Do it yourself any of these country canopies.
What can be made of a canopy
It is necessary to approach the choice of materials for a canopy with an understanding of their basic characteristics. The main materials for the frame are metal and wood. Recently, more and more often use plastic pipes.
As the materials for the roof, polycarbonate, corrugated board, metal tile, plexiglass, polyethylene, slate are most often chosen. Various polymeric materials (for example, fiberglass), fabrics (intended for awnings), ordinary glass can also be used.
Many other materials that are not traditional can be used. It all depends on the vision of the owner and the overall design of the site. It’s important not just to choose the materials you like. They need to be correctly combined with each other and the selected type of canopy. Let's look at a few of the most popular options.
Made of wood and polycarbonate attached to the house
Having chosen your favorite version of the canopy to the country house, you need to draw a diagram of it. It will help determine the size of the structure, the amount of necessary materials. Following the drawn drawing, it is necessary to mark the supports in the selected area. The selected site must be prepared by first cleaning it and leveling the ground.
Since a tree can become unusable under the influence of weather factors, it must be treated with protective agents. To do this, you can use antiseptics, primers, paints.
Polycarbonate is one of the new materials that has several advantages. It is lightweight, easy to install, allows light transmission and at the same time protects from rain.
The canopy under consideration will be attached to the house. The roof is sloping. This means that the supports running along the wall will be longer. Front supports make 40-50 cm shorter. Having measured the required height, a horizontal beam is fixed on the wall of the building. For the construction of the canopy, it is recommended to take a wooden beam with a cross section of 9x9 cm.
Pits are prepared for the supports (0.5 m is enough). It creates a pillow of crushed stone and sand (up to 10 cm). Supports are placed inside. They must be strictly perpendicular. This can be checked using the level. When the supports are exposed, they are poured with concrete.
The next step is to connect the bars together to create a frame. To do this, with the help of corners, horizontal bars are attached. On top of them, a crate is made and the rafters are installed.
Since this type of country canopy is made of polycarbonate, it must be prepared. For this, the sheets are interconnected in such a way as to obtain the intended size of the roof. This will make it easier if you use the HP profile and thermowells. Working at altitude is quite difficult. Therefore, all possible work is best done on earth. After installing polycarbonate on the crate, the canopy is considered ready.
Freestanding canopy made of metal and corrugated board
Decking has more weight than, for example, polycarbonate. Therefore, it is most often fixed on a metal frame.
Drains from a metal pipe are located at a distance of 1 m from each other. Their total number will depend on the selected size of the country canopy. The supports are 60 cm deep in the ground. To do this, a pit is prepared, a pillow of sand and gravel is filled up, everything is poured with concrete.
After the solution has dried, you can proceed with the installation of horizontal beams. They are fastened by welding. You can, of course, use bolted joints. But this is a very troublesome and lengthy process. For the crate, it is allowed to use pipes of smaller diameter.
The construction is being completed by attaching corrugated board to the crate. In this case, self-tapping screws are used.
Fabric use
Country canopies that are made using fabric will look original and picturesque. The frame in this case does not differ from options with other types of roofing. A variety of fabric colors will help you choose the right option for the overall picture of the site or, for example, for the mood. The only drawback of such a country canopy is that the awning from the fabric must be removed annually. At the end of the warm season, the tent is removed. With the onset of the next season, the fabric is fixed again.
Polypropylene pipes
Thanks to the availability of modern materials, it is possible to build a canopy to the country house in simple ways. One such option involves the use of PVC pipes.
For the construction of a canopy with a rounded roof you will need 2 vinyl pipes with a length of about 5 m and dense polyethylene (fabric tent). Depending on the size, one piece of the web is prepared. It can be sewn from several parts. Hinges are sewn to it (about 40 pcs.), Which will hold the canvas on the frame. Pipes stretch through the hinges.
Pegs are placed on the selected site, indicating the locations of the supports. According to them, the structure is installed. The pipes are simply driven into the ground.
From polypropylene pipes, you can also build a rectangular canopy. To do this, they need to be connected in such a way that a rectangular roof is obtained. The fabric is attached on top.
Marquises
Separately, it is worth talking about such a variant of the canopy as the marquises. They are structures that can be assembled and disassembled. They, in turn, are divided into several types, each of which performs its function:
- Vertical, which protect the openings of doors, windows, zoning the room (they are a kind of partition).
- Horizontal, which are used as protective awnings.
- Windows, balconies protecting from sunshine and precipitation.
- Terraces that protect the terrace.
- Shelters that protect the walls and roof.
The main advantage of such designs is their mobility. They can be folded and unfolded if necessary.
A summer cottage will be a good place to relax. It can be built on its own with minimal financial costs. And you can spend a little money, but assemble a solid structure for many years. They can be installed next to the house, pool, favorite flower bed. Awnings will protect the car from bad weather. Arranged canopies over the relaxation area, barbecue or barbecue stove will be a reliable protection, saving during bad weather. During the intense heat, it will allow you to get a saving shadow and enjoy all the charm and charm of a warm day.