Polycarbonate Verandas
Polycarbonate Verandas
The UK market is now flooded with various verandas and pergola systems, all since the pandemic and the need to be outdoors more and we see something new most months appearing online. In our group we have sold various glass and polycarbonate verandas now for over 18 years and the same principle still remains with these veranda systems - You really only get what you pay for…. They are simple, non mechanical products and the differences in price are nearly always mainly down to the amount of material used in the profile sections.
The more expensive the system, the more aluminium is used and the heavier the profiles are, which can have an effect on the widths offered and achieved between the front support posts. This seems to be a major factor for so many customers who want the cleanest open space between the front posts for many obvious reasons. Many other factors come into play of course and the ability to be able to retrofit other front and side sections is down to the quality of the original veranda and the section design and build.
What we offer is a wide range from simple standard size and made to measure verandas with various features and options to consider. Email or call us for any further details on any aspect of design, size and specification.
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A polycarbonate roof system, or veranda as many call them when the system is either a lean to wall mounted structure or even a back to back, self supporting structure, is a very cost effective way to cover outdoor spaces. Minimal installation times, minimal fuss and mess and a very effective final result for a weather protection method requiring no management at all at any time of the year. Sure, there are some very questionable low quality systems creeping into the UK market, so beware, but with some decent research you will perhaps soon see what prices to pay for something which has the build quality to withstand the British weather as it is nowadays.
Polycarbonate, as used for roofing, is available in so many forms, from the very thinnest and cheapest twin wall profile through to the very best and durable quadruple wall profile.
Most mid range polycarbonate veranda systems use a double or triple wall material for roofing, with options on whether it is clear or opaque or even tinted in various shades, mainly to use when you veranda is facing South or South West and gets hit by the hottest sun during the summertime. Opaque polycarbonate will take the glare out of the sunlight and act like a diffuser cover on a light fitting.
Polycarbonate is lightweight and easy to handle and will not break easily either. You cannot really compare it to glass, because a glass veranda roof should be at least 8mm thick and usually 10mm on any decent size structure but also up to 12mm thick. Most comparisons made are against much thinner glass sections, so unfair in a veranda comparison where higher quality sections should be used anyway as it is all situated above your head.
When the space to be covered and protected is very large then polycarbonate makes much more sense and can accommodate large sizes. This is usually a lot of commercial applications such as sports clubs, hotel gardens, pubs, cafes and many other places where there might be good outdoor space which benefits from being protected from the midday sun but mainly from rainfall. If we put a wall mounted polycarbonate roof system and fix them back to back we can create an apex (double pitched) canopy system which can be up to 12m across and almost infinite in length. It is one of the most cost effective ways to cover larger areas with a free standing or wall mounted structure using lightweight but very strong aluminium profiles and then various choices of polycarbonate roof sections, double or triple layered sheets in different shades from clear through to fairly dark smoked finish.
The rainwater drainage is always looking to take the rainwater from the roof and down to floor level and away, not just falling over the side at about 2.1m high and splashing onto the floor.
With the greatest diversity in weather in our Northern European climate the veranda makes a lot of sense and is also one of the lowest maintenance products to use with no moving parts.
A polycarbonate veranda can be made to very large sizes because of the lack of weight from the primary materials used. Specified properly for your home or business you benefit from:
Look towards any of our polycarbonate roof models for the best model for your size and requirements and if there isn't a model that looks right then give us a call or email us directly for advice as we can offer products which are not in our shop.
Any serious structure of any size being installed outside needs foundations of some kind to hold it stable and also hold it firm in the wind. For a veranda the minimum requirements would be concrete pads exactly where the front support posts are to be fitted to the ground. Many people actually create a complete concrete base for their veranda and then go on to add tiles or other floor coverings to enhance and create a better space to be in.
There are some precast concrete foundation pads (typically about 400mm x 400mm or larger) which can also have drainage exits or pipes built in if you are looking to drain the rainwater away underground and use an existing drainage system. Otherwise, most people let the rainwater run away at low level and keep it away from the protected area.
Always fit a polycarbonate or glass veranda onto solid and suitable concrete or steel foundations which can hold the entire structure completely rigid and withstand the required forces to prevent any movement at all.
Many small or average size verandas can take only one day to install if everything is level and true for the floor and wall fixings. The more complex systems with doors or other infill sections to the side and front can take around 2-3 days to install. With correct preparation and good level walls and floors most verandas will go together very quickly and painlessly.
Most verandas are fitted at around the 3- 4m projection size when being used for entertaining or relaxing outside covered areas. We offer verandas up to 6m in projection however. The width is usually around the 4-5m size on an average house and patio but again we can go to much larger sizes and the only restriction tends to be the front support post position. A lot of customers want as much uninterrupted space as possible between the support posts for many obvious reasons. Some verandas can have a wider space inbetween the posts simply because they have a stronger build and front profile gutter support which does not deflect in the unsupported section. Some high end manufacturers can offer up to 6m without another post for support.
