Guide to the best outdoor wooden structures to create shelters from the sun and bad weather
The market offers numerous types of wooden shelters and canopies to be built with pre-built structures. To purchase the solution with the right characteristics and which integrates with the style of the house, it is advisable to know which are the varieties proposed in the market for outdoor wooden structures.
What the law says
Before buying any wooden structure for outdoor use, it is essential to be updated on building laws, in order not to incur abuse.
The regulations governing the installation of pergolas , canopies and all those equipment that increase the volume of covered spaces vary according to the municipality of residence. However, if the work falls into the category of precarious artifacts, that is removable without demolition, it is exempted from special authorizations.
While as regards the installation of the shelters for doors and windows on the facades of buildings and buildings, if they involve changes in the prospectus of any building, it is necessary to submit the application to obtain the authorization of the municipality.
The shelters
The shelter is a structure anchored to the external wall, normally used as a shelter for doors and windows. Being devoid of support systems, the classic wooden shelter is limited to a projection of about 150cm.
How to choose wooden canopies for verandas, gazebos, carports and wooden pergolas
The different categories of wooden roofs are defined according to their function:
- Canopies :wooden canopies are pitched roofs that have the task of protecting from the sun and bad weather, whose structure leaning against the external wall can be supported by pillars;
- Verandas: verandas are also pitched canopies consisting of a wooden structure leaning against the external wall, supported by pillars. However, the veranda, unlike the simple canopy, can be equipped with lateral shelters and completed by perimeter structures that delimit the affected area;
- Gazebo :wooden gazebos are characterized by a free-standing and therefore supporting structure, whose roof, which has the task of protecting from the weather and the sun, can be in wood, fabric or other materials;
- Carport :the carports, or the so-called canopies for the shelter of cars, have a wooden structure open on the sides, supported by pillars. The structure can be leaning against the external walls or free-standing in a self-supporting form. Also in this case the roof can be made of wood or other materials;
- Pergolas :pergolas have a wooden structure to be placed against the walls or they can be self-supporting. The task of the pergola is to create shaded areas, as a support for climbing plants, its role is mainly linked to the aesthetics of the garden;
Models of wooden canopies
To choose wooden canopies it is a good rule to consider that they differ according to the assembly method, but above all according to the types of elements they are made of.
All the canopies are leaning against each other, i.e. they use the external wall as an anchoring element. The sloping roof pitch according to its dimensions, can load the weight on the pillars that rest on the ground, or on the wall itself, through the different systems of anchors.
The most exploited models of canopies are:
- cantilevered canopies: is the generic term that indicates all types of canopies;
- single-pitched canopies: they are canopies of all sizes, with a single pitched pitch anchored to the wall when it does not exceed a certain depth, or supported by pillars when its size is such as to require support to unload the weight on the ground . The single-pitched canopies can be equipped with a gutter and downspout;
- double-pitched canopies: they are large canopies with two sloping pitches, one overhangs the other so that the water descends into the lower pitch and flows up to the gutter, and then is correctly conveyed into the downspout.
When it is essential to install a canopy
Canopies are useful for many reasons, however there are situations where they become indispensable elements. An example above all: when the access door faces directly outside the house and the depth of the pitch of the roof is insufficient to repair the entrance, or when in multi-storey buildings, it is too high.
In all these cases the entrance canopy becomes necessary to avoid flooding in front of the door of the house or the access to the stairwell, to have time to take the keys and open the door without being in the rain, or to be able to accommodate the doormat and reduce the amount of dirt brought on by foot traffic, but above all to avoid accidents caused by stagnation of water.
Among the various materials why choose wooden canopies
The load-bearing structures of the canopies , as well as the roofs, can be found on the market made of various materials, starting with aluminum , up to steel ; however, in the event that structures with certain aesthetic characteristics are needed, i.e. to be installed next to homes of classic taste, inside courtyards and gardens or overlooking green areas, wooden canopies are the best solution for the construction of verandas and carports , but also for elegant gazebos.
Thanks to its adaptability, in addition to traditionally being one of the most used materials for the construction of any load-bearing structure, wood has technical and aesthetic characteristics that make it irreplaceable and, in the essences of fir and pine , it is also economical , without count that it goes very naturally to any other material. Thanks to the finishing treatments, the wood becomes very resistant and can be used for roofing pitches.
