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A Beginner’s Guide to Canopies

A Beginner’s Guide to Canopies

If this is your first time choosing a canopy, you may be a little overwhelmed due to the choice on the market. I have therefore put together a brief list of the most common/popular types of canopies so you can easily decide which one will be right for you, without adding to your confusion.

Wall Mounted Canopies

Wall Mounted Canopies are the perfect shade and shelter structures for those that have a suitable wall to fix them to. They are cost-effective compared to freestanding canopies, as they require fewer posts, making them ideal for smaller budgets.

Because these canopies are installed against the wall, they can provide shade over your building windows and doors, helping to make the inside cooler on warm sunny days and warmer on colder days.

Our wall mounted canopies such as the Coniston, are constructed from marine grade aluminium, making them rust resistant. They can be installed in any length, enabling them to completely wrap around your building, including around external and internal corners, to create free-flow cover from the inside to the outside around your entire building.

Most popular uses: Covered walkways, playground canopies, outdoor classrooms, and outdoor dining canopies within schools and commercial settings.

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Wall Mounted Canopies

Freestanding Canopies

Freestanding canopies work well in settings that do not have a suitable wall to fix to or would like shade and shelter set away from the building.

They are available in many shapes and sizes and can be manufactured from different materials to suit your design and appearance preferences. They can also cover both small and large areas, making them perfect for covering your desired area, no matter the intended use.

Most popular uses: Outdoor classrooms, covered outdoor dining areas, and MUGA sports canopies.

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Freestanding Canopies

Timber Canopies

Timber canopies can be wall mounted or freestanding and are perfect for more traditional areas and historic settings due to the natural, tactile appearance. However, they also look fantastic in contemporary, new-build sites, making them a versatile choice.

If you are looking to cover an extra-large area while also covering small spaces, our timber canopies can cover an extra-large area with an unlimited length and maximum span of up to 16 metres.

The frames are constructed from large, chunky, glue laminated timber beams that are sustainably sourced, resulting in an eco-friendly option as well as one that suits your visual needs and requirements.

Most popular uses: Outdoor dining canopy within schools, colleges, restaurants and holiday parks

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Timber Canopies

Commercial Umbrellas

Commercial umbrellas cover smaller areas and work well within outdoor dining areas, creating shade and shelter all year round. Because they are commercial grade structures that are installed into the ground, they are designed to withstand the UK weather and therefore be left in place all year round.

Most commercial umbrellas are covered with waterproof tensile fabric, so whilst they create shade from the sun, they also provide shelter from sudden downpours, which is ideal for the unpredictable British weather.

Most popular uses: Covered outdoor dining umbrellas and picnic table cover.

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Commercial umbrellas

Waterproof Tensile Canopies

If umbrellas sound like what you’re looking for, yet you’re looking to cover a larger area or can’t accommodate a central post, Waterproof Tensile Canopies may be the solution you are looking for. They can cover areas of many sizes, large and small, and have stylish fabric roofs that provide shade and shelter from both the rain and sun.

Most popular uses: Outdoor dining canopies, outdoor play canopies and garden centre canopies

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Waterproof Tensile Canopies

Shade Sails

Shade Sails are a popular addition to many commercial settings, including schools and nurseries. They have a striking appearance, and when contrasting or matching colours are chosen for shade sail arrays, they are really fun and colourful structures.

They do, however, only provide shade from the sun, including high UV protection; they do not offer shelter from the rain. We will be launching waterproof shade sails very soon, so if you would like to register your interest, please email us here.

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Shade Sails

Cantilevered Wall Mounted Canopies

Cantilevered Wall Mounted Canopies feature no front posts, so they are ideal for smaller areas or areas where posts could become an obstruction. However, because of this, they have much smaller projections.

They work really well as entrance canopies above doorways, reducing the amount of rain that drives in through the doorway, helping to make the area safer and less of a slip hazard.

Most popular uses: Entrance canopies

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Cantilevered Entrance Canopies

If you are still unsure which canopy would best suit your needs and requirements, give us a call on 0800 389 9072 or send us an email and our friendly sales advisors will be happy to discuss the options to help you find your perfect solution.

In the meantime, download a copy of our full product brochure and have a browse:

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install canopies and shade structures at schools, nurseries and educational settings to enable year-round Free Flow Outdoor Play and Outdoor Learning.
For more information please contact us

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See also

Design and Specifications
BIM and NBS