A canopy is a small projecting roof over a door, window or facade opening that keeps rain and sun off. What defines it is that it is carried by the wall and has no posts of its own standing on the ground — that is what separates it from a porch, a carport or a veranda.
Its function is more practical than it looks: it keeps you dry while you find your key, protects the front door and its paintwork from driving rain and sun, and cuts direct solar gain on a window in summer.
Types
- Flat panel canopy — a clean, flat plane in steel, aluminium or composite, common in modern architecture
- Glass canopy — laminated safety glass on stainless steel tie rods; lets daylight reach the front door
- Timber canopy — a framed structure with rafters and fascias, covered with EPDM, zinc or tiles
- Masonry or concrete canopy — a cantilevered slab or corbelled course, often part of the facade in older buildings
- Awning — a retractable fabric hood; strictly speaking solar shading, but commonly called a canopy
Structural points
- Fixing — a canopy is a cantilever, so the fixing carries a bending moment. Always fix into the structural inner leaf or into solid masonry, never into the outer leaf of a cavity wall alone, and never into insulation or brick slips
- Loading — allow for self weight plus snow. A projection beyond roughly a metre almost always needs tie rods or brackets, or a calculation
- Fall and drainage — give at least 1 to 2 per cent fall forwards or to one side. Without fall, water stands
- Junction with the wall — this is where damage starts. Turn the water-resisting layer around 10 to 15 cm up the wall and tuck it into a chased joint or under a flashing
- Cold bridge — with a concrete slab cast straight through, the element crosses the insulation line. In new build use a thermally broken fixing
Permission
Whether a canopy needs consent depends on the country, on where it sits (front or rear elevation), on its size and on the status of the building. On a listed building, in a conservation area, or on a street elevation, permission is often required. Check with the local authority before you order.
Cost (indicative)
A standard front door canopy about 1.5 metres wide costs roughly 200 to 900 euro as a kit, depending on material and size. A bespoke steel or glass canopy sits well above that, with fitting time on top.
Related terms
- Overhang
- Fascia board
- Facade
- Balcony
- Eaves
Want to learn more about construction terms? Visit our knowledge base at fredsdiyplans.com.