Hello everyone,
I would like to have a roof built over my terrace (3×5m (10×16 feet)). The terrace is attached to the house on one side and open on the other three sides. I definitely want a wooden substructure and a translucent roof made of double-walled polycarbonate sheets—I am quite certain about that. I simply don’t like aluminum.
Now I’m wondering if I could use a carport kit for this purpose. The dimensions would work well, and it looks exactly like the kind of roof I imagine for my terrace. I also have professionals (carpenters, etc.) among my acquaintances who could handle the assembly. It is important that the facade is not damaged, so the structure must be freestanding. That shouldn’t be a problem, though.
Is there anyone here who has done something similar? Is there any reason not to use a carport kit for this project?
I’d appreciate any experiences and tips!
I would like to have a roof built over my terrace (3×5m (10×16 feet)). The terrace is attached to the house on one side and open on the other three sides. I definitely want a wooden substructure and a translucent roof made of double-walled polycarbonate sheets—I am quite certain about that. I simply don’t like aluminum.
Now I’m wondering if I could use a carport kit for this purpose. The dimensions would work well, and it looks exactly like the kind of roof I imagine for my terrace. I also have professionals (carpenters, etc.) among my acquaintances who could handle the assembly. It is important that the facade is not damaged, so the structure must be freestanding. That shouldn’t be a problem, though.
Is there anyone here who has done something similar? Is there any reason not to use a carport kit for this project?
I’d appreciate any experiences and tips!
Minimum roof pitch 2%.
There is no region in Germany without a defined snow load. Each region has its own reference values. Wind load should not be underestimated either. With 6 posts measuring 9 × 9 cm (3.5 × 3.5 inches), snow and wind should not be a problem.
Don’t forget to anchor the structure to the ground.
For example, I would rather attach one side to the house, which saves at least 3 posts and foundations with anchors.
My DIY carport cost me a total of about 500 euros. The amount of work for the hardware store kit is the same.
However, I carefully reworked and sanded all the wood and applied three coats of finish. It should have a good visual quality. 😉
There is no region in Germany without a defined snow load. Each region has its own reference values. Wind load should not be underestimated either. With 6 posts measuring 9 × 9 cm (3.5 × 3.5 inches), snow and wind should not be a problem.
Don’t forget to anchor the structure to the ground.
For example, I would rather attach one side to the house, which saves at least 3 posts and foundations with anchors.
My DIY carport cost me a total of about 500 euros. The amount of work for the hardware store kit is the same.
However, I carefully reworked and sanded all the wood and applied three coats of finish. It should have a good visual quality. 😉
ruby27 schrieb:
Oh man, I think I need to visit a dealer to check out some carports and get advice on site.Honestly: of course it’s possible. But within the same price range, there are also nice patio covers that tend to look a bit more delicate. The major difference is probably in the size: a carport measuring 3 x 5 meters (10 x 16 feet) or 2.5 x 5.5 meters (8 x 18 feet) might not really replace a patio cover of 3 x 4 meters (10 x 13 feet). Then there’s the building permit / planning permission, which you might need if the wider side is over 4 meters (13 feet). The wood used for carports is usually a bit rougher, which some people might like less.
Twin-wall polycarbonate panels on a flat roof is not a good idea. Dirt tends to settle heavily, which quickly spoils the enjoyment.
The wood is not laminated veneer lumber either, which is straighter and stays that way. I have also seen cheap carports at hardware stores where the rafters were just boards. They were not wide enough to properly support twin-wall polycarbonate panels.
ypg schrieb:
The wood used for carports is probably also a bit rougher, so some might like it less.
The wood is not laminated veneer lumber either, which is straighter and stays that way. I have also seen cheap carports at hardware stores where the rafters were just boards. They were not wide enough to properly support twin-wall polycarbonate panels.
P
pagoni20205 Mar 2021 09:37I’m not a big fan of twin-wall polycarbonate sheets. There are certainly good solutions available, but in my experience, I’ve seen some issues: the sheets can become cloudy, delaminate, or absorb water, which eventually looks unattractive. A neighbor of mine sometimes had sheets from his garden shed fly off when it was very windy. That’s just my impression—I would personally prefer glass. In the past, wired glass was also commonly used, which could be another option.
If you have a carpenter or similar professional involved, you can also have the appropriate wooden beams prepared as a kit at a timber supplier.
By creating a slight slope away from the house, water can simply run off onto the lawn depending on the landscaping, or you can install a simple gutter or folded metal sheet for drainage.
For a roof over a terrace or carport, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re having coffee underneath or parking your car.
If you use thinner wood, you’ll need more supports, which will be visible. Thin twin-wall sheets often require closer support spacing, otherwise, they tend to bend. This balancing of dimensions and load capacity is always a factor, and you might want to achieve a certain aesthetic as well.
If you have a carpenter or similar professional involved, you can also have the appropriate wooden beams prepared as a kit at a timber supplier.
By creating a slight slope away from the house, water can simply run off onto the lawn depending on the landscaping, or you can install a simple gutter or folded metal sheet for drainage.
For a roof over a terrace or carport, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re having coffee underneath or parking your car.
If you use thinner wood, you’ll need more supports, which will be visible. Thin twin-wall sheets often require closer support spacing, otherwise, they tend to bend. This balancing of dimensions and load capacity is always a factor, and you might want to achieve a certain aesthetic as well.
pagoni2020 schrieb:
At the neighbor’s place, sometimes a panel from his garden shed would fly around when it was very windy.
Thin twin-wall polycarbonate sheets often need more support points; otherwise, they will bend... this balancing act between dimensions and load capacity is always a factor, plus you might want to achieve a certain look. The panels recommended in post 10 do not require additional support at 3 meters (10 feet) width. 16 mm (5/8 inch) thickness is the minimum for roof terraces anyway. The example you described for greenhouses is not representative, as much thinner sheets are used there.
Of course, the panels must be installed correctly. There are online construction guides, but I’m not allowed to link them here.
Holzhandel-Deutschland offers a PDF.
Please keep in mind the issue of condensation when using translucent roof panels. We experienced this problem with corrugated polycarbonate sheets. Under the roof batten, it was always wet in the morning, and water dripped from every batten onto the terrace.
This is something to be aware of… in winter, condensation can form on the terrace table or water droplets may be visible!
But where does the moisture come from? The key term here is: condensation!
In winter, the temperature of the translucent roof panels drops below freezing. The moisture in the surrounding air settles on both the underside and topside of the panels and freezes into ice. This mostly happens at night, as temperatures often fall significantly then.
The next day, sunlight warms the surface of the panels, causing the previously frozen moisture underneath to thaw and form droplets. Once the droplet becomes large enough, the only logical outcome is that it falls—directly onto your terrace table.
Is this normal? Yes, unfortunately, it is.
But how can this process be prevented?
There is no perfect solution here. What definitely cannot be prevented is the freezing of moisture on the surface of the panels. Therefore, the only option is to reduce the symptoms by directing or catching the droplets.
We now have a new terrace roof with twin-wall panels, and everything stays dry.
To channel the condensation away, increasing the roof pitch helps. The water droplets then run down the panel and ideally drip off at the eaves.
Another option is to “catch” the droplets. For example, you can stretch a sunshade sail underneath the panels. In summer, this can also provide additional shade.
However, caution! Such a system can become a real problem for the panels.
If a fabric sheet is mounted too close under the panels, heat from the sun-warmed air can accumulate beneath the roof. If a critical temperature is exceeded, the panels may suffer irreversible damage.
This is something to be aware of… in winter, condensation can form on the terrace table or water droplets may be visible!
But where does the moisture come from? The key term here is: condensation!
In winter, the temperature of the translucent roof panels drops below freezing. The moisture in the surrounding air settles on both the underside and topside of the panels and freezes into ice. This mostly happens at night, as temperatures often fall significantly then.
The next day, sunlight warms the surface of the panels, causing the previously frozen moisture underneath to thaw and form droplets. Once the droplet becomes large enough, the only logical outcome is that it falls—directly onto your terrace table.
Is this normal? Yes, unfortunately, it is.
But how can this process be prevented?
There is no perfect solution here. What definitely cannot be prevented is the freezing of moisture on the surface of the panels. Therefore, the only option is to reduce the symptoms by directing or catching the droplets.
We now have a new terrace roof with twin-wall panels, and everything stays dry.
To channel the condensation away, increasing the roof pitch helps. The water droplets then run down the panel and ideally drip off at the eaves.
Another option is to “catch” the droplets. For example, you can stretch a sunshade sail underneath the panels. In summer, this can also provide additional shade.
However, caution! Such a system can become a real problem for the panels.
If a fabric sheet is mounted too close under the panels, heat from the sun-warmed air can accumulate beneath the roof. If a critical temperature is exceeded, the panels may suffer irreversible damage.
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