ᐅ Patio Roof – Choosing the Right Materials and Contractors

Hello everyone,

Since this is about being "outside," this seemed like the most appropriate subforum.

We have been living in the house for 3.5 years now and are currently looking into the topic of patio roofing. I have already had initial on-site discussions with two local companies. Unfortunately, these talks raised more questions than answers.

The area to be covered is about 26 sqm (280 sq ft). Width 7.30 m (24 ft) and depth 4.00 m (13 ft), with the special feature that part of the patio narrows diagonally, so the depth on the left side is not 4.00 m but 2.00 m (7 ft). This means that part of the roof and drainage must slope diagonally and be adjusted on-site; a roof of a standard size x by y meters won’t work for us.

What we originally wanted and were offered:
- Powder-coated aluminum construction
- 10 mm (0.4 inch) laminated safety glass (VSG) roofing
- LED spots integrated into the rafters
- Under-roof shading with a wireless sensor
- Both sides (left with 2.00 m (7 ft) depth and right with 4.00 m (13 ft) depth) closable with frameless glass sliding doors

This option costs 19,000 EUR. Shading on top of the roof with a weather station was even more expensive. Shading adapted to the sloping area was even pricier. The affordable under-roof shading would not cover the sloped section of about 3 sqm (32 sq ft).

What the second company proposed:
- Powder-coated aluminum construction
- White milky polycarbonate twin-wall panels roofing *
- LED spots integrated into the rafters
- No shading
- Only one side (right 4.00 m (13 ft) depth) closable with frameless glass sliding doors

This option costs "only" 8,000 EUR.

* This company specializes in polycarbonate twin-wall panels. Apparently, this roofing has many advantages. A double UV filter protects against the sun, while an integrated prism structure is said to concentrate sunlight and direct it downward, resulting in only 7% light loss. Supposedly, no shading is needed. The climate under it should always feel as if you are sitting in the shade. Polycarbonate is said to be self-cleaning.

I am mainly skeptical now. Of course, I would prefer the cheaper option, but I find it hard to fully believe all these benefits, especially the claim that no shading is necessary. Do you have any experience with this? The main argument against twin-wall panels seems to be noise during rain, but that doesn’t matter to us, so that argument is irrelevant.

Overall, it is very difficult to find a suitable company and to assess the prices. How did you solve this?

Thanks and best regards!

I would definitely not use something like "polycarbonate multiwall sheets" for this, but if anything, clear glass.
Maybe you also need an alternative offer for wood (then definitely laminated timber) or steel.
For shading, you can use a standard awning or, in the case of wood, something manual mounted underneath on rails.
Ask what exactly is driving the cost up—perhaps a 90-degree angle could be an option instead of an angled one if that increases the price.
It should definitely be possible to do this cheaper than 19k unless you have some cost drivers included.
I am currently getting a similar offer but can’t say anything yet as I only have a potential quote so far.

Powder-coated aluminum in RAL7016 anthracite is fixed, and we don’t like wood at all for the roofing. We also don’t want a standard awning; it should be custom-made, and operate automatically or at least be remote-controlled. If that’s the price range for it, we are willing to invest that much.

I’m just wondering whether the polycarbonate multiwall sheets really have the promised properties. A glass covering isn’t much more expensive, and the price difference often comes down to having an awning or not.

You also say you wouldn’t choose multiwall sheets. I’ve heard that several times, but the only reason I’ve been given so far is that it’s very noisy when it rains. Why would you decide against them?

Aluminum with glass? Is that still common? I would think twice about it. It is very expensive, the appearance is at least a matter of personal taste, the glass doesn’t provide any shade, and it is difficult to keep clean.

I would say this is mostly how it’s done, judging by the new development areas I see here.

I assume you meant sun protection (instead of sunshine). That’s why there is the awning.

What material combination would you recommend? At the moment, this is turning into a list of things you wouldn’t do. But I’m looking for the opposite. 🙂

Ultimately, all the solutions mentioned are feasible as they are installed.
You ruled out wood, so I would consider a steel structure, which is what I am currently looking into.
I once had polycarbonate sheets on a garden shed and at a neighbor’s place. Maybe it was due to the cheap quality, but I would not consider it myself.
At my previous house, I had a canopy made of laminated timber and clear glass, which I really liked. However, I personally do not like side glazing, only the open version.
In the end, it often comes down to personal preference, and mine is definitely in favor of glass.
By the way, I never had any issues cleaning the glass in 25 years; there was a certain roof pitch, and it cleaned itself with the rain. Of course, you could find some dirt spots here and there, but it’s outdoors after all. You could even stand on the glass (on the rafters).
I simply enjoyed sitting underneath while the rain dripped on the glass. That’s why I don’t like frosted glass.