Country arbors - canopies are, perhaps, one of the most popular small architectural forms. They are usually installed even in those areas where there is only a small booth for storing agricultural equipment from the buildings.
The main advantages of such structures include ease of manufacture and functionality: you can build a canopy in less than a day, while it will reliably protect us from rain and bright sun.
Building the foundation
Canopy floor
Such structures can be built according to a variety of schemes, which, accordingly, implies different amounts of labor costs. It is one thing - a country table with a canopy in the form of a large umbrella, and quite another - a building on a raised foundation with an area of 8 - 10 m2.
Below we will consider the most common option, namely gable roof on four pillars with ground base. You can design simpler and more complex structures yourself, especially since the general principle of operation remains unchanged.
- Getting started by choosing a location. It is desirable that the canopy be located on a part of our summer cottage protected from the wind - then we can relax with great comfort.
- It is also worth considering the maximum possible distance from compost heaps and other similar objects..
- In the selected place, with the help of pegs and a nylon cord, we mark. Special accuracy is not required here, but the level and tape measure will not be superfluous!
- By marking, we remove the top fertile layer of soil. This is done so that even in heavy rain, puddles of liquid mud do not form under the canopy.
- We fill the selected area with a mixture of sand and gravel, which we carefully ram. At the ramming stage, it is worth pouring water on the sand - this will make the compaction more effective.
Advice!
To create a more perfect design, you can concrete roof floor or even lay ceramic floor tiles.
Naturally, the price of the structure will increase, but it will also be much more pleasant to use it.
- In some cases, a curb made of concrete blocks or paving slabs is arranged along the perimeter of the future canopy. If you chose this option, then do not make the fence too high - you will constantly touch it with your feet.
Bearing structures
When the base is ready, we proceed to the installation of vertical racks:
- We make frame supports either from a steel pipe (round with a diameter of 50 mm or profile 30x30 mm or more) or from a wooden bar (section 50x50 cm).
- Before installation, we cover steel parts with paint to protect against corrosion, we impregnate wooden parts with an antiseptic with waterproofing components.
Advice!
The lower part of the wooden beam can also be wrapped with roofing material.
- At the corners of the site, we drill nests for mounting racks. The depth of the nests should be about 70 cm.
- At the bottom of each recess we fall asleep about 30 cm of gravel, after which we carefully compact this pillow.
- We install the racks, fixing them with cord extensions or wooden braces.
- The gap between the post and the edges of the hole is filled with concrete based on M200 cement. For filling, you can also use rubble stone - so the design will be more stable.
After that, it is necessary to leave the load-bearing parts alone for at least a week. During this time, the concrete will have time to gain primary strength, which will allow us to continue installation without the risk of collapsing the structure.
Note!
If concrete columns are poured in advance, then pipe supports can be fixed much faster by attaching them to the concrete monolith with steel anchors.
Roof frame
Further, the instruction involves the installation of load-bearing roof structures:
- We connect the upper parts of the racks with a strapping of thinner beams or a profile pipe of a smaller section. We connect wooden parts with the help of grooves, fixing with self-tapping screws, and metal parts are welded to vertical supports.
- On the upper harness we install rafters from a steel corner or board with a thickness of about 20-30 mm. For a canopy up to 2 m long, four pairs of rafters are enough.
Advice!
To protect the space under the canopy from the sun and blowing raindrops, we make the overhang of the rafters (protrusion beyond the strapping) up to 40 cm.
- In the upper part we connect the rafters with a ridge beam.
- Instead of the standard construction, it is possible to install a base for a roof made of steel arches. Naturally, the process of manufacturing arc parts must be organized separately by buying or renting a pipe bender.
This completes the construction of the frame, and we just have to finish it.
Finishing technique
The construction of canopies in suburban areas involves many ways of design.
Below we will try to list the most common options:
- The main detail of the structure is, without a doubt, the roof. Most often it is made of polycarbonate (it is desirable to take tinted - it protects better from the sun) or waterproof fabric (tarpaulin, vinyl fabric, etc.).
- We attach polycarbonate sheets to the rafters using special self-tapping screws. To seal the joints between individual sheets, as well as to protect the edges of polycarbonate panels, we use special profiles.
Advice!
To ensure more reliable protection against moisture, silicone sealant can be applied to the inner surface of the profile before installation.
- On the ridge we lay a semicircular plank in the form of a gutter, which protects the joint of the roof slopes from leakage.
- In some cases, removable polyethylene or tarpaulin panels can be installed on the side of the canopy. At the same time, in sunny weather, they roll into rolls and are attached under the roof, and in rain they fall and protect from drops.
- By the same principle, we mount mosquito nets from a fine mesh.
- Under the roof we install a table and either two benches or several chairs. The table and benches, by the way, can be made stationary by digging them into the ground and concreted them, following the example of the racks.
At the final stage, we decorate:
- On the sides of the canopy we break flower beds, on which we plant climbing plants and shrubs. Over time, they will grow and partially braid the racks of our design.
- You can hang flower pots on vertical supports - they will also serve as a decoration and create an additional shadow.
- We install a weather vane on the roof, showing the direction and strength of the wind.
Conclusion
As can be seen from this description, it is not at all difficult to make a country canopy with your own hands. No expensive materials or special skills are required for work. At the same time, of course, it is worth planning the work in advance and transferring the project to paper: this way we will constantly have the expected result in front of our eyes, which will greatly facilitate our work.
You can learn more about the design and method of arranging such canopies by watching the video in this article.
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