When going out into nature, one does not always have to count on good weather. An ordinary tent is able to protect from rain and sun, but it will not save the barbecue grill and the entire surrounding area from it. A canopy made of tarpaulin will do this task best. To simplify installation, we suggest using the following solution.
We stretch between two trees at a height of 3-4 meters one rope with two 30-centimeter loops for attaching the canvas. We throw a tarpaulin on it, unfolding it diagonally. We fix two opposite hanging corners with stretch marks. It will take no more than 10 minutes to install such a canopy.
Solution Benefits
The main plus is the maximum simplicity of design and the possibility of quick installation. But this is not all the advantages of the solution, we note some of them:- It will take only 3 ropes and a tarpaulin sheet of any size.
- The gable shape does not create conditions for the accumulation of water, which merges at only two points.
- The ability to use panels of any size, including large ones.
How to make such a canopy on the beach
In this case, you will need one or two support posts. The easiest way to make them is from a steel pipe with a diameter of three quarters of an inch. So that such a support can be transported in the trunk, we make it collapsible from segments 1.2–1.5 meters long. As a connecting element, we use two bolts welded with heads with a diameter of 16 mm. An ordinary stud of the same section with a nut screwed onto it is also suitable. In order for the connector to fit snugly into the pipe, you can wrap it with several layers of electrical tape. To make it easier to fix the rope on the pole, we insert a similar adapter from bolts with a diameter of 10 and 16 mm into the upper part.
To speed up the assembly, the ropes can be left tied to the panel, especially in cases where you will be attached to poles, not trees. Before assembly, it is worth tying the ropes to the supports and setting them so that there is not much sagging.
The rectangular tarpaulin can be twisted along the central rope to select the most comfortable position. We advise you to first spread it on the ground and figure out how to close the maximum area of \u200b\u200bthe site.
How to tie a rope at a height
It is not necessary to climb 3-4 meters high to secure the central rope to the tree. You can simply tie a stone or any stick to the string and throw it over the branch at the required height. And you can tie a knot already at a level convenient for you. If there are no suitable branches, then the rope is simply wrapped several times around the trunk, and fixed, for example, with a boat oar. By the way, with such an oar with a T-handle it will be convenient to remove the rope from the branch when disassembling the canopy.
A canopy is a very practical and at the same time economically advantageous design. As a building object, a canopy is a structure that is located on the street, in the form of a roof of various shapes, located on supports. The purpose of the canopy is to protect against the effects of such weather factors as rain, snow, wind, direct sunlight. So, how to build a canopy in the country with your own hands.
Types of canopies
- Inclined direct canopies (gable, single slope). Such a design will help drain rainwater or melted snow from it.
- Direct. These are perhaps the easiest canopies to make.
- Complex shape (arched, arched, in the form of polygons, domes, pyramids, etc.). The most popular arched canopy with a curved roof in the form of a semicircle. Such a design may seem complicated only at first glance. In fact, the profiled sheet and the metal profile of a small diameter bend perfectly.
- Separate structures. Free-standing canopies resemble a pergola, differing only in the obligatory presence of a roof. Usually used as a parking lot for a car or gazebo. Often such canopies cover the entire path from the gate to the door of the house.
- Attached (to the outer wall, above the porch, balcony, entrance). Attached canopies closely adjoin the wall of the building, respectively, one side in this structure is closed, and the other three are open. The attached canopy is very functional. For example, being at the front door, it can act as a veranda, and in the backyard it can be adapted as a patio.
- Functional and decorative awnings. Functional canopies usually carry enclosing and protective functions, while they are simple and ergonomic. Decorative - this is an artistic composition, usually used in landscape design to decorate the site.
Another classification of canopies takes into account a number of other factors:
- According to their location.
- By appointment (area for a car, pool, etc.)
- To size.
- According to the material of manufacture of the structure, they are divided into stone, wooden, metal and combined.
Construction of a canopy in the country
Before building a canopy in the country, you should make a sketch or at least a sketch of a future project. Decide on its style, compatibility with the main buildings on the site. It is desirable, of course, that the material be the same as the roof of buildings. In general, the roof covering material is particularly diverse - it can be polycarbonate, metal tiles, slate, dense fabric (awning), corrugated board. Although now polycarbonate is most often chosen, whose flexibility allows you to build canopies of the most diverse and voluminous shapes. It is also a matter of ease of construction of these structures. And, perhaps, one of the main advantages of polycarbonate is its low weight. After all, the total power of the structure will depend on the weight of the roof of the canopy.
When building a canopy, consider factors such as wind resistance and snow load. Therefore, you should be especially careful when considering the angle of inclination of the future roof and the power of the supporting racks of the structure. Even with an increase in the height of the roof and its angle of inclination, the wind pressure will also increase, which should be taken into account when designing.
The prevailing wind direction must also be taken into account. The design of the canopy, the interconnection of its elements is calculated so that the wind does not move, weaken and, in principle, does not blow it away. When calculating wind and other loads on a structure, it is advisable to use building codes and rules that are easy to find, for this, just type in any search engine - SNiP 2.01.07-85.
Necessary tools and materials
Let's look at the most popular canopy design in the country with the use of polycarbonate. Its main advantage is the ease and speed of installation.
So, for the manufacture of a canopy made of polycarbonate, you will need:
- To drill holes, you need an electric drill with standard drills.
- Circular saw (circle with small teeth) for cutting polycarbonate sheets.
- For installation, a one-piece or split polycarbonate profile is required.
- For fastening - thermal washers, self-tapping screws, a screwdriver or a drill.
- Perforated and aluminum sealing tape and profile for polycarbonate.
Having decided on the location of the canopy, having designed its appearance, it is worth deciding on the structural load-bearing elements. They may apply:
- wooden beam;
- metallic profile;
- reinforced pipe;
- brick columns and a frame for a roof made of metal or wood;
- metal corner.
Stages of building a canopy
- First you need to mark the area for the future canopy. It is worthwhile to foresee the electrical wiring in a protected sleeve to the future canopy for arranging sockets and lighting in the future.
- Base for the supporting structure. Regardless of the material for the construction of the canopy, it is necessary to prepare a reliable foundation for the racks. Commonly used: monolithic pouring with formwork, brickwork, pipe with concrete pouring, etc.
- Installation of load-bearing structures. Metal load-bearing structures can be either bolted or welded. For example, as in the photo above, when a welded frame made of a metal profile and cellular polycarbonate were used.
- Installation of roofing lathing, taking into account the load of the roofing. If the roof is planned from natural tiles, make a stronger, reinforced structure, but if you plan to just pull the awning, there will be enough fastening hooks.
- Structure protection. The wooden frame must be covered with a special antiseptic for outdoor use, and the metal frame with anti-corrosion protection.
- Roofing installation. We do in accordance with the technological standards of the selected roof.
- Arrangement of the final covering of the base for the canopy. Regardless of the material chosen for the base, do not forget about the need for a slope for water flow. The most popular base material is stone, which is valued for its durability. Though boardwalk would be a good alternative to stone. Do not forget to treat the boards with a protective compound and it will also serve you for many years.
Fabric canopy
This option is suitable for those who do not want to build complex metal or wooden structures at all. Canopies made of fabric do not require the construction of additional structures, as they are sold already with a ready-made frame, which remains only to be attached to the wall. The advantage of such a canopy will be its ability to quickly fold - using special levers or automation.
fire safety
Barbecue is an indispensable element of country life. Previously, only metal was recommended for the construction of barbecue sheds. Nowadays, wood and polymeric materials are actively used. When planning the construction of a wooden barbecue shed, be sure to consider the design features and, above all, wood processing. Buy the necessary substances in a specialized store, apply them to the wood and your canopy will be able to withstand high temperatures.
Install the oven as far away from wooden supports as possible. The roof of the canopy should not be too low. If you use polycarbonate, then it is better to choose a darker color, because it will inevitably be smoked, and digging on light polycarbonate looks too untidy. The exhaust pipe must not touch the polycarbonate. The pipe should be overlaid with brick, and between it and the polycarbonate, a side trim is made using heat-resistant materials.
Everything, the canopy in the country is ready. You can barbecue under it, spend summer evenings. If it was intended for your car, now it will be reliably protected. And given that you made it yourself, you have a reason to be proud.
The demanded buildings on the site also include gazebos and pergolas, more about them in the links provided.
Photos of canopies
And finally, a few more photos of sheds, which, perhaps, will give you an idea for your own dacha. In the first photo you can see a canopy, the supporting structure of which is partially made of gabions, the scope of which is very extensive. You can learn more about them by clicking on the link above. 
We have considered with you how to build a canopy in the country with your own hands We hope this article was helpful to you.
First, let's figure out what a canopy is and how it differs from a gazebo and an awning? This is a building that, at the time of bad weather, has long been built to hide people, animals, things. Distributed everywhere. Canopies for summer cottages are easy to build from improvised materials with your own hands.
Benefits of awnings
- The design is lightweight and easy to install.
- The structure is solid, but not as fundamental as a gazebo or building.
- A stationary roof, unlike an awning, is more durable. Will serve the owners for many years.
- Much cheaper than other similar structures, but it performs the function of weather protection perfectly.
As for the shortcomings, you can name only one. This building is open to all winds, it is well blown. This must be remembered during construction and make sure that your creation stands firmly on the ground, is especially durable, and can withstand any weather conditions. This condition is easy to fulfill, of course, you can handle it by deciding to build a canopy in the country.
In the beginning, we determine the type of construction and the necessary materials. 
Types of canopies
- As a continuation of the roof, attached canopies are built - visors. On one side of such a structure there is a wall (part of the house), the other sides are open.
Used to cover the porch, stacked firewood, verandas, barbecues. - Free-standing structures are the second type of such structures. In the village, at the dacha, wells, summer kitchens are covered with an “umbrella”, in the city limits - transport stops, car parking, cafe areas, sports facilities, bus stations, counters in bazaars. At the dacha, near such sheds, a green fence is planted. The result is a wonderful garden gazebo.
The universal building protects the population from the scorching sun, heavy rain, unpleasant wind, and snowfall.
The roofs of the buildings are also different - straight or sloping.
- Direct. The easiest option is direct coating. Used for parking.
- Inclined. There are single and double slopes. Due to the fact that the roof has an angle of inclination, water flows down from the roof in a timely manner.
- Complex. Sometimes in design projects non-standard, unusual, original forms are chosen. For example, with a semi-arch. It will also be easy to make such a canopy with your own hands.
Materials for suspended structures
Structures of this type are built from available materials that are sold everywhere.
- For the frame, wood or metal is used, or the wooden parts of the building are combined with metal ones.
- Plastic pipes as a basis are used more and more often recently.
- For the roof, choose, at will, a coating from the list:
- metal tile;
- modern polymeric material - monolithic polycarbonate, fiberglass, other durable coating;
- corrugated board;
- slate;
- special fabrics intended for awnings;
- durable glass, plexiglass;
- durable polyethylene.
Preliminary work before construction
- We think over the scheme of the canopy, draw a drawing.
- We choose a place for the extension, clean and level it, make markings for the supports.
- To protect wood from mold and rot, we treat wood parts with an antiseptic. With a finished composition or, for example, paint with a primer, and then with paint.
- We will prepare the supports for the structure. We take 5 bars of wood (90x90 mm). Since the roof is planned to be sloping, the bars intended for the front supports should be 40-50 cm less than the height measured on the wall of the house. We prepare rafters and blanks for the crate.
- We fix the vertical distance on the building with a horizontal bar (2.4 meters).
We build a wooden canopy with a polycarbonate roof with our own hands according to the instructions
- We drill holes for installing a vertical bar. If there is no drill, we simply dig holes 0.5 meters deep.
- Pour sand, crushed stone (10 cm) into the holes to create a pillow. Then we insert the supports strictly perpendicularly, checking the correct installation with a plumb line and level.
- Fill the holes with concrete.
- We connect the horizontal bar and the corners of the support to each other.
- We mount the rafters on horizontally attached rails and the crate of the structure.
- We connect two sheets of polycarbonate (1000x3000 mm) 8 mm thick to get the planned roof size (2000x3000). We suggest using the HP profile for this. In order not to crack the plastic during operation, take self-tapping screws with rubber washers.
- We mount the roof on the crate. Due to the difficulty of access to the top with large plates, it is possible to do preliminary work at the bottom, and then lift it up, say, with an electric hoist and fix it.
- The canopy for the dacha is ready. It turned out to be a kind of visor, a continuation of the roof of the house.
Polycarbonate is a translucent, lightweight and durable plastic. A canopy for a summer residence with a plastic roof protects well from rain and snow. It does not deform, although it is easier to bend the required shape from it than from another material. A modern polycarbonate roof will serve you for many years.
We mount a free-standing canopy with a corrugated roof
Roofing from profiled corrugated sheet is used in most cases for car parking in summer cottages. Mounted on metal racks.
Holes for racks are drilled deeper - up to 1 meter deep.
The main parts of the structure are welded - you will need a welding machine. Side trusses, battens are prepared in advance, and then everything is connected into a single frame.
The roof is attached to the crate.
Canopies with fabric covering
Its advantage is the variety of colors and shades, fabric patterns. A fabric awning can become a work of art. It is chosen in cases of making exotic author's canopies. A roof made of material will decorate your summer cottage, please the eye. Most often used for summer cottages.
A feature of this design is that the fabric, in any case, is a short-lived material. During autumn bad weather, winter snowfalls, during the non-resort period, it can become unusable, tear. Therefore, the fabric covering from such structures is removed for the autumn-winter period and put on in the spring, before the next summer season.
Such a canopy is built in the same way as the previous options. 
The simplest do-it-yourself canopy from the simplest materials
If it was necessary to urgently build a hinged structure for giving with your own hands, you can do this in a very simple way.
To build a canopy, take
- 2 five-meter PVC pipes (vinyl);
- 2 pieces of dense polyethylene (shower curtains are suitable);
- braid, strong threads.
Build a canopy according to the instructions:
- Sew the curtains into one large canvas.
- From the braid, make 40 loops that will hold the awning (cut off 40 suitable pieces).
- Sew the loops to the polyethylene.
- Put loops on the pipes.
Then decide on the installation site of the structure. Mark with pegs on the ground the points where you will insert the awning pipes. Set up your structure by deepening the PVC pipes into the ground. Your canopy is ready! Fantasy will tell you the colors of the curtains - and the awning will come out wonderful.
Modern materials suggest us other constructive solutions. Take plastic pipes and use clamps (also PVC) to assemble a rectangular frame (after drawing its diagram). Attach a thick cloth or polyethylene on top. You will get a wonderful carport.
In the same way, you can make a universal structure from thin plastic pipes and durable polyethylene. These pipes bend easily. Experiment with arched shapes. You will get a folding portable hinged structure.
Put a little work and patience - as a result, you will have such a necessary canopy in the country.
Arriving in the summer at the cottage, so you want to spend more time in the fresh air! But this is not always possible: at noon, the scorching sun rays drive us out of the street and force us to sit out in country houses. Therefore, in order to prolong the pleasure of communicating with nature, it is necessary to protect part of the site from the sun. This is easy to do - just build a canopy with your own hands.
What canopies for summer cottages are and what distinguishes them?
Having decided to build a canopy in the country, first decide on its design. In fact, the appearance of this design can be very different. It can be a canopy over the house, imitate a porch, a gazebo or a terrace.
According to their location, canopies are:
They are located close to the wall of the building, so one side of them is closed, and the other three are open. An attached canopy can be very functional. For example, if it is located above the front door, it acts as a visor or veranda. On the other side of the house, it could well be adapted for a patio.
Such canopies are very reminiscent of a pergola, differing from it only in the obligatory presence of a roof. Such canopies are most often used as a gazebo or parking for a car. Sometimes such canopies completely block the path leading from the gate to the front door of the house.
According to the design of the roof, canopies are divided into:
These canopies are the easiest to make.
A similar design (single or gable) contributes to the flow of rainwater or melting snow from the canopy.
Among such canopies, the most popular was the arched canopy with a semicircular curved roof. Despite the "complex" characteristics, such a design can be done independently. The metal profile (small diameter, of course) and the profiled sheet bend remarkably.
Country canopies are made of various materials. The materials for covering the roof are especially diverse - it can be corrugated board, polycarbonate, plexiglass, metal tiles, slate and even dense fabric (for the manufacture of awnings). As for the frame, most often it is wooden or metal, less often - concrete, brick, stone.
Polycarbonate canopy manufacturing technology
A canopy with a polycarbonate roof is considered the most modern and easy to manufacture option. This material is strong, durable and does not lose its properties when exposed to cold, sun and precipitation. It bends well, so the roof of the canopy can take almost any shape, be it roundness or waves. For the installation of polycarbonate sheets, self-tapping screws with a rubber washer are used, which protects the material from cracking.
The area over which a polycarbonate canopy can be built can be any. The main thing is to install a solid frame made of wooden beams or a metal profile.
Let's look at how you can make such a wooden canopy with your own hands with a polycarbonate roof. It adjoins the wall of a residential building, creating a cozy terrace. A slight slope of the roof allows atmospheric precipitation to independently drain from the canopy without forming stagnant puddles on the surface.
Before work, in order to avoid rotting, all wooden structural elements are painted with a primer and paint.
The supporting pillars of the canopy are a wooden beam 90x90 mm (there are 5 of them in total). Please note that the height of the front legs is 1.96 m, and one rear leg is 2.3 m.
Before the start of construction, the territory is marked, reflecting the position of the wooden supports of the canopy. At the points obtained, pits of square diameter with a depth of 50 cm are dug. The width of the pit should be 10 cm greater than the width of the support beam. In our example, ready-made forms are used as foundation foundations, which are dug into the ground. You can do it differently: pour a crushed stone pillow into the dug hole, tamp it down, then lower the timber, use the building level to check its verticality and concrete.
In our case, the support bars are fixed to the foundations using metal corners or brackets.
Since the canopy in the country house will adjoin the house with its own hands, a 90x70 mm beam is horizontally fixed on the wall (two beams in the photo). Subsequently, he will play the role of a crossbar that carries the weight of the rafters and battens.
The horizontal beam is connected to a long stand (2.3 m) using a metal corner.
Two horizontal crossbars from a 90x70 mm beam are also fixed between the front pillars. The connection is made using metal corners. It is not recommended to use self-tapping screws for this - this is unreliable and threatens to collapse the entire structure.
We can say that the main structural elements of the canopy are ready. Now it's time to "collect" the rafters. There are five of them in total and they are made of timber with a section of 70x70 mm. The rafters are laid on top of the crossbars and fixed with self-tapping screws. To connect with a horizontal beam on the wall, metal corners are used.
For the crate, long bars of a small section, for example, 50x50 cm, are suitable. They are laid horizontally across the rafters and fixed with self-tapping screws.
Decking (profiled sheet, plexiglass, etc.) is also attached to the crate with self-tapping screws.
In the proposed example, the canopy is equipped with a metal gutter to drain rainwater into a PVC downpipe. This way you can avoid unpleasant drops flowing down from the canopy after the end of the rain.
Do-it-yourself canopy from corrugated board
A fairly popular material for a canopy is also corrugated board, it is especially often used to make the roof of a personal parking lot. It should be borne in mind that the profiled sheet transmits less light than polycarbonate, therefore, under such a canopy, the shadow curtain will be stronger.
Since we have already considered how to build a canopy with our own hands from wood, let's focus on the option when the frame is made of a metal profile. Let's look at the photo below: this structure consists of four support posts, on top of which there are main beams and a crate covered with corrugated board.
The construction of such a canopy is almost no different from the previous version. The difference is that its roof rests solely on vertical struts and does not come into contact with the wall of the house.
The beginning of construction begins with the determination of the position points of the vertical supports, made of a profiled pipe with a section of 60x40 mm. The pitch of the racks is usually 1 m, however, you can vary this distance, depending on the thickness of the profiled sheet, the size of the profiled pipes. Having decided on the markings, they dig holes for supports, their depth is 50-60 cm. A crushed stone pillow is laid at the bottom of the hole and the support is set vertically. The foundation is poured with concrete.
After the concrete has completely hardened (as a rule, it can withstand a week), you can proceed with the installation of horizontal beams with a section of 50x30 mm, which are fixed to the supports by welding. This can be the reason why many refuse this option: a canopy from a metal profile with their own hands can only be done by someone who knows the basics of welding and has a welding machine.
The next step is to weld the crates of 50x30 mm pipes to the horizontal beams.
After that, one thing remains: to fix sheets of corrugated board on the crate. This is done with self-tapping screws.
Canopies in the yard made of fabric
If you do not want to mess with the complex structures of canopies made of metal or wood, we recommend that you turn your attention to light canopies made of dense fabric. They are sold already with a ready-made metal frame that is attached to the wall, so there is no need to build anything additional. A special advantage of this design is the ability to quickly remove the awning by simply folding it - special levers and automation allow you to do this in a second.
A fabric awning can also be made independently, but then it will not differ much from profiled sheet or polycarbonate buildings, although the appearance of such a canopy will be more picturesque and interesting. This canopy from the sun can be made by constructing a metal frame and putting on it a cloth of bright fabric.
Fabric canopies are perhaps the simplest type of hanging structures that can be easily and quickly organized in the country in the summer season to protect from the sun and rain. Sheds for summer cottages made of fabric, like most other types, are mounted on a durable rigid frame, it is desirable that it be metal, but a wooden frame is also quite suitable.
Application
Fabric canopies can be used not only for protection for a place of rest, in a country house or in street cafes. But also, for example, as protection of premises from overheating, especially if the windows in it face the sunny side. It is enough just to mount a rigid frame over the window and stretch a dense fabric or film on it.
Note!!! A similar light canopy over the window is also called the Marquise, in honor of the Marquis Francisco Borgia, on whose windows such protection from the sun was first noticed.
Advantages
Modern fabric awnings have the following series of advantages and disadvantages:
- Ease of construction and ease of installation;
- Due to the ease of changing the roofing fabric, and the rich color palette of fabrics, you can easily change the style of the canopy, which is especially important for mobile options.
- Also, thanks to the easy change, it is possible to make the protection more specialized, for example, change the rain canopy fabric to the sun canopy fabric;
- The fabrics used in such canopies and awnings are durable and at the same time relatively inexpensive;
- Despite the seeming simplicity of design, fabric canopies are able to protect from wind, rain and sun no worse than most analogues;
- In addition to the protective function, fabric canopies have a unique aesthetic and decorative effect;
- Low cost.
Assembling a fabric canopy with your own hands is quite simple, especially when it comes to an awning canopy. In the photo below, you can see one of these awnings.
Such designs are especially popular among market traders, or when organizing large outdoor events, primarily due to their protective function. An awning is an excellent protection from wind, rain, sun and even cold. At the same time, its design is very mobile, it can be easily carried even when assembled, it weighs a little.
The structure of the awning includes light metal pipes that are easily assembled into a frame and the fabric itself for the awning. For a canopy or an awning made of fabric, you can choose a sheathing of almost any color and density. In winter, the awning is also easy to fold and can be easily stored in a pantry or basement.