| Carbolite
Awning |
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If you thought the only way to protect your
home from the sun's heat was to plunge it into darkness, think
again. Carbolite awnings let you light your patio without
heating it too. |
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If you're in the market for a pergola, there are many
options in terms of materials. The owners of this home wanted to create
a patio area leading onto their backyard and had laid a concrete slab in
preparation.
To cover the area, they decided to fit a Carbolite awning, made from a
new material available for pergolas. Carbolite is a translucent,
twin-walled polycarbonate sheeting which blocks out 99 percent of UV
rays while still allowing most of the natural light through. It also has
little air pockets within it, which help reduce the amount of heat that
passes through.
The job begins with the installation of the steel frame. Once the back
beams are in position the rafters go up. They are followed by the beams
across the middle, then it's time for the front beam. Finally, the
vertical posts are bolted to the concrete.
The Carbolite will then cover this frame. An aluminium fixing strip and
some flashing are the first to go up, then the sheets can be fixed in
place. They are joined with an aluminium locking system for a watertight
finish. The sheets are available in a few different styles: a
traditional bullnose, a dome or a conventional flat roof. We watched a
bullnose style being installed.
Carbolite also comes in a range of colours. The darker shades will let
less light through but provide much better heat reduction. This product
is guaranteed for two years against rotting and cracking. |
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