Guiding You Through All Things Cladding
Your Cladding - Steel Sheets, Composite Panels, Polycarbonate, PVC Fabric or Glass
Clovis has a wide range of cladding options available dependent on your requirements from polycarbonate (in both clear and opal), PVC fabric, glass, profile steel sheets and composite panels.
Installing a canopy can transform the usability and aesthetics of a space, but before progressing with design or installation, it is essential to understand the requirements of our site and what you are wanting to achieve with your canopy.
Profile Steel Sheets
This is a single layer of profiled steel, usually coated with a protective finish like plastisol or polyester paint.
Advantages
- Provide a cost-effective roofing solution with lower material and installation costs
- Are lightweight, helping to reduce structural requirements and overall canopy costs
- Offer excellent durability, weather resistance and a long service life with minimal maintenance.
Disadvantages
- Can absorb heat in direct sunlight, which may result in some radiant heat beneath the canopy
- May generate higher noise levels during heavy rainfall compared with insulated roofing systems
- Can be susceptible to condensation on the underside in certain weather conditions unless anti-condensation measures are incorporated
- Provide limited thermal and acoustic performance when compared with insulated composite panel systems.
Composite Panels (Insulated Sandwich Panels)
These consist of an insulating core (usually rigid foam like PIR or mineral wool) securely sandwiched between two layers of steel.
Advantages
- Provide excellent thermal performance through an insulated core, helping to minimise heat transfer beneath the canopy
- Support a cooler, more comfortable environment around classrooms and adjacent outdoor spaces
- Offer enhanced acoustic performance, helping to reduce noise from rainfall and minimise disruption to nearby learning areas
- Help prevent condensation forming on the underside of the roof structure
- Provide a clean, smooth underside finish that creates a more refined appearance.
Disadvantages
- Typically involve a higher initial investment than single-skin roofing systems
- Are heavier than box profile steel sheets, which may require a more substantial supporting structure
- Can increase overall project costs where enhanced thermal and acoustic performance is not a primary requirement.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate cladding provides a durable and practical canopy roofing solution, often selected where light transmission, longevity and ease of maintenance are important considerations. Available in Clear or Opal finishes, it creates bright covered environments whilst offering a robust solution suitable for a wide range of applications.
Advantages
- Higher light levels beneath the canopy
- Longer life expectancy when compared to FR PVC
- Reduced condensation during colder months
- Individual sheets can be replaced if damaged
- Available as a man-safe roof option for impact applications.
Disadvantages
- Higher initial cost than FR PVC cladding
- Dirt and debris on the roof surface can be more visible from below
- Increased noise levels during rainfall
- Slightly higher solar gain during warmer weather
- May require more regular cleaning to maintain appearance and light transmission.
PVC
PVC coated fabric often provides a cost effective and practical solution, selected where budget and simplicity are key considerations. It offers a clean, streamlined appearance, as the reduced structural framework results in a less visually busy canopy, which can be beneficial in environments where a more minimal finish is preferred.
Advantages
- Acoustically performs well, helping to soften the sound of rainfall
- Offers lower solar gain during warmer weather.
Disadvantages
- May have a shorter service life than some alternative cladding materials, depending on environmental conditions and usage
- Can be more susceptible to staining and discolouration over time, particularly in areas exposed to higher levels of pollution or debris
- May require periodic tensioning or replacement of the fabric membrane as it ages
- Light transmission is slightly reduced compared to polycarbonate
- As a single-skin material, some condensation may be experienced during colder conditions.
Our role is to guide clients through the available sidewall options, helping them select a solution that suits their space, performance requirements, and budget. By taking a considered and collaborative approach from the outset, we help minimise risk, avoid unnecessary complications, and ensure a smooth and confident investment’
Jimmy Pitts, Contracts Manager
Glass
Glass panels are safety glass laminated, toughened or toughened laminated dependent on your individual requirements. Well suited across a wide range of sectors, glass offers a premium, long-term solution with reliable weather protection, making it a preferred choice where both performance and appearance are key considerations.
A Considered Approach
Selecting the right solution is a balance between performance, appearance and budget. Options such as polycarbonate, fabric, glass, box profile steel and composite panels each offer distinct benefits, with the most appropriate choice shaped by the specific requirements of the project. For canopies installed adjacent to classroom windows to help reduce solar gain, composite panels offer enhanced thermal and acoustic performance. For free-standing canopies located further from teaching spaces, box profile steel provides a durable, cost-effective alternative that delivers reliable weather protection with minimal maintenance.
By taking a bespoke, design-led approach rather than relying on standardised panels, Clovis ensures every sidewall solution is fully made-to-measure and carefully considered from the outset. This enables the creation of well-protected, usable environments across our market sectors, delivering a solution that functions effectively and integrates seamlessly with its surroundings
Key Considerations
What matters most
Navigating your canopy journey
Planning Permission
Understand the requirements. Choose the right approach
Find out more >
Budgeting for Your Canopy
What effects cost, what to expect
Find out more >
RAL Powder Coating Colours
Colour selection made simple
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Ready to Explore Your Options
Get in touch with our sales team to discuss your requirements today
