We choose the construction of the awning
In order not to break the unity with nature, many owners of suburban areas choose wooden structures for the construction of sheds. In this choice there are a number of positive aspects: high environmental friendliness of materials, lightness of designs, simplified process of installation, and also low cost. Awning can be built as stationary, i.e. separately from other buildings, and as an extension to the building. To increase the stability of the structure, the pillars of the awnings are usually concreted or installed on a concrete platform. The awning in the form of an extension is usually attached on one side to the house, the second side rests on the racks.
The number of racks depends, of course, on the number of machines that will be hidden under the shed. Also it is necessary to consider dimensions of cars. If the awning is built for several parking spaces at once, it is recommended to install poles at a distance of 1-1.5 meters from each other. In any case, the length and width of the awning should be 1-2 meters longer from the size of the car. For example, if we install a car 4 meters long, the roof should be 5x2.5 meters long. To hide under a roof, for example, a minivan or a jeep, the roof should be 6.5x3.5 meters.
The height of the canopy should also be calculated taking into account the height of the car. It should be understood that too high awning can be quickly loosened and is unlikely to protect the car from slanting rain. The optimal height is 2.5 meters. If it is planned to make the awning higher, it is worth taking care of strengthening the structure, for example, to install around the perimeter of the canopy powerful cross-aisle beams. It is recommended to make the roof two-gable (consists of two inclined planes, which are attached at an angle to each other), this is the most reliable and common option that does not require additional investment.
Construction stages
- The first stage of the canopy construction is the selection of a suitable location and the laying of the foundation. It is better to choose a place closer to the important points of the site. It can be a site in front of a gate, a place next to a garden or a vegetable garden. It can also be used to store crops or garden equipment. The chosen place should also be on a hill or with a slight slope. This way, rainfall can be avoided during the rainy season. In addition, drainage ditches are made around the perimeter of the site in order to prevent the accumulation of waste water, which are then covered by special grids.
After choosing the place, we proceed to laying the base under the shelter. The wooden canopy is quite light, so we won't need a serious foundation. It is recommended to use a column foundation or a piled screw. It is also possible to lay a finished block foundation or to buried wooden support poles. If the decision has been made to do without the foundation, each support post should be lowered into a pit at least one meter deep. In order to ensure that the structure is strong and does not swing to the bottom of the poles over time, the cross-boards must be nailed and concreted. Prior to installation, the wooden posts should be treated with a special compound. This will save the supports from rotting and annoying insects. It is also possible to strengthen the construction by fixing the poles to the base with special brackets and corners. The base itself can be concreted or laid out with paving tiles. - The second stage is the erection of a frame. First of all, it is necessary to set up the stands evenly. To ensure that the slope of the supports is even over the entire length, we install the longitudinal beams. Always check the level of inclination of the longitudinal girders with the help of the level and strip. Check the angle of inclination of the longitudinal beams, which we have placed in the slots of the upper ends of the supports. The angle should not exceed 3%. It is best to strengthen the longitudinal beams with steel corners. Corners should be fixed on screws. In order to make a gable roof it is necessary to lay the rafter system. The rafters already installed by us are laid on the rafters, which we fix on the longitudinal beams. The distance between the rafters should be 70 cm. The first rafter from the edge of the rafter is placed on the beam 8-10 cm from the edge. This is done to leave room for the gutter. Wooden elements of the frame is recommended to connect, making cuts at the ends of the shelves, as they say, "half-tree".
- And finally, the third stage is the roofing installation. We are laying the roofing on the already installed frame from above. Roofing materials are quite a lot, you can choose a corrugated board, wood, polycarbonate. The latter can be saved, it has a low cost, easy to use and easily stacked on the frame. If you have chosen polycarbonate sheets, you need to measure the frame beforehand and shape the polycarbonate sheets. To do this, you can use an electric tool or a hacksaw. It should be noted that when working with cellular polycarbonate, it is necessary to take into account that the channels should be located perpendicular to the ground surface. So the moisture which will get inside, will be better to evaporate. Polycarbonate sheets should be fixed with screws. In case of temperature changes, this material can either shrink or expand, so it is important for screws to drill holes a little wider than the size of the screws themselves. The upper and lower edges of the material should be covered with solid or perforated tape, and rubber gaskets should be used at the fastening points. All this is done to prevent dust and moisture from entering.
Thank you for your attention and have a good day, everybody!