Peak over the porch: the main varieties and design tips (75 photo ideas)

Any private home starts with a porch and a door. The beautiful design of the entrance area is a sign of good taste. An important role is played by the installation of a visor corresponding to the exterior of the building. In addition, such a cantilever canopy should be useful and functional.

Summary of the article:

Appointment

Visors eliminate many homeowner issues:

protect the front part of the house, doors, steps from precipitation (rain, snow);
complement and decorate the appearance of the structure;
provide a comfortable entrance to the room;
Shelter from the scorching sun or wind.

Photos of the original and practical visors above the porch are shown in the selection.

Visor requirements

In order for the canopy to serve for a long time and fully perform its functions, it must satisfy a number of requirements:

Have a solid structure that can withstand its own weight and snow load. If you plan to design a visor by stands, then their weight must be taken into account.
Being multi-functional, protecting not only the front door, but also the entire porch space.
To contain a drainage system that ensures effective outflow of water through drainpipes into a storage tank or storm sewer.
Harmoniously combined with the facade or roof of the structure. This does not mean at all that the visor should repeat the material of the roof or match the color of the wall cladding. Sometimes a successful contrast solution enlivens the appearance of the building, brings a certain charm to it.

Visor shape

Today, many companies offer to purchase a ready-made visor for the porch. A huge assortment includes goods of various shapes, material designs and designs. For those who want to save a budget or become the owner of a unique hand-made element, there is an option to make a fence for the porch yourself.

The form distinguishes the following types:

Spherical constructions. Due to the streamlined dome, they are not deformed by strong winds. Recommended for regions with appropriate weather conditions. They occupy a small area compared to other species.

Pitched species. Sling options are easy to make on your own. For trouble-free water drainage and snow melting, the slope angle should be correctly calculated. If increased strength is required, it is better to mount a gable visor.

Arched structures. They drain rain water well and do not accumulate snow layers on their roof.
Flat straight visors. This is an ideal platform for placing flowers on them. Negative side - precipitation is difficult to gather.

Visor material

The service life of the product depends on the rational choice of material. All visors consist of a roof cladding and a supporting frame.

For the roof, metal, glass, polymers (polycarbonate, PVC plastic), metal tile or corrugated board are used. The frame is made of metal (forged supports, steel pipes and profiles) or wood.

Polycarbonate and plastic

One of the most affordable materials on the construction market is polycarbonate. It is produced by melting transparent or colored granules and then forming sheets. Thickness varies from 3 to 32 mm. There are monolithic, cellular (cellular) and profiled species.

The wide distribution of visors made of polycarbonate indicates the valuable characteristics of this material. The following are worth noting:

High light transmission, high level of natural light.
The material is not susceptible to decay, insects and corrosion. Mold does not form on the surface.
Lightweight for easy installation.
Wide color palette.
High flexibility inherent in all types (cellular is allowed to deform only along stiffeners).
Acceptable price.

Among the disadvantages are the possibility of abrasive wear and destruction under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. To avoid these phenomena, buy material with a special film from UV radiation.

A good solution is a visor made of PVC plastic plates. Like polycarbonate, they are presented in a colorless and color design, transparent and matte.

Glass

Glass visors look weightless and elegant. Of course, this is not about an ordinary stele, which, in view of the fragility and low degree of deformation, is unsuitable for awnings. These disadvantages are deprived of special types of glasses - tempered or triplex.

Triplex is a pair of ordinary glasses interconnected by a film. Such a construct provides strength and a long service life.

In addition to excellent mechanical properties, triplex glass is completely safe. If it is broken, then many fragments are held on the surface of the film and do not pose a threat to people.

The negative point of the glass visor is the complexity of the service and the high cost of high-quality glasses.

Metal visor

A canopy with metal parts is simple and reliable. A metal visor can be created in 2 ways: by connecting parts for welding or by assembling them on threaded elements (bolts, nuts). In both cases, the fastening of parts should guarantee the strength of the product.

An important advantage of such a visor is durability. But the metal is subject to corrosion, so its surface must be treated with special compounds and coatings. In addition, such a visor weighs more than similar ones made of polycarbonate.

As an alternative to a visor made entirely of metal, a combination of metal and corrugated board can be considered. The sides of the latter are protected from atmospheric influences by a polymer layer.

In construction stores, sheets of corrugated board of various colors and sizes are presented. You can find coatings that mimic brickwork, solid wood. Roofing from corrugated board is not inferior in popularity to polycarbonate sheets.

Corrugated texture provides high rigidity and less flexibility. It is extremely difficult to use the material to create a spherical or arched shape of the visor. The best option is to cover a flat or pitched roof.

Another minus - on the surface there are dents from the hail and traces of impacts. It is recommended to purchase plate corrugated board.

The forged visor looks original and presentable. But forging is an expensive pleasure. You can save money if you use separate forged fragments in the design of the visor in combination with polycarbonate, plastic, tile and metal.

Metal tile

The color and texture of the metal tile must match the roofing material of the roof.Even a slight mismatch will affect the architectural ensemble.

It is better to design a roof made of metal together with the roofing of the building itself. Under such a canopy, the sound of rain is clearly audible.

Wood

Many masters, setting a visor, prefer a tree. A wooden canopy is a good option for log-based buildings. Before putting it into operation, all surfaces must be treated with compounds from decay and pests. Additionally, it is worth considering the waterproofing of the canopy (roofing material or plastic).