Timber canopy made to measure along a chalet

The question: a covered outdoor space along the chalet

Beside a chalet the space is often long and narrow. A canopy over that whole strip gives you a place to sit outside in the dry, store things and feel part of the house. In the first photo you can see the strip still bare, with a batten marking out the line. Because the canopy follows the full length of the chalet, a project like this is truly made to measure: the posts, the roof and the deck are matched to the space available.

If you want to know whether a canopy needs a permit, read about permit-free building. That depends on things like the location, the size and the municipal environmental plan.

Our approach to the timber canopy

The photos first show the timber posts and beams, in a Douglas fir type of wood. On top came a roof with an underlay and grey tile-profile sheets, which look like roof tiles up close. Then you see the joists for the deck on the ground and the deck boards being cut to size one by one. Under the roof a timber boarded ceiling was fitted. Read more about choosing materials under a timber canopy.

• Timber posts and beams made to measure
• Roof with grey tile-profile sheets
• Timber deck along the full length
• Balustrade and an open corner with a climbing plant

The result: a warm timber outdoor space

The final photos show a long covered veranda with a timber deck, a balustrade along the edge and a timber ceiling. At the corner an open section remains, where a climbing plant grows up the post. If you would like an outdoor space like this, see what we do under canopy carpentry.