A timber canopy made to measure: how to build a place that lasts for years

A canopy turns your patio into a place where you can sit outside even in a shower or bright sun. Timber is the most popular material for it: warm, strong and easy to make to measure. A made-to-measure timber canopy fits exactly against your house, along your shed or around your patio. In this article you will read which wood to choose, which roof suits it, why the foundation matters so much and which rules apply.

Which wood for a timber canopy?

The species largely determines how long your canopy will last. Douglas fir and larch are popular: they are naturally fairly durable, have an attractive colour and are reasonably priced. Pressure-treated spruce is cheaper, but less attractive. Hardwood is very durable and heavy, and therefore more expensive.

Untreated timber turns grey over time. Many people like that. If you want to keep the colour, treat the timber periodically with a stain or oil.

If the origin of the timber matters to you, ask for wood with an FSC or PEFC label. That comes from responsibly managed forests.

• Douglas fir: warm colour and reasonably priced
• Larch: similar, slightly harder
• Pressure-treated spruce: cheap, less attractive
• Hardwood: very durable, but heavier and pricier

The roof: light or sheltered?

Polycarbonate and glass let light through, so your house behind does not become dark. A solid roof with tile-profile sheets or EPDM gives more shade and is cooler in summer. Glass is the most attractive, but also the heaviest; the structure must be able to carry that weight.

Also pay attention to drainage. A canopy needs a slight fall and a gutter with a downpipe, so that rainwater does not run onto your patio or against the facade.

Choose the height and the overhang deliberately as well. A canopy that is too low makes the house behind it dark, one that is too high gives less shelter from slanting rain. The roof pitch and the overhang determine how much of your patio really stays dry.

The foundation: not the most fun, but the most important

A timber canopy stands on posts. Those posts should not go straight into the ground, because then the timber rots quickly. They go on concrete pads or steel post bases, so that the timber stays clear of the ground and can stay dry.

With a freestanding canopy, the structure must also be stable enough against wind. You achieve that with braces or sturdy joints. With a canopy against the facade, the rear beam is fixed to the wall, with a proper connection between the roof and the facade.

If you want to extend the canopy later with side walls or a glass sliding wall, the load on the structure increases, especially in wind. Take that into account in the design.

Can you simply build a canopy?

A canopy in the rear garden area often does not need a permit, but not always. It depends on the location, the size, the height and your municipality's environmental plan. Since 1 January 2024 the Environment and Planning Act (Omgevingswet) applies.

So always check via the Omgevingsloket or with your municipality before you start. You will find more explanation in building without a permit. Also think of your neighbours: a canopy close to the boundary is best discussed with them beforehand.

A made-to-measure canopy at a chalet

In 2023 we built a timber canopy along a chalet in the Zwolle region, in Douglas-type timber. It got a roof of tile-profile sheets, a timber deck underneath and a balustrade. The corner was left open, with room for a climbing plant. See the chalet canopy project.

What a canopy costs depends on the size, the timber and the roof. You will find indicative amounts in the cost of a canopy. On canopy carpentry you can see how we work. Would you also like a shed or storage room with it? Then read having a garden house built.

Frequently asked questions