Question 1

What is a glass canopy or glass house?

Accepted Answer

A glass canopy is a bespoke terrace roof that turns a patio into a usable room through the seasons. Combined with vertical glazing it becomes a fully enclosed glass house, with the roof and the walls designed as one structure.

Question 2

Will a glass canopy stand up to British weather?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The structure is engineered for the site's wind and snow load with proper drainage, and the glass is toughened or laminated safety glass, so it is designed as a permanent building element rather than seasonal cover.

Question 3

What glass is used in a glass canopy?

Accepted Answer

Toughened or laminated safety glass, with self-cleaning coatings and solar control options. The build is chosen for the span, the exposure and how much heat or glare the room behind needs to be protected from.

Question 4

Can a glass canopy be fitted to my existing house?

Accepted Answer

In almost every case, yes. Each canopy is made to measure for the wall it fixes to and the space it covers, so an existing brick, render or timber elevation is surveyed and the supporting structure designed around it.

Question 5

How wide can a glass canopy span?

Accepted Answer

The canopy systems are engineered per project, and the minimal-support SDL variants are chosen for wide spans where you want the view and the light uninterrupted. We confirm the structure once we have the dimensions and the fixing points.

Question 6

Will a glass canopy make the room behind it dark?

Accepted Answer

No. The roof is glass, so light still reaches the room. Where heat or glare is a concern we specify solar control glass, and a self-cleaning coating keeps the roof clear without regular access.

Question 7

Is a glass canopy noisy in the rain?

Accepted Answer

Rain noise depends on the glass build and the construction of the structure. We can specify a glazing build that reduces it, and because the roof is insulated and sealed at the wall, the room below stays quieter than you might expect.

Question 8

Can a canopy be combined with sliding or folding doors?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and that is where the system really works: a canopy above, bi-folding or sliding doors below, so the terrace and the room become one space that can be opened or closed according to the weather.

Question 9

Do I need permission for a glass canopy?

Accepted Answer

Often not, as a canopy is usually within permitted development, but the answer depends on your property, its listing status and the area. We will tell you what we need and can supply the drawings your application requires.

Question 10

How do I get a canopy or glass house priced?

Accepted Answer

Send the width, the projection and a photograph of the wall, and we will reply within 24 hours with the system, the span we can achieve and a quotation including the structure, the glass and the installation.

Glass canopies and glass houses

Overview

Typical applications

4 systems in this family

SDL Alerio

SDL Atrium plus

SDL Aura

SDL Acubis