A question we receive often from architects and designers around New Zealand is whether entrance canopies can be installed to profiled metal cladding. The answer? Yes.
If you are using a profiled metal cladding and want to add an aluminium feature to the facade, like an entrance canopy, you can, and this also includes round corrugated profiles.
The technical drawing below represents a standard entrance canopy fixing detail to a profiled metal cladding.
When fixing to a profiled metal cladding, the cavity battens should be installed at the fixings points to prevent the cladding from being crushed when the canopy is installed. The screws should also be tightened and the fixings should only be installed in the cladding ‘valleys’.
Plastic packers are installed between the cladding and the canopy to provide a flat surface that the canopy can be attached to, and to space the canopy clear of the cladding ribs. EPDM washers between the packer and the cladding provide the waterproof seal (as per figure 15 of NZBC E2).
But note that the washers must be between the packers and the cladding. With our technical expertise, we have seen them detailed between the packers and the canopy before, so this sentence is worth repeating!
While the EPDM washers provide the seal to prevent water entering through the screw holes (E2), water can still track between the canopy and the cladding, and drip onto the ground below. This can really frustrate residents of residential buildings that have a canopy specified, and after all, who likes a drip of water landing on you when you least expect it?
To prevent this, a head flashing should be installed that goes back into the cavity. This will direct any water running down the cladding out onto the canopy, and we have included some technical detail showcasing how this works below.
Our standard Horizon and Solaris canopy designs can be specified, along with custom solutions when required. With our in-house knowledge, we will approach custom solutions with an open mind and do our best to ensure all design requests are functional and successful. Our in-house design team can also provide shop drawings and PS1’s for your building consent package to bring your architectural intent to life.
Installing an entrance canopy on metal cladding offers advantages beyond weather protection:
A properly integrated door canopy creates a clear transition point between exterior and interior spaces, helping to define the entrance within the overall façade and adding an architectural element to the building.
Aluminium canopies are fabricated off-site and only brought on-site when the buildings are ready. Making the canopies in a controlled off-site environment and bringing them on-site when the site is ready, reduces the risk of damage and improves health and safety.
Traditional canopy designs involve the coordination of multiple trades (builders, plumbers, roofers, etc). However, a simple aluminium canopy fabricated off-site involves one trade and usually only takes 1-2 hours to install.
Canopies can be installed to virtually any other cladding system, and to date, we have been able to provide a functional design solution to every cladding system that’s been presented to us.
Standard details are available for the common cladding systems used for entrance canopies NZ, which you can find on each of our project pages.
If you're currently working on a project with metal cladding and want to include entrance canopies, we can help. Our specialised team can design, engineer, and manufacture bespoke solutions to ensure you find the right option or solution for the needs of your project.
For inspiration, download our entrance canopies brochure to see our full range of product designs, or if you’re looking to undertake an architectural project you contact us to discuss it.