If you’re considering having a canopy fitted, either in a school, healthcare setting or corporate campus, you can look forward to a number of varied benefits. In schools and colleges, these structures provide an outdoor learning, play or dining area. In workplaces, they create sheltered spaces for staff and visitors, or help make an entrance to a site more comfortable and welcoming. Above all, you enjoy protection from the elements.
You may be tempted to consider fitting the canopy yourself, and you might think this would be easy enough to do if you have a little DIY or construction experience. But, in fact, professional installation by an experienced company is essential in terms of durability, safety and the structure’s appearance generally. It’s crucial that you leave nothing to chance, and don’t take any unnecessary risks.
Here’s why it’s important that you have specialists on the job who know what they’re doing.
- Safety and structural integrity
The right installers will know what your canopy needs in terms of solid foundations, how and where to place brackets (which attach it to a wall or similar) and proper support to anchor it securely. Professional canopy installers always carry out a site survey ahead of manufacturing and installation to make sure the new canopy will fit in it’s intended location and work around existing elements such as windows, services and drains.
Professional companies with rigorous standards will use high-quality materials designed for outdoor use which are long-lasting and resist fading, corrosion and cracking. This ensures the safety and structural integrity of your shelter is maintained for many years.
- Building regulations compliance
The professionals will be familiar with local building codes and regulations, and will design your new canopy to be fully legally compliant as well as safe. For example, in a canopy with enclosed walls, proper ventilation must be designed into the structure.
- Warranties
A qualified and experienced canopy company will offer a warranty on their work, providing reassurance your investment will be protected, and that you will get the end result you want, both on completion of the project and beyond. So discuss warranties with your canopy provider before you commit; Kensington Systems typically offers 25 years.
- Less potential for problems
If you try to build a canopy yourself, or use unqualified or inexperienced workers, it can lead to issues which are expensive to put right or, in the worst case scenario, you could need to replace the whole structure.
- The best advice and guidance
Experienced installers like Kensington Systems have carried out hundreds or thousands of canopy installations over the years. They’re ideally placed to advise on the best design for what you need and to help make sure that it’s the ideal size and style for your particular setting.
- More likely to follow sustainable practices
Experienced, high-quality providers are likely to follow environmentally responsible procedures, whether that’s through material choices or ways of working. In turn, this can help you to meet your own sustainability targets.
Kensington Systems – experienced canopy providers
Founded in the late 1970s, Kensington Systems' enhances the outdoor environments of a broad portfolio of clients, allowing them to make the most of their space through durable, high-quality canopy solutions. Over the years, we’ve installed hundreds of canopies across schools, corporate, sport and leisure and healthcare settings, including solar-panel models plus solar car parks.
For over 20 years, we’ve had ISO 9001 quality management accreditation, then in early 2024 we were accredited by independent sustainability consultants Planet Mark, confirming our commitment to our own Net Zero goals and achieving a year on year reduction of over seven tonnes so far.
Whatever your needs, Kensington Systems has the expertise and experience to turn your ideas into reality. Browse our site, read some case studies about our previous projects, and get in touch with any queries or to book an initial consultation.
