Why our canopy roofing materials provide more than just summer shade

Posted on 14th May 2019 | Posted in Products

Canopy roofing materials that provide protection from 90% of the sun’s rays

You’ll hear us talk a lot about the fact that our outdoor canopies enable people to get out there and use their outdoor space more – even when the weather’s not that great.

That’s right, our canopies are used to create sheltered outdoor classrooms, play areas and dining halls, covered walkways, parking areas and restaurant dining, drinking and function spaces and more. They protect people from the elements – from driving rain and golf ball-sized hailstones, to slippery ice and gale-force winds.

This means that outdoor areas no longer have to become out of bounds in the autumn and winter months when the weather’s usually at its worst. But hold that thought…

While our canopies may be associated by many with keeping winter at bay, they’re actually just as effective when the summer’s here too

And with national Sunscreen Day taking place this month (May 27), we thought we’d take the opportunity to explain to you how our outdoor canopies play just as an important role protecting against the sun as a bottle of Piz Buin does.

Most of you will know that our canopies offer much-needed shade from the sun. But what many people don’t know is that their roofs are actually built to provide an all-important extra layer of sun protection.

Protection from 90% of the sun’s rays

You see, all of our canopy roofs are made so that they incorporate a Melinex gel coating and it’s this UV filter that effectively acts as a protective barrier against the sun. In fact, it’s so effective that it can prevent the penetration of 90% of the sun’s rays.

For those of you who may not have heard of it, Melinex is essentially a film that is available in different thicknesses, depending on the end usage. Incredibly flexible and strong, it features fire and shatter-resistant properties too and is widely used for heavy duty applications within other industries, such as aerospace.

It’s not possible to see the Melinex gel roof lining when you look at our roofs because it is, in fact, translucent, so acts as a shield without blocking out any light. This one of the main reasons why people don’t necessarily think our canopies are as ‘sun-proof’ as they actually are.

But in reality, we’ve put just as much time, thought and effort into the design of our roofs, as we have done with the rest of our canopy structures, to make sure they’re just as effective in minus temperatures, as they are in the heat of the midday sun.

We aren’t saying that our canopies are a substitute for other forms of sun protection, such as sunscreen, hats or sunglasses. But thanks to the high quality roofing materials we work with, they’re robust structures that don’t just simply provide cover in bad weather, but adequate sun protection in the good weather too.

For more information about our Melinex gel-coated roofs or to discuss your canopy requirements with us, contact us on 01254 777 002 or info@canopiesuk.co.uk