Garden Canopies & Patio Covers
Fixed aluminium-and-polycarbonate canopies that shelter a patio, doorway or seating area all year — no fabric, no take-down, no maintenance.
Last updated 14 July 2026
A garden canopy is a permanent, roofed shelter for outdoor space — an aluminium frame with a polycarbonate roof that covers a patio, doorway or seating area all year round. Unlike a fabric awning or parasol, there's nothing to wind in, take down or replace: the frame is rust-free and the roof is virtually unbreakable. Nucrete supplies Palram Canopia canopy kits with a written 10-year frame guarantee.
Garden canopies at a glance
| Price | From £1,179 inc. VAT — fixed nationwide, delivery included. |
|---|---|
| Depth | The Olympia patio cover projects a full 3m from the wall. |
| Roof | 16mm multi-wall polycarbonate — twice the thickness of the 8mm on lean-to canopy kits. |
| Lengths | 3.05m to 9.71m, all 3m deep. |
| Materials | Powder-coated aluminium frame in white or dark grey, UV-protected polycarbonate roof. |
| Assembly | Self-assembly by two people in about a day, once the base is ready. |
| Delivery | UK-wide. Delivery details. |
| Guarantee | Written 10-year frame guarantee, plus 3 years on the roof sheets. |
Which type of garden canopy do I need?
It comes down to where the shelter goes. If it fixes to the house — over a patio, back door or walkway — you want a wall-mounted canopy or patio cover; the Olympia patio cover (below) is our deepest and sturdiest, and the lean-to canopy kits on the lean-to page suit narrower runs and doorways. If the shelter stands free in the garden — over a dining table, hot tub or seating circle — you want a gazebo, which brings its own roof structure and legs.
Whichever you choose, the construction is the same family: powder-coated aluminium in white or dark grey, polycarbonate roof sheets, and self-assembly that two people can complete within a day once the groundworks are ready.
| Option | Fixes to | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Olympia patio cover | House wall | A full 3m-deep roof over a patio or dining area, with a thicker 16mm roof |
| Lean-to canopy kit | House wall | Narrower runs, doorways and walkways (8mm roof) |
| Freestanding gazebo | Stands free | Shelter out in the garden, away from the house |
| Fabric awning | House wall | Retractable summer shade — not permanent, and weather-limited |
Patio covers: the Palram Olympia
Our patio cover is the Palram Canopia Olympia — a 16mm polycarbonate roof on a rust-free aluminium frame, a full 3m deep, in lengths from 3.05m to 9.71m, from £1,179. The 16mm multi-wall roof is twice the thickness of the 8mm panels used on lean-to canopy kits, so it insulates the space beneath, softens the drum of heavy rain and takes British weather in its stride while still letting daylight through.
Measure the run of wall you want to cover and pick the nearest length: the shortest kit comfortably roofs a table for four, while the longest spans the full back of most houses — covering dining space, a seating area and the back door in one structure. Like every Palram Canopia structure we supply, the frame carries a written 10-year guarantee, with 3 years on the roof sheets.
How is a canopy fixed down?
A garden canopy should be anchored to a strong foundation — ideally concrete, using suitable ground anchors, with wall-mounted models also fixed to the house wall. That anchoring is what lets a lightweight aluminium structure stand up to British weather: every Palram Canopia model is engineered for UK wind and snow loads.
All kits are supplied with fixings and instructions, delivery runs UK-wide, and our TechAssured support team can talk you through foundations, wall fixings and anything else before or during assembly. The frame carries a 10-year guarantee; roof sheets carry 3 years.
Freestanding shelter? Consider a gazebo
Flat Roof Gazebo
A modern flat-roof garden gazebo in two sizes (3.09m × 3.09m and 3.09m × 4.26m) with a screw-free, leak-free polycarbonate roof.
From £979 inc. VAT
All Year Round Gazebo
The Palermo all-year-round gazebo in six sizes from 3m × 3m to 3.6m × 5m, with shatter-resistant opaque roof panels.
From £1,159 inc. VAT
Premium Hardtop Gazebo
The Dallas premium hardtop gazebo in three sizes from 3.6m × 4.3m, with optional netting — a solid-roof garden room without walls.
From £2,239 inc. VAT
Garden canopy questions, answered
What's the difference between a canopy, an awning and a gazebo?
A canopy is a fixed structure with a rigid polycarbonate roof, up all year. An awning is fabric — retractable, but weather-limited and shorter-lived. A gazebo is freestanding with its own legs and roof, for shelter away from the house. If you want permanent, zero-maintenance cover attached to the house, a canopy or patio cover is the right tool.
Can a garden canopy stay up all winter?
Yes — that's the point of it. The aluminium frame can't rust, the polycarbonate roof is UV-protected and virtually unbreakable, and every model is engineered for UK snow and wind loads. There's nothing to take down in autumn.
Do I need a professional to install a garden canopy?
No — the kits are designed for self-assembly, and two people can usually complete one within a day once the groundworks are ready. Our TechAssured support line covers you if questions come up, from wall fixings to drainage.
What surface does a canopy need underneath?
A solid, level base you can anchor into — concrete is ideal. If the canopy is going over an existing patio, our team can advise on suitable anchors for your surface before you order.
How much does a patio cover cost?
The Olympia patio cover starts from £1,179, with the price stepping up by length — all sizes are 3m deep. Prices are fixed nationwide and the product card on this page shows the current From-price.
How far does the Olympia patio cover project from the wall?
3 metres — enough to roof a dining set or seating area rather than just shade a doorway. Lengths along the wall run from 3.05m to 9.71m.
Why does the 16mm roof matter?
Thicker multi-wall polycarbonate is stronger, insulates the space beneath better and quietens heavy rain compared with the 8mm panels used on lighter canopy kits — worthwhile on a space you'll actually sit under.
Do I need planning permission for a patio cover or canopy?
Many wall-mounted patio covers and canopies count as permitted development, but it depends on the size, height and your property — and the rules are stricter on listed buildings or in conservation areas. It's worth checking with your local planning authority first, and our team can talk it through before you order.
Can a canopy attach to a bungalow or conservatory?
It can fix to most sound house walls, including single-storey and bungalow walls, as long as there's enough height for the roof to slope and drain. Fixing to a conservatory or its frame usually isn't suitable — the cover needs a solid wall to carry the load. Tell us about your wall and we'll confirm before you order.
What guarantee do canopy kits carry?
A written 10-year Palram Canopia guarantee on the aluminium frame and a 3-year guarantee on the polycarbonate roof sheets. Spare parts are available, so individual panels can be replaced if they're ever damaged.
Written and reviewed by the Nucrete team. Nucrete is an official Palram Canopia partner and has supplied garages, carports and garden structures across the UK for over 45 years. Need a hand choosing, or preparing the base your canopy anchors to? See about Nucrete, or call us free on 0800 849 9036.