There’s nothing like enjoying the Great Outdoors from your very own patio, especially when the sun is shining and there’s a gentle breeze cooling you down. But what about when it rains? Just because the weather turns, it doesn’t mean you have to stay inside and watch from the window. Here at Apollo Patios, we specialise in roofing and outdoor solutions so you can enjoy the outdoors all year round!
From simple steel roof sheets to more complex insulated products, we stock an impressive number of patio roofing options ensuring there’s something to suit your outdoor improvement project.
Keep reading for a detailed review of some of the options we offer to find out which might work best for you.
Why is steel the best patio roofing material for Australian conditions?
Many people believe that steel roofing is the best material to withstand the harsh weather conditions the Australian climate can bring, due to it’s lightweight yet robust characteristics. Steel is strong and sturdy and a reasonably cost-effective solution to offer great protection. However, steel isn’t the only material available to use for your outdoor area. For example, if you are after a semi-open structure or structure that just offers shade then a simple screening solution or pergola may be a more affordable option for you. Similarly, if you live near the water, we’d recommend a specific steel that can withstand the damaging effects of salt spray, humidity and extreme weather conditions, giving you additional piece of mind and extra protection over a regular steel roof.
All of our roofing material options can offer excellent protection from Australian weather conditions, so it really comes down to understanding your project budget and what you intend to use your outdoor space for.
Apollo Patio steel patio roofing materials
Steel is weatherproof, strong over large spans and is a common choice for patio roofing, but there are a few more options to choose from depending on your circumstances and what you need from your roofing material. Let’s take a look at the patio roof materials we offer and what they’re best chosen for.
Steel patio roofing
One of the biggest selling points of steel patio roofing is its durability, leading to it’s popularity. Our roofing is Australian made and manufactured in each key region we service. Each product is manufactured and built to last, and we test it rigorously to ensure it delivers to the highest standards.
Our philosophy is to provide quality products that last and our steel roofing is a testament to that. While a steel roof may seem like a big outlay at the time, we believe in doing so you are setting yourself up with one of the most cost-effective, long lasting roofing options on the market.
Why do we recommend steel patio roofing?
- Durability: Steel is one of the most durable, impact resistant roof materials available, while lightweight, it is able to withstand all kinds of weather conditions
- Low maintenance: Steel requires very little maintenance from you and it has excellent colour retention, so your roof will look pristine for longer
- Large span: With our unique roll formed steel profiles, it is strong over large spans, meaning you can cover more patio without extra posts blocking your view
- Weather resistant: Steel can withstand the extremes, from colder temperatures as well as hotter weather without warping or becoming brittle, allowing it to last longer without replacement or repairs
- Apollo’s steel is thicker than industry standards: Not only does our hi-tensile steel improve the longevity and durability of your roof but also provides more resistance to damaging weather
- Range of colours: We offer a range of roofing colour options, giving you the flexibility to complement or contrast with your existing home colour scheme
Our Single skin patio roofing materials
We’re thrilled to offer our single skin roofing options, made from high-quality steel. We offer two different profiles for you to choose from, including the Apollo Unilink 2000 and Apollo Outdoor Flat, so you can pick which works best for your individual style.
The Mark II sheeting is thicker than industry standards to offer improved durability and weather resistance. The Unilink 2000 is a dependable roof option that can span an impressive 4.7 metres without the need for any unsightly posts. Each offers a unique profile style for your outdoor space.
Why do we recommend single skin patio roofing?
- Cost-effective: Single skin roofing uses just one metal roof skin, roll formed to a particular profile, making it more cost-effective without sacrificing quality or effectiveness
- Non-combustible: Our single skin roof options are independently tested and certified as non-combustible, providing a complete solution for Flame Zone (FZ) regions
- Easy to maintain: Our Durasheen paint coat finish is super easy to maintain and provides an industry leading 15 year warranty
- Resilient to mould growth: Thanks to the impressive paint system, our single skin roofs are resilient to mould growth, translating to easy maintenance and the ability to keep them in excellent condition for longer
- Impressive span: Our single skin roofing options are sturdy enough to span up to 4.7 metres without any rafters or battens ruining your view dependant on a few factors
Our Insulated plan patio roofing materials
One of the most popular patio roofing options is fast becoming insulated panel because of the extra benefits over and above standard steel roofing sheeting. Our insulated roofing has been designed, engineered, and manufactured to offer superior comfort and year-round protection, so you can enjoy your patio throughout every season without the need to heat or cool your outdoor space.
Insulated roofing blends two products in one, a sturdy roof sheet combined with an underskin – a finished ceiling-look, being two products allows for different colours on the top and bottom skins. It can also be used as wall panels as well, offering excellent thermal comfort and a reduction in radiant heat transfer, so you can rest assured you’ll be comfortable underneath your new patio roof!
Why do we recommend insulated patio roofing?
- Exceptional thermal comfort: Experience a reprieve from extreme weather with your insulated roof that helps to moderate the temperature for you both in colder and hotter conditions, meaning you save on energy costs
- Noise absorption: Not only does insulation offer resistance to heat flow, but it also absorbs noise, from rain on your roof to echoing noise in your patio, giving you a more enjoyable space to relax in
- Reduction in radiant heat transfer: Our insulated roofing reduces heat transfer, meaning your outdoor space is kept at a much more enjoyable temperature than a single skin space, forget having a steamy outdoor space
- Fewer rafters/battens: With the superior span of our insulated roofs, there’s no need to use extra unsightly rafters or battens to brace your roof
- Ceiling-look finish: The underside (side you see from inside your patio) has a ceiling-look finish, making your outdoor space look complete and homey from day one
Our patio roofing materials for waterside living
Living by the water might be your dream come true, and we can understand why! But what does this mean for your patio roof? Building near water often means your patio is subjected to harsh environmental conditions that can take its toll if it’s not been built with the correct materials. Luckily, we’re experienced in these challenges and are experienced in choosing the right roofing materials for this sort of environment.
Our waterside living patio roofs are made with UniCote Coastal, which is pre-painted steel designed with anti-corrosive properties and featuring a 30% thicker protective coating with the magic of added magnesium. We recommend UniCote Coastal for waterside living as this product is engineered and tested specifically to perform in the harshest Australian coastal conditions.
Why do we recommend specific materials for patios built by the water?
- Unique conditions call for extra protection: Living by the water comes with its own set of unique set of challenges, but our roofs are designed to offer market leading protection with minimal maintenance
- Designed with advanced anti-corrosive properties: Our waterside living patio roofs are highly resistant to the damaging effect of salt spray, humidity and extreme weather conditions
- Enhanced coating: The coating used is 30% thicker and incorporates a ground breaking technology to provide improved protection and safeguard your investment
- Advanced paint technology: This material uses advanced paint technology and a multi-layer paint system that includes a primer and topcoat perfect for withstanding harsh coastal elements, and this paint system can protect against corrosion, UV rays, and physical wear
- Industry-leading warranty: Our warranties are industry-leading, and our team will determine your warranty based on your environment and distance from the water
Other patio roofing options
The options we’ve looked at so far aren’t the only options for patio roof materials available on the market, although the following alternatives come with their own set of challenges and drawbacks that we don’t endorse. Let’s take a look at a few of these below.
Fabric or canvas patio roofing
Fabric and canvas patio roofs work to reduce heat by simply offering you shade from the sun, although this is where their protection stops as they usually aren’t weather or water-proof solutions. These roofs tend to be more affordable as they’re thinner and easier to install as a do-it-yourself project, so you should be able to get your outdoor space up and running within minutes!
You also have the flexibility to remove the fabric or structure if you’d like, so you can take it down and put it back up prior to rough weather or as you see fit. However, it’s important to note that doing this too much might weaken the fabric and leave you with a less durable roofing choice.
Potential drawbacks of fabric patio roofing & why we do not offer it
- Limited protection from the elements: Fabric shades only offer as much protection from the elements as the material can withstand which, compared to steel, isn’t much
- Designed for shade only: Fabric or canvas roofs are designed to offer shade only, so they won’t be able to keep your patio cool or dry during various weather conditions, and will tend to get drenched during rain events
- Requires more maintenance: Fabric panels often need care and attention to remain as effective as they were when you first got them, so you’ll need to be monitor the condition and potentially replace as required to ensure its reliability
- Fixing required: We know it can be tempting to choose a shade that’s quick to put up and begin using, but fabric shades usually require anchor points or dynabolts to be installed to secured it in place, which may be a bit of an eyesore, plus the sail itself may not present as well as it wears in the weather
Glass patio roofing
Glass patio roofs sound like a good idea in theory – it’s just like a massive skylight, right? Unfortunately, there’s a little more to it than that and glass patio roofs are simply not economical. They’re also harder to install than enclosing your patio with glass windows and doors, and there’s always the risk if they were to break. Here at Apollo Patios, we’re happy to talk you through our enclosing services if you’d like to include glass in the design of your patio!
Glass patio roofs also protect from the elements except sunlight, which can have your patio reaching incredibly high temperatures that aren’t comfortable for anyone.
Potential drawbacks of glass patio roofing & why we do not offer it
- Not heat resistant: Glass will protect you from rain and wind, but it’ll let the sunlight straight into your patio, making the patio warmer and less enjoyable for you to be in for too long
- Higher costs: Glass roofs are heavy and difficult to install, and usually require one-off design and engineering so the chances are, even if you find a tradesperson to install one, you’ll have to pay a significantly higher overall cost especially when adding the extensive labour component
- Difficult to clean: The theory of a glass roof is often much more appealing than in actuality because glass needs cleaning from leaf, debris and bird droppings much more frequently to avoid it looking unsightly from the underside
- Will require bracing to hold it up: As we’ve said, glass is heavy so you’ll need a suitable solution to hold it up securely and safely, which may make the project unachievable
Polycarbonate patio roofing
Polycarbonate roofing is transparent and the most similar clear look to glass in it’s appearance. Quite a few of our customers ask about polycarbonate roofing as it seems like an affordable alternative to glass. When you can’t find a tradesperson to fit a glass roof, why not move onto a polycarbonate alternative?
Polycarbonate roofing tends to be inexpensive, lightweight, and easy to install, so it can appear like an attractive option for many people. However, here at Apollo Patios we don’t offer this roof option, preferring to use it as a secondary accessory where we best see fit, such as in gable ends or as infill pieces to limit strong winds.
Potential drawbacks of using Polycarbonate as patio roofing & why we do not offer it
- Needs to be regularly cleaned: Just like glass roofs, polycarbonate needs to be cleaned of leaves and debris often as the dirt is very visible without frequent cleanings
- Can be noisy: Polycarbonate is a thin plastic that can be quite noisy when being rained on or in a storm, and this can impact how much you can relax underneath your patio roof
- Lacks insulating properties: As polycarbonate is quite thin, it offers little to no insulation so you might not be able to enjoy your patio all year round without wrapping up warm
- Little thermal efficiency: Likewise, polycarbonate roofs tend to trap heat that it lets in through the translucent panels, and this can make it difficult for you to relax in warm weather as temperatures will skyrocket before you know it
- Can be easily damaged: Polycarbonate roofing can become damaged if it is battered during hail and storm events, which can compromise the roof or make it look old and tired before you know it
Where to go from here?
So, you think you’ve chosen the material you want to use for your patio roof – amazing! The best next step is to talk to an expert and decide on the next steps. At Apollo Patios, we’re more than happy to talk through your needs and come up with a plan that can help us understand what you are trying to achieve.
For example, are you looking for something more visually appealing to complete your home or do you need something that offers more protection to withstand the harshest Australian weather conditions? Do you live near the water or in a cyclonic region?
Questions like these will help us determine which of our roofing materials is best suited for you. If you only want an open space to offer some shade during the warmest weather, an affordable solution may be to use decorative screening or an open-style pergola structure. Or if you’re after a quick and very affordable option then a temporary fabric sail structure may be your best bet, which we don’t offer.
However, if you’re looking for a premium quality, long-lasting patio roof with industry-leading warranties and low maintenance requirements, we’ll help you pick the best option from our range.
We offer free consultations to our customers and are here to advise you in any way we can, so what are you waiting for? Give us a call or enquire now to book a Design Meeting with one of our experts!
