When thinking about your next open-air social or business event, don’t forget about the weather. A sunny summer day can cause temperatures to soar and guests’ drinks to get warm, while at the same time giving them too much UV light exposure. If rain is predicted, the weather can put a damper on the positive effects of your hard work setting up and hosting the party — this is where a canopy can come to the rescue! Canopies are simple to put up and they help save your gatherings from the unforgiving impact of the elements. But how do you go about choosing the ideal canopy?
Before buying a canopy it’s important to do some research to make sure it meets all of your requirements. Canopies come in a variety of sizes and customized forms, so there’s a lot to think about when choosing the right canopy for you. The following are some factors to consider in eliminating the phrase “weather permitting” from your event-planning vocabulary.
Sizing up Your Canopy Needs
Most canopies feature four legs and a protective cover, but their dimensions can vary greatly. Thus, when deciding on the size of canopy you’ll need, you should carefully assess your space limitations. The most typical canopy dimensions are 10’x10′ and 12’x12′ but larger and smaller models are on the market.
Understand that a canopy’s legs can affect the amount of protection you’ll get against the elements. The size to measure is the perimeter of the area the four legs will cover not the fabric overhead. You’ll get different levels of coverage for straight- and slant-legged canopies, with straight-legged versions covering more. For instance, a 10’ x 10’ straight-legged canopy provides 100 square feet of shade, while a 10’x10’ slant-legged canopy offers only 8’x8’ or 64 square feet.
In addition, you’ll need to think about the canopy’s walk-in height. If you expect to have taller guests at your gatherings, you don’t want them bumping their heads each time they step in and out of the canopy. Cathedral ceilings offer additional room under a canopy, and telescoping legs can be adjusted for guests both big and small.
Choosing Your Canopy Materials
Canopy frames may be made of several types of materials, with the two most common being steel and aluminum. Steel is generally heavier and more durable, and this can be beneficial on windy days. Though steel is prone to rust, many steel frames have a powder coat that guards against corrosion. By the same token, aluminum may be lighter and simpler to set up, but it’s more apt to bend than steel.
Regarding canopy covers, most are made of water-resistant polyester, which comes in various thicknesses that affect their toughness and water resistance. The greater the thickness the stronger a canopy will be. In addition, some canopy covers are made of vinyl-coated polyester, which may cost more but gives better protection from the weather and the sun’s UV rays. Some vinyl-coated canopy covers are also fire-retardant.
Canopy Accessories and Other Factors to Consider
Do you want to take your canopy experience to the next level? If so, you might add features such as sidewalls, custom graphics, a carrying case, quick-lift technology, and cup holders. But whatever type of canopy or accessories you choose, remember to weigh and tie down your canopy so that wind gusts won’t take it airborne. If your canopy isn’t equipped with them already, buy weights for the legs, guy lines, sandbags, and/or tie-downs for defense against blustery winds. It’s not advisable to use a canopy on days when high winds are predicted. While they offer great shelter from sunlight and light rain, canopies are not ideal protection in major storms.
