A covered walkway can be made from almost any material, from strong aluminium to weaker timber. When it comes to choosing the perfect material for your business’ covered walkway, you’ll need to decide where your priorities lie. Are you looking for durability? Cost-effectiveness? Aesthetics? Practicality? Here, we discuss some of your options, and where they might be best suited:

Aluminium covered walkways

If you’re looking for a durable walkway for your business, aluminium is definitely one to consider. It is extremely tough and should withstand most weather conditions without being damaged. Aluminium also doesn’t degrade over time or rust. Here at Shelter Solutions, many of our walkways are aluminium-based. The roof doesn’t necessarily need to be made from the same material – you could choose something different, and also decide on bespoke roof design. Despite its durability, aluminium can also be a lot cheaper than many other covered walkways made from different materials.

PET

Deciding on the roof is as important as the framework when it comes to covered walkways. PET roof panels tend to be a popular choice for many businesses, as they are very durable and have impressive UV properties. You can have panels installed in various thicknesses, and its high impact resistant means you can style them to whatever shape and size you desire. The benefits of PET panels for businesses are that they are easily maintained, meaning they won’t require much downtime that can be used more productively elsewhere.

Polycarbonate

Many enclosed covered walkways tend to use polycarbonate, which can either be solid tinted or multiwall. If it’s important for your business to be protected from any unpredictable weather, polycarbonate roof panels may be the solution. They are a very cost-effective option, but you could be aware that they can only be cut to a number of sizes, and can only be combined with certain roof styles.

Glass

If your business is looking for a contemporary, modern finish to your walkway, adding glass roof panels can immediately increase the quality of the look. You should ensure that for your walkway to remain durable, the roof panels are made of toughened safety glass, which is very secure.

Awning

Awning covered walkways are one of your most cost-effective options. They can cover a very wide area and you can find many versions that are retractable. This can often be beneficial to hospitality businesses such as restaurants and cafes, which may only need to make use of the cover when the weather allows, or they are dealing with overspill.

Brick

If you’re adding a covered walkway to an office made of brick, you’ll be pleased to know that brick walkways are a very viable option. This will be a more expensive option than some of the others but will allow your office to maintain a professional look and blend in with the rest of the buildings.

Shade sails

If you own a spa, or somewhere else that involves sunbathing, shade sails may be the appropriate choice. These are very cost-effective and can be draped in creative ways to produce a very aesthetically-pleasing look. Alternatively, they can also be used to keep children safe in playgrounds, and are a good suggestion for low-cost covered parking.

If you need more advice on which material would best suit your businesses covered walkway, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Shelter Solutions.