Aluminium patio roofs for Johannesburg and Pretoria
Three ways to roof a patio: an adjustable louvre roof, a fixed IBR roof or an insulated patio ceiling. All aluminium, all custom-made, all with a full all-round gutter. This page helps you pick the right one.
The one question that decides it
Do you want the option of open sky, or do you want a sealed room? Everything else follows from that. A louvre roof opens and closes. A fixed IBR roof stays shut and costs the least. An insulated ceiling stays shut too, and adds insulation and a finished ceiling underneath. You may also hear these called patio covers or patio awnings; they are the same three products. We build more adjustable louvre roofs than anything else, and they are not always the right answer.
Louvre roof, fixed IBR roof or insulated ceiling?
| Louvre roof | Fixed IBR roof | Insulated ceiling | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opens and closes | Yes. Adjustable blades on a manual gearbox or automated. | No. Fixed sheeting. | No. Nothing to operate. |
| Water resistance | 95% watertight in Highveld storms when closed. Not designed to be 100% waterproof. | Guaranteed waterproof under standard Highveld rainstorms. | Guaranteed waterproof under standard Highveld rainstorms. Double-roof rain protection. |
| Gutter | Full all-round gutter. | Same all-round gutter system as the louvre range. | Full all-round gutter. |
| Insulation | Not insulated. | Not insulated. A single skin of sheeting. | Insulated for comfort in summer and winter. |
| Underside | The blades: a slatted screen open, a solid surface closed. | Sheeting and purlins. Can be lined with a flat soffit. | Reads as an indoor ceiling: nothing on the underside except the ceiling itself and the light fittings. Flat or grooved panel. |
| Natural light | Open the blades. | Solar-control polycarbonate sheets, or translucent light panels set into the sheeting. | Skylight options. |
| Lighting and fans | Downlights and outdoor fans available. | Ask us at quote stage. | Recessed downlights, standard lights and outdoor fans. |
| Best for | Patios where the rooms behind depend on the light. Winter sun on demand. | Weather cover across a long run at the lowest cost. Exposed sites used mainly for shelter. | A patio you want to use as an all-year room. Deep patios that run hot under plain sheeting. |
| Guarantee | 15-year guarantee on aluminium. | 15-year guarantee on aluminium. | 15-year guarantee on aluminium. |
| Colours | Black, Charcoal, Bronze or Traffic White. | Black, Charcoal, Bronze or Traffic White. | Black, Charcoal, Bronze or Traffic White. |
The water-resistance wording is taken from our written warranty, which covers adjustable louvres, fixed IBR and patio ceilings.
Adjustable louvre roof
Opens and closes with a manual or automated gearbox. Close it during intense sun or a rainstorm; open it to let winter sun through. A full all-round gutter makes it 95% watertight in Highveld storms. It is an adjustable system, though, and our warranty says plainly that it is not designed to be 100% waterproof.
- Adjustable louvres control sunlight through the day
- Manual gearbox or full automation
- Charcoal frame with white louvres is a favourite
- Kinder to a timber deck than a fixed cover: close it against rain, open it to let the boards dry
Choose it when the rooms behind the patio depend on the light. A solid roof over a north-facing patio can darken a living room noticeably.
Louvre Roof Details
Fixed IBR roof
The most cost-effective awning in our range. It uses the same gutter system as the louvre range and carries a similar look; it simply doesn't open and close. Built in aluminium, and guaranteed waterproof under standard Highveld rainstorms.
- Same watertight all-round gutter system as the premium range
- Solar-control polycarbonate sheets, or translucent light panels set into the sheeting, for daylight
- Simpler, quieter in wind, and nothing that needs operating
- Can be lined underneath with a flat soffit
Choose it when weather cover across a long run is the main job, or the site is exposed and used mainly for shelter. You give up the winter sun a louvre roof lets in.
Fixed IBR Details
Insulated patio ceiling
A waterproof, insulated system with a full all-round gutter and double-roof rain protection. From below it reads as an indoor ceiling, with nothing on the underside except the ceiling itself and the light fittings. Guaranteed waterproof under standard Highveld rainstorms.
- Insulated for comfort in summer and winter
- Double-roof system: a gap and an insulating layer between the outer sheet and the ceiling you look at
- Recessed downlight options, with no exposed fixings on the underside
- Skylight options for natural light
Choose it when the goal is a room. It is also the answer for a deep patio that runs hot under plain sheeting.
Patio Ceiling Details
Aluminium on all three, guaranteed for 15 years
Every roof we build is aluminium. It doesn't rust, holds its powder-coated finish, and is covered by our 15-year guarantee against rust, paint chipping and corrosion. All three come in the same four finishes.
- 15-year guarantee on aluminium
- Mix frame and louvre colours: charcoal frame with white louvres is a favourite
- Designed, manufactured and installed by our own team
The fixed IBR roof and the insulated patio ceiling are guaranteed waterproof under standard Highveld rainstorms, as long as the gutter and downpipe are cleaned regularly. The adjustable louvre roof is 95% watertight in Highveld storms when closed. Our warranty states that adjustable systems are not designed to be 100% waterproof.
Fixed IBR is the most cost-effective awning in our range. It shares the gutter system and a similar look with the louvre roof; it simply doesn't open and close. Adjustable louvres and insulated ceilings sit above it. Every roof is custom-made, so we quote from a photo and rough measurements rather than a price list.
Yes. Plenty of homes end up with an insulated ceiling over the section that became a room, and a louvre roof over the braai or pool area where open sky is the point. Everything is made to your measurements, so two systems meeting cleanly is normal work rather than a compromise.
Guides that go deeper
Tell us about your space
A name and a number are all we need to start. We come back with options and a tailored quote.
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Share a photo of your area with measurements and the team will prepare a tailored quote.
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