Roofs
Freestanding Light ‘n’ Shade canopy
with lights and features over an
outside dining area
To shade, or not to shade, that is the question with apologies to the Bard of Avon! It might not
be the best known soliloquy in the world but it’s
one that many people have mused about over
an area around a property.
The need for shading and weather protection
outside homes and buildings is just as important
here in Britain as it is in southern climates. But
because our weather is a lot more variable
we have different needs from outdoor weather
protection systems than other parts of Europe.
To be truly effective a sun shading system in
the UK needs to be weatherproof, storm proof,
adjustable, durable, quick and easy to use if a
sudden squally shower is not going to put paid
to any alfresco plans in a matter of seconds.
That is why when Gilkicker Ltd introduced the
first product in the Louveranda range called
Light ‘n’ Shade in 2007 they used the strap line:
“Allowing you to take advantage of the great
British outdoors, without the great British
outdoors taking advantage of you!”
So what is a Light ‘n’ Shade roof?
Light ‘n’ Shade is an alternative to awnings,
parasols, glass canopies, shade sails and other
outdoor shading and weatherproofing systems.
It is an adjustable opening and closing louvred
roof which is watertight when closed but allows
up to 95% of natural daylight and sunlight
through the roof when it’s open.
This means that if when people are enjoying a
drink or a meal outside a shower comes along,
the roof can be closed in a couple of seconds
by one person, to keep them and the area
underneath dry. Similarly if people want to be
in the shade then the roof can be adjusted to
provide full or partial shade.
Any residual rainwater left up on the roof is
drained away to the edge when the roof is
opened again after a shower as each louvre has
its own integral drainage channel. This drainage
channel is also the interlock between the louvres
GILKICKER LTD
TEL: 02392 527273
A Lean-to Light ‘n’ Shade canopy
over a decked area
which makes the system weatherproof when its
closed as each louvre interlocks into each other
similar to clay roof tiles.
By being able to open and close Light ‘n’ Shade
is also used as an adjustable brise soleil system
on buildings with large glazed areas such as bifold doors. Often the system is retrofitted as the
negative effects of solar gain are not apparent
until after a building has been occupied over
a summer. During the winter the roof can be
opened on darker days to maximise the amount
of light entering a building.
Light ‘n’ Shade can be made in any size and in a
variety of colours and from a choice of materials.
The system can be fitted to an existing canopy
or pergola or can be supplied with a support
frame of wood, steel or aluminium to any design
in either a lean-to-format or free standing.
Gilkicker Ltd
extends its
Louveranda
range of
louvred roof
systems
Recently Gilkicker Ltd has added new canopy
products so now as well as Light ‘n’ Shade,
other external area roof systems in the
Louveranda range include:
l
Louvreroof - a fixed ventilated louvred
canopy roof in aluminium or
polycarbonate, which can also be
supplied as a mixed
aluminiu