Canopy Material

What makes an outdoor canopy so durable?

Striking the perfect balance between tough and lightweight, between looking good and performing well, is no easy task. The materials used to construct outdoor canopies are specially designed to be both strong and weatherproof and lightweight and easy to handle.

Galvanized steel

Galvanized steel products feature a zinc coating, which prevents corrosive elements such as water and salt from coming into contact with the steel, generally eliminating the chance for rust to form.

During the galvanizing process, the surface of the steel is cleaned by friction with diluted acid in order to remove all dirt, grease, and oxides. Then, the steel is dipped into a hot, molten bath of zinc. This zinc coating bonds to the steel's surface and protects the steel from harmful environmental corrosives. Galvanizing steel typically extends the life of steel to at least 25 years in urban locations and at least 50 years in rural locations.

Even if the surface of galvanized steel is damaged or scratched, the surrounding zinc will continue to protect the steel by a process called cathodic protection. Cathodic protection means, essentially, that the zinc coating will sacrifice itself to deterioration before the steel can be affected affected.

Powder-coated steel finish

Some outdoor canopy frames come with a weather-resistant powder coating. This powder-coated finish looks great, is tough, and resists scratching better than raw steel.

Powder coating is a dry finishing process in which finely ground particles of pigment and resin are electrically charged and sprayed onto the steel that is to be coated. The steel is electrically grounded so that the charged particles adhere to it until they can melted in a curing oven and fused into a solid coating. The result is one of the most durable protective coatings available for outdoor applications.

Polyethylene material

Polyethylene is a plastic material commonly used for containers, kitchenware and tubing. The chemical process used to make polyethylene material makes it impervious to harmful ultraviolet rays and water resistant. Polyethylene is also 100% rot proof and will not support mold, mildew, fungal, or bacterial growth - all in a material whose texture is similar to that of a common tarp.

Steel gauge

The gauge of a steel frame will tell you how sturdy the frame will be in certain conditions. The smaller the numbered gauge of the steel tube, the thicker the poles, and the sturdier the frame will be.

More information on canopies