Installing an awning on brick veneer

Question

Hi there

My end goal is to cover my 1.5m wide and 4.8m long patio as simply and cost effectively as possible. Want to protect it from rain so we can use it as an outdoor space as much as possible.

Want sun protection too (to a degree) but also don't want to block natural light from entering our house. Patio faces north.

The first photo - picture of the patio space. Brick veneer.

The second photo - I'm wondering if these type of Carbolite canopy awnings are worth installing? And if so can you install them directly onto masonry wall with dynabolts? How long will they last and are they durable in the elements?

The third photo - saw this photo online of another house - another idea I had that potentially could buy/make some metal / wood brackets, attach them to the brick veneer (or would it have to be studs?) and then put some clear colourbond sheeting on top. Would want the brackets to come out 1500mm from the wall to cover the patio, is this possible?

So yeh, not sure which way to go and would love some advice on what is safe and okay to fix onto brick masonry walls. Are the above options no good and better to invest in a proper patio cover build with posts and a roof with guttering etc?

Thanks in advance

JacobZ · Answer

Hi @Jimbob1000,

The Toja pergola bracket kits are a good option for creating a simple stick frame pergola, but by adding a roofing material to them and attaching them to an existing structure, you add complexity that would require the assistance of an engineer and likely building approval from your local council.

On the Toja FAQ page they state that "For any build outside of scope from our kit and product offerings we recommend speaking with an engineer as well as reviewing our Structures Page for more information as well as available engineering documents." I imagine the other product you mentioned would have a similar stipulation in its terms of use.

This is not to say it is not possible, but I am not qualified to provide advice on this kind of work. You would need to speak with an engineer to ensure the slab is sufficient, and your home is sufficiently engineered to support the wall mounting of this structure.

As long as the slab fits within the anchoring requirements defined by your engineer, it is likely still possible to drill through the tile and anchor to the slab, but they would need to advise.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

Jacob

Jimbob1000 · Answer

Thanks Mitchell, what about if I were to get one of those pergola kits Toja from Bunnings or Outmos

Either one that has all posts that are bolted into the ground https://outmos.com.au/collections/pergola-bracket-kits-and-brackets/products/angled-double-freestanding-pergola-brackets-kit-with-rafters

Or the ones that are bolted into the masonry and then the concrete slab too. https://outmos.com.au/collections/pergola-bracket-kits-and-brackets/products/angled-double-wall-mount-pergola-brackets-kit-with-rafters

Would it be fine drilling through tiles with the right dynabolts to anchor this to the concrete slab??

And then possible put some roofing on top, some clear panels to protect from the rain but let some sunlight in.

Thoughts ?

MitchellMc · Answer

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Jimbob1000. It's sensational to have you join us and many thanks for your question on patios.

Tinted polycarbonate canopy awnings can work in some situations, but they’re probably not a great fit for what you’re trying to achieve here. Most of the off-the-shelf Carbolite or similar canopy awnings typically only project about 900–1200 mm from the wall. At that depth, they won’t give you much rain protection for a 1.5 m deep patio, especially when wind is involved. They can be fixed to masonry with appropriate anchors, and last a significant amount of time.

Retractable awnings are another option worth considering. These can project out to around 2 m, so coverage wouldn’t be an issue, and they’re excellent for sun control on a north-facing wall. They also let light back into the house when retracted. The downside is that the polyester fabric is really only designed for shade and very light rain, not ongoing wet weather, so they won’t give you reliable all-weather protection. They’re great for summer heat management, but perhaps not ideal if your main goal is rainproofing the space.

As for the idea of large brackets fixed to the brick veneer to support clear polycarbonate or Colorbond sheeting, I’m not aware of any readily available brackets that would safely cantilever 1500 mm out from a brick veneer wall and support roofing loads.

If you want something that genuinely works long term, the more robust (but more expensive) option is a proper lean-to pergola. That would involve posts, a timber or steel frame, and polycarbonate or metal sheeting with fall and guttering. It’s more of an investment, but it’s the only option that ticks all the boxes for durability, rain protection, and safety without pushing materials beyond what they’re designed to do.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell