Hey guys, hope this is the right section.
After about a month of seeing parts all over my yard and my tenants giving notice to vacate... I had sudden energy to do something about my clutter.
I chose the 24 x 50 canopy because... I had it already. Putting these things up is pretty simple if you have the right parts. I'll share what I did here and give away my tricks of the trade so you can possibly do the same.
Planning:
1. Depending upon your area, you will need to plan the pitch for your canopy. I went with 120 degree fittings, so the pitch is perfect for the rainy seattle area. (My fittings - powdercoated, I love em so much I give them a lifetime guaranty). If you get no snow, 110 degree is plenty pitch.
2. You have to plan for wind, where does the wind blow, which direction. This is important in figuring out if you will have a enclosed canopy or not. keeping a gap under the canopy allows air to excape and enter. Enclosing it makes it a wall.
3. What application do you need? A simple pole structure with a tarp cover, a complete structure with sides.. perhaps even ends? I will be installing a zipper door on the front of my canopy.
4. Choose a somewhat level location. My location.... not level... however using simple math, the canopy is.
5. How tall do you want the sides to be? I chose 6.5' as the highes side point.
6. How wide do you want the canopy to be? I chose 20' at the top, 24 for the footprint. You will want to get out of the car after you drive in so 8' will be way too narrow... shoot for 12 minimum.
7. How long? Keep in mind a vehicle is about 16-22' long. I didn't choose 50'... I had the canopy laying around. a 2 car is 20x20... You could squeze 7 vehicles in this one.
8. Now, the important part... how will you anchor your canopy? These will fly away like a kite if not achored properly. You can place poles in concrete, use concrete anchors or use stakes (what I will be doing). Depending on size and wind conditions additional anchoring will need to be placed.
Ok, let me know if I've missed anything... I'll gladly add.
So now you need the tools....
Tools:
The most important tool is a strong back. Hire someone at home depot or a labor ready and it will go much quicker. I was too lazy and cheap to drive 15 minutes to do this... but looking back... $100 in a days laborer would have made this canopy completed... I still have about 5 more hours before its finished.
Other than that, you may need a pipe cutter (if you local fencing store doesn't cut your pipe to size) and a 14mm wratchet.
Methodology:
First lay out your pipe. If you have a 20 x 20 canopy, then you will lay out (12) 10 footers.
Next lay out where your fittings will go and use your 14mm to connect them. For a 20 x 20 kit, you will need (6) 3 way and (3) 4 way.
Assemble.
Now you will lay your tarp over the frame and bungee it to the the frame.
Next raise one side at a time (it is better to have 2 or 3 guys for this... I did the 24 x 50 solo). (I used some cheats).
Now that the legs are in use the 14mm to tighten.
You canopy is now assembled.
The last part is to line everything up square and anchor to the ground, using fence stakes and then using U bolt's to secure the stake to the canopy... or buy using cylinder blocks or sinking into concrete.
Summary:
In summary this will provide you with a temporary carport or garage that you can move, doesn't cost too much, usually doesn't require permits ... and depending on the quality tarp you select will last for 6-10 years before replacing the tarp. (the structures last up to 20 - 40 years). Our fittings are lifetime warranteed.
This makes a perfect place for a back yard restoration.
Seattle Canopies, Custom Canopies, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Garage RV Canopies, Equipment shelter, Container Alternative, Sports Cages - NW Canopies will be selling kits and sells all the fittings, tarps and addtitional parts needed to construct your canopy. All you need to do is source the 1 5/8 Galvinized pipe. If you want a quote or have questions let me know... I'd be happy to give a discount to mudders.
Posts are useless without pictures, so I snapped a few of the installation so far.
You can see the 20 x 20 that I replaced with this one.
After about a month of seeing parts all over my yard and my tenants giving notice to vacate... I had sudden energy to do something about my clutter.
I chose the 24 x 50 canopy because... I had it already. Putting these things up is pretty simple if you have the right parts. I'll share what I did here and give away my tricks of the trade so you can possibly do the same.
Planning:
1. Depending upon your area, you will need to plan the pitch for your canopy. I went with 120 degree fittings, so the pitch is perfect for the rainy seattle area. (My fittings - powdercoated, I love em so much I give them a lifetime guaranty). If you get no snow, 110 degree is plenty pitch.
2. You have to plan for wind, where does the wind blow, which direction. This is important in figuring out if you will have a enclosed canopy or not. keeping a gap under the canopy allows air to excape and enter. Enclosing it makes it a wall.
3. What application do you need? A simple pole structure with a tarp cover, a complete structure with sides.. perhaps even ends? I will be installing a zipper door on the front of my canopy.
4. Choose a somewhat level location. My location.... not level... however using simple math, the canopy is.
5. How tall do you want the sides to be? I chose 6.5' as the highes side point.
6. How wide do you want the canopy to be? I chose 20' at the top, 24 for the footprint. You will want to get out of the car after you drive in so 8' will be way too narrow... shoot for 12 minimum.
7. How long? Keep in mind a vehicle is about 16-22' long. I didn't choose 50'... I had the canopy laying around. a 2 car is 20x20... You could squeze 7 vehicles in this one.
8. Now, the important part... how will you anchor your canopy? These will fly away like a kite if not achored properly. You can place poles in concrete, use concrete anchors or use stakes (what I will be doing). Depending on size and wind conditions additional anchoring will need to be placed.
Ok, let me know if I've missed anything... I'll gladly add.
So now you need the tools....
Tools:
The most important tool is a strong back. Hire someone at home depot or a labor ready and it will go much quicker. I was too lazy and cheap to drive 15 minutes to do this... but looking back... $100 in a days laborer would have made this canopy completed... I still have about 5 more hours before its finished.
Other than that, you may need a pipe cutter (if you local fencing store doesn't cut your pipe to size) and a 14mm wratchet.
Methodology:
First lay out your pipe. If you have a 20 x 20 canopy, then you will lay out (12) 10 footers.
Next lay out where your fittings will go and use your 14mm to connect them. For a 20 x 20 kit, you will need (6) 3 way and (3) 4 way.
Assemble.
Now you will lay your tarp over the frame and bungee it to the the frame.
Next raise one side at a time (it is better to have 2 or 3 guys for this... I did the 24 x 50 solo). (I used some cheats).
Now that the legs are in use the 14mm to tighten.
You canopy is now assembled.
The last part is to line everything up square and anchor to the ground, using fence stakes and then using U bolt's to secure the stake to the canopy... or buy using cylinder blocks or sinking into concrete.
Summary:
In summary this will provide you with a temporary carport or garage that you can move, doesn't cost too much, usually doesn't require permits ... and depending on the quality tarp you select will last for 6-10 years before replacing the tarp. (the structures last up to 20 - 40 years). Our fittings are lifetime warranteed.
This makes a perfect place for a back yard restoration.
Seattle Canopies, Custom Canopies, Batting Cages, Pitching Machines, Garage RV Canopies, Equipment shelter, Container Alternative, Sports Cages - NW Canopies will be selling kits and sells all the fittings, tarps and addtitional parts needed to construct your canopy. All you need to do is source the 1 5/8 Galvinized pipe. If you want a quote or have questions let me know... I'd be happy to give a discount to mudders.
Posts are useless without pictures, so I snapped a few of the installation so far.
You can see the 20 x 20 that I replaced with this one.
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