I planning to cover part of my porch.... any recommendations what would be a cost effective way to do it?

So far I've looked at
1. ajiya awning... RM 8 psf. Cons: Ugly, and noisy when it rains
2. Polycarbonate skylight: RM 12 psf using mild steel frame. Cons:Steel frame needs to be painted every couple
of years

Any other options?

Any one has reliable contractors to recommend?

Appreciate any advice. Thanks

This post has been edited by gilabola: May 31 2009, 01:17 PM

Do you have babies sleeping in the house? Polycarbonate can be quite noisy when it rains. Additionally, the silicone glue to hold them together runs dry after 2 - 3 years rain and shine. You may want to consider this.

This was the advise my ID gave me when I wanted to polycarbonate my new house. Just moved in 2 months.

Wood. Looks great

I m using polycarbonate for over 10yrs. No problem beside the frame start to rust. Noisy when raining. But don't see much different with the ajiya awning. The good thing is, inside my home is still bright. Save me from lightning.

This post has been edited by ozak: Jun 1 2009, 10:25 PM

hmm..what did the ID recommend as an alternative?

Becareful what you do in your house, google earth is watching.

Suggest u use the solid type rather the hollow type. Most company offer the hollow type as it is much cheaper.

FYI, Polycarbonate is not noisy. I have it install in my house.

Wood but in the end, we didnt go with that idea. ID is a relative but not impressive enough. So we end up cement and roof tile the entire place.

I prefer having cement and roof tile around my windows with 'stabilisers' (don't know the correct term for it) to 'hold up' the roof for windows etc.

think it looks very resort-like . is it cheaper than polycarbonate awnings?

Actually Polycarbonate is not as noise as you think, because if they doing in the correct way, and by using a solid type, actually the polycarbonate is very "solid" and not much sound will be out.

The only problem that i consider is, polycarbonate will look dirty after sometime, that may not look so nice, but actually u can clean it when u feel that is dirty.

Another altenative suggestion will be, concrete base with roof tiles, that is totally solid. And there is another way which very modern and costly is, Tempered glass, which the lighting much batter then policarbonate, more easy to clean compare to policarbonate, but is just the cost really high compare to other.

If still back to policarbonate, there is still another way to do it, which is using solid wood to build pergola which more tropika feel, now a day, some ppl using metal to do it as well.

Is there an option to use polycarbonate awning with wrought iron or stainless steel as the frame?

Yes, it is, but the cost will higher compare to metal, diff may around 30% and above

Well, with using wrought iron and stainless steel as the frame will reduce the cost of maintenance and also will not rust and therefore wont tarnish the outlook of the awning.

i think rusting is not so much of problem coz it is coated with paint so just need to make sure we touch up before it get rusted.

the bigger problem is to clean. Tim is right, it will look dirty after sometime. so how to clean it?

Hi All,

any idea how much for this kind of wood skylight design?? how to calculate .psf?? thanks a lot

I did one, this is call pergola, but this 1 with polycarbonet finish





This post has been edited by Eleganz Concept: Nov 8 2010, 09:47 PM

what's the price range...pm me can...tqvm

Dun think that it is suitable for Malaysian weather as it's always raining and leaves, bird droppings and what not will get stuck there if it's not cleaned often.

Malaysian style - usually dun even bother to clean up on this.

I think the price varies depending on the type of wood. Merbau might be cheaper and cengal is more expensive. I think the prices can be as low as RM18-20 psf. For mild steel can be as low as RM12 psf. Do shop around, compare prices and negotiate hard.

This post has been edited by gilabola: Nov 8 2010, 11:19 PM

so for mild steel only rm12 per sq feet?i was quote rm20 per sq feet. damn, expensive.. for pergola how much including polycarbonate?