Integrated roof solutions for canopies

Recessed roofs and skylights offer opportunities for shading and canopy specialists

For roofing and shading specialists who want to offer more than a standard terrace roof, recessed roofs and skylights are a distinctive solution. Ittalum develops these roofs as an integrated system for both renovation and new construction and takes care of the drawing and engineering work. “These solutions are still relatively little applied,” says director Mike de Groot. “And this while in practice they actually offer a lot of design freedom and functional advantages.”

The origin of these solutions lies in skylights for flat roofs, a segment in which Ittalum developed systems early on that could also be opened. That principle, combining light with ventilation, proves to be particularly relevant in the case of canopies and verandas. “In many existing houses a veranda is later added, often with a relatively closed roof. Then a skylight is installed, but it remains closed and causes insect nuisance. With a sliding roof, you actually open up the space.”

The important principle here is to approach the canopy as an outdoor space. The systems are not intended for insulated residential extensions, but for structures that are integrated into the roof surface and visually connect to the house. This makes them applicable in renovation projects, where an opening is made in existing tiled roofs, but also in new construction situations where the roof is included in the design from the beginning.

Aesthetic part of the overall design

According to De Groot, the market is visibly professionalizing. “Architects are increasingly involved in canopies and expect the roof and walls to be aesthetically part of the overall design. We therefore regularly sit down with architect and client to get the detailing right.” That approach results in projects where the roof is not an addition, but an integral part of the home.

For processors this means that the project must be well worked out at the front end. In this, Ittalum takes on a large part of the preparation, from dimensioning to technical drawings. “We do not supply a loose product, but a solution. The implementation is done through our dealer network, of specialized canopy and awning companies, who are constructionally skilled and realize the system in practice.” 

The roofs are usually equipped with sliding glass panels and can be combined with any type of blinds. This creates a flexible climate control system: utilizing solar radiation when it is cool and opening or blocking it when the temperature rises. “That interplay of light, ventilation and shading makes these roofs functionally interesting,” De Groot said.

Integration is also emphasized in finishing. Profiles are first cut and milled and only then powder coated. With a choice of textured, gloss or matte and in any color, the system can be matched to existing roof surfaces and facades. In this way, recessed roofs and skylights not only match the architecture of the house technically, but also visually.