PORTICOS
Our porticos are all individually designed to enhance the main entrance of every home. Whatever the size, shape or dimension of the entrance we can manufacture a bespoke stone portico to give it an outstanding appeal.

A portico can be installed as the building is built with careful and timely liaison with the Architect and builder, or it can be self supporting and added at a later date. Portico canopies are usually divided into two categories : Solid and Hollow.

SOLID CANOPIES
The solid canopies are manufactured with a core of steel reinforced concrete faced up with an outer layer at least 50-60mm thick of reconstituted stone mix. Generally these are made off site and delivered by crane, in one section, into position onto the pre-erected columns.

The solid canopies can also be cast in-situ. In this case an outer ‘L’ shaped ring beam is erected and supported on the columns and tied into the building. The centre is then shuttered up and reinforced concrete poured in from above.

We would recommend using a solid canopy when the canopy is being used as a weight bearing balcony with French windows opening onto it.

These canopies use the ‘L’ shaped ring beam supported by the columns and tied into the building, but the centre area is boarded out with timber and plaster board. These hollow centres are commonly used when down-lights are needed and there is no weight bearing required.

DRAINAGE
Careful consideration needs to be given to the drainage of the canopy/balcony. With careful planning we can often hide this within the structure and avoid unsightly down-pipes.

FOOTINGS
It is important that adequate footings are installed to support the new portico. Ideally these are an integral extension of the main house footings, but we can install suitably sized and reinforced concrete supportive slabs where the portico is an addition to an existing home.