Thinking about building your own patio or carport but not sure what's involved? This guide walks you through the whole process of installing a DIY kit attached to your house, from the paperwork to the final screw.
Please note: this blog is not an installation manual. It's a general overview to give you some insight into installing your own DIY kit. Your kit comes with its own roof plan, engineering and installation manual, and those always take priority for your build.
Before you start: what you'll need
- A helper: beams and long roof panels need at least two people.
- Tools: a grinder, level, hammer, drill and drill bits, a tape measure, string line, ladders or scaffolding, props, and a post hole digger or spade.
- Safety gear: gloves, eye and ear protection, and sturdy footwear.
- Your paperwork: the roof plan, engineering and installation manual that come with your kit.
Step 1: Sort out approvals
Check whether your patio or carport needs approval before you order, and definitely before you build. Rules vary between states and councils, and depend on things like size, height and how close the structure is to your boundary. We supply the engineering, a Form 15 and a plan of your kit, and you arrange the approval through your own private certifier. See our council approval guide for more.
Step 2: Measure and order the right kit
Measure your space carefully, including the height of your fascia or wall and where the posts will go. Choose how the roof will attach to your house: to the fascia, to a wall, or as a flyover raised above your gutter. Our how to measure guide and fascia, wall or flyover guide will help you get it right.
Step 3: Prepare your site and delivery
Clear the area and check for anything underground where you'll dig the footings, such as power, water, gas, sewer or stormwater pipes. Before You Dig Australia is a free service that can help. Kits are delivered by crane truck, so plan where the materials will be dropped off. Our site preparation guide and delivery guide cover what to think about.
When your kit arrives, check it against the kit contents list before you start.
Step 4: Set out the patio
Setting out means marking exactly where everything will go. Using your roof plan, mark the position of the posts and use a string line to make sure everything is straight and square. Measure the diagonals: if both are the same length, your layout is square. Time spent here saves problems later.
Step 5: Fix to the house
How you fix the roof to your house depends on your kit:
- Fascia attached: the roof is fixed to your fascia, using a receiver channel on metal fascia. See our guide on how to attach to metal fascia.
- Wall attached: a back channel is fixed to the timber or masonry wall.
- Flyover: brackets are fixed to your house so the roof sits above your existing gutter line.
Follow the fixing details in your engineering exactly. They're what make the structure safe in high winds.
Step 6: Dig the footings and stand the posts
Dig the post holes to the size and depth shown in your engineering. Stand each post, brace it so it's plumb (perfectly vertical) and at the right height, then pour the concrete. If your posts go into footings, your kit includes 5 bags of concrete for each footing, but your site may need more, which you'll need to buy yourself. The concrete needs to cure for at least 24 hours before you put any weight on the posts.
Step 7: Fit the beam
With a helper, lift the beam onto the posts and fix it in place with the brackets supplied. Check it's level along its length. Then fit the beam end caps.
Step 8: Install the roof
Lay the roof panels or sheets across from the house to the beam, following the layout in your roof plan. A flat (skillion) roof needs a fall of at least 2 degrees, which is 35mm per metre, so rainwater drains away into the gutter. Fix each panel with the screws supplied, making sure each one locks neatly into the one beside it.
Step 9: Flashings, gutter and downpipe
Fit the barge cappings along the sides, the gutter fascia and the box gutter with its stop ends and straps. Then fit the downpipe. Seal the joints with the silicone supplied. Connecting the downpipe to your stormwater may need a licensed plumber.
Step 10: Finishing touches
Do a final check of every fixing. If you'd like lights or fans, insulated roof panels are ideal for downlights, but any electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician. Then it's time to enjoy your new outdoor space.
Want to add walls?
If you plan to close in one or more sides of your patio later, call our office on 1300 156 381 before you order. Adding walls changes the wind loads on the roof, so it needs to be engineered for the finished structure. Read more in our insulated wall panels guide.
Not sure you want to build it yourself?
That's fine too. You can buy a kit and have a local builder, carpenter or handyman put it together for you. See DIY kit vs hiring a builder to compare your options.
Have a question during your build? Our team is happy to help on 1300 156 381.