The Northlander™ Skyview Structural Polycarbonate Roof
A heavy-duty translucent roof system designed to support Canadian snow loads.
A heavy-duty translucent roof system designed to support Canadian snow loads.
All framing is made from strong maintenance-free aluminum. Our proprietary design, the large glazing beams used in Skyview are thoroughly tested… your assurance that your new polycarbonate roof will hold the snow. It’s a sound investment that adds value to your home.
The Northlander™ Skyview polycarbonate patio cover utilizes strong, multi-walled polycarbonate panels. These panels have a range of solar tints that block damaging UV rays while allowing various levels of light transmission onto your deck or into your room enclosure.
Our exclusive 1¼ inch thick Opal Ice sheet provides a low solar heat gain while allowing a pleasing amount of light to enter your patio room. Opal Ice 1¼ inch thick sheets are thicker than our standard 5/8″ thick sheets, and they have many internal walls to trap air thus providing the extra insulation value you want for the roof of your sunroom.
If you are looking for a product that creates the ultimate sunroom atmosphere, turns your patio into an oasis, gives a sense of openness and takes advantage of nature while protecting you from the elements…. then choose The Northlander™ Skyview.
If you are looking for an insulated patio cover please visit our PanelCraft™ Insulated Patio Covers.
Polycarbonate Roofing Has Many Uses.
If you have an existing framework that doesn’t require the strength of our big Skyview structural beams. Then, please visit our Skyview Low Profile Patio Cover.
Product | Structure | Thickness | Light Transmittance | Shading Coefficient | U-Factor W/m2K |
Clear | 3 wall | 16mm (⅝”) | 74% | 0.79 | 2.27 |
Bronze | 3 wall | 16mm (⅝”) | 25% | 0.46 | 2.27 |
Opal Ice | 3 wall | 16mm (⅝”) | 26% | 0.43 | 2.27 |
Opal Ice | 11 wall * | 32mm (1¼”) | 20% | 0.34 | 1.33 |
The shading coefficient is the ratio showing the amount of solar heat transmitted through the glazing. The lower the number, the less heat build-up you will have in your sunroom.
U-Factor (or U-Value) is the heat transfer rate from warm to cold areas in watts per square metre Kelvin (W/m2K). Lower numbers mean better insulation.
Typical insulated glass values:
Multi-wall polycarbonate sheets are known by these manufacturers or trade names: Polygal, Palram, Sunlite®, Lexan®, Makrolon®, Merlon®, Makrolux®, and Marlon, among others. Polycarbonate sheets are used extensively worldwide in greenhouses, roof glazing and daylighting applications.
The importance of polycarbonate’s high strength and impact resistance cannot be understated when considering snow capability, flexibility under load or falling items that can impact the sheet-like hail, sliding snow and ice.
Polycarbonate is also used in high-strength applications such as eyewear, bulletproof glass, headlamp lenses and industrial glazing. In all these applications, Polycarbonate sheets use a protective layer to prevent UV damage and ensure a long-lasting installation without discolouration. Multi-wall acrylic sheets are known by these manufacturers or trade names: Acrylite®, Cyro, Lucite®, Deglas®, and Plexiglas®, among others.
While known for their optical clarity, clear acrylic sheets are not a good choice for sunrooms or other low-slope applications like patio covers. Clear sheets let in too much heat and glare. Debris on a low-slope roof with glazing is less likely to be washed away by rain and is more visible with clear sheets.
Wise consumers will choose an opaque or otherwise tinted roof sheet for their patio covers or sunroom with light and UV filtering characteristics and, especially for sunrooms, a thicker multi-wall sheet with excellent insulation properties. Acrylic sheets are more economical than polycarbonate, more brittle and more flammable.
The video below shows the difference between polycarbonate and acrylic sheets in strength and flexibility. You decide which sheet is better for your next patio cover or sunroom roof project.
* number of walls may vary
![]() | A Proper Structural Design
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![]() | Will It Hold The Snow?
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Please download it from the installation instruction webpage.
See installed jobs on our Youtube Channel.
These are the most common installation guides. If your specific situation is not addressed, please contact us at (800) 668-6430 or [email protected]
Instructions can be updated without notice. Please inquire about the latest version.
Craft-Bilt’s warranty applies to a properly installed product only. Please contact us for warranty details. Labour and installation warranty are provided by the contractor who sells and installs the product. If you purchase products to install yourself (or have installed) then you are solely responsible for labour, installation, and building code issues. DIY’ers should have above-average construction skills and knowledge of building practices and codes. Please carefully read the footnotes on your quote or sales order. Purchases are bound by our Terms and Conditions of Sale.
Q1 – What is a Patio Cover?
A1 – A patio cover is usually a lean-to roof system attached to the back of your house. The roof, columns, and beam need to be designed for your local snow load and your local building code. A patio cover is also referred to as a porch cover, veranda cover, or deck cover. On some homes, you could also attach your patio cover in a gable (a-frame) design.
Northlander™ Skyview Patio Cover, Lean-to Roof Style
PanelCraft™ Insulated Patio Cover, A-Frame Style
Q2 – Are Craft-Bilt Patio Covers economical?
A2 – A cover for your patio is a fairly economical renovation. The most economical method is to use wood and shingles, but it won’t be maintenance-free. The next pricing level is our PanelCraft™ patio cover system which uses insulated aluminum panels. For a little bit more you can have our Northlander™ Skyview patio cover system which uses translucent sheets. These sheets allow pleasing amounts of light without the heat and glare of glass roofs.
If you plan it right, you can build an economical patio cover now, and in the future close it in with our 4 Track Windows, transforming it into a three-season room.
Q3 – What is Craft-Bilt’s Patio Cover’s warranty?
A3 – The aluminum members used in our PanelCraft™ and Northlander™ roof systems have a limited warranty of 20 years. Find more information on our warranty page.
Q4 – What are the best patio cover materials?
A4 – Aluminum of course! You want a patio cover that will stand up to the weather, won’t rot or corrode, and that you will never have to paint or re-shingle.
Q5 – Does a patio cover increase my property value?
A5 – We do not have any research data on this. But imagine yourself as a buyer looking at potential homes. Most of the homes you see will have a back deck, but when you see that patio cover you will start dreaming of all the wonderful times you will have in your new backyard. All things being equal, a house with a patio cover will outsell a house without one.
Q6 – How long does it take to install a Craft-Bilt patio cover?
A6 – Most patio covers installed by a professional will take one or two days. Please visit our installation instructions for more information.
Q7 – Will my patio cover be loud when it rains?
A7 – We have heard this question a few times. Light rain on your patio cover can sound romantic, but a really heavy rain might make conversation difficult. The sound of rain on a maintenance-free roof won’t be much different than a shingled roof, and it should not affect your decision to have a patio cover.
We can’t stop the rain, but we can stop it from landing on your patio 🙂
Q8 – Is a patio cover worth it?
A8 – A patio cover is sure to add value to your home. It extends the use of your deck and the amount of time you can spend on it. It protects your outdoor furniture year-round. It makes your backyard lifestyle better. Oh yeah, it’s worth it 🙂
Q9 – Can you walk on insulated patio covers?
A9 – PanelCraft™ insulated roof panels by Craft-Bilt are incredibly strong, and if installed correctly can easily bear a person’s weight. But this is not advised for a number of reasons: our unique Krystal Kote clear coating which is applied over the paint finish can make them slippery, if the panels are already laden with a large amount of snow, the added weight of a person’s “point load” could be dangerous and you could scratch the finish. Make sure to follow local guidelines for working at heights.
Working on a roof is dangerous, please use a professional.
Q10 – Can I walk on a polycarbonate patio cover?
A10 – Craft-Bilt’s Skyview Structural roof system is very strong. The large aluminum beams are spaced apart a maximum of 24 inches. It can bear the weight of a person but only on the beams. Never stand or apply any type of point load on the glazing.
If the roof is already laden with a large amount of snow, the added weight of a person’s “point load” could be dangerous and you could scratch the finish. Make sure to follow local guidelines for working at heights.
Working on a roof is dangerous, please use a professional.
Q11 – Do patio covers need footings?
A11 – A properly installed patio cover will have concrete pier footings designed to meet the local building code. Many contractors have moved away from concrete piers to steel helical piles.
Concrete Pier or Steel Helical Piles
Q12 – What is a good size covered patio?
A12 – Typical patio covers range from 10 feet x 10 feet to 12 feet x 20 feet. But all of our patio covers are custom made, projections can be as long as 18 feet, and widths can go to 40 feet or more.
Q13 – What tools are required for a patio cover?
A13 – Aside from the typical tools like drills, driver bits, hammer, level, ladder, etc., you will require specialized tools like a miter saw with carbide tipped blade for non-ferrous metal (also referred to as a blade for extruded aluminum), hammer drill, and heavy-duty snips.
You will need to install aluminum flashing where the roof meets the house, so if you do not own an aluminum brake you will have to arrange to get this flashing from a local siding shop.
For more on flashing, refer to our sunroom training course, ROOF CONNECTIONS – LESSON 9.
Your patio cover will need to resist wind and snow loads and meet local building codes, so a DIY project should not be taken lightly. Craft-Bilt deals with contractors across Canada that can supply and install your patio cover.
Q14 – How do I measure for a patio cover?
A14 – Your patio roof should always have an overhang. So if your deck is 12 feet x 12 feet, you would be best served with roof dimensions of 13 feet projection x 13 feet wide.
Typical heights at the front are seven or eight feet but can be as high as 12 feet. The mounting point at the house should allow for a minimum 1:12 pitch. For example, a deck with a ten-foot projection will have a drop of 10 inches (minimum).
Q15 – Why should I use polycarbonate instead of glass?
A15
Glass Roof:
Polycarbonate Roof: