Welcome to my DIY veranda build guide. In this step by step guide I’m going to show you how to build a very solid veranda that is attached to the house. It’s essentially a lean to structure that provides a canopy, or covered area that can be enjoyed whatever the weather. For this veranda roof, I’ve used 5mm solid polycarbonate sheets which are very much like glass, but claim to be 20 times stronger. They are a great alternative to other roofing materials which I will explain in more detail further on in this article.

Why build a veranda?

A veranda is a great way of extending your living space, creating a fluid transition from the interior to the exterior, and vice versa. It can provide a sheltered area in your garden that you can utilise all year round. By adding a suitable roof you will be protected from rain, snow and even direct sunlight with the addition of blinds or a shade sail.

Here’s a before and after slider so you can see the transformation.

Can you build your own veranda?

This is the ultimate question and probably why you are here. The simple answer is yes, and I’m going to show you how to do it in this step-by-step guide. A DIY veranda isn’t a complicated build and can be a very rewarding project. You’ll need a few simple tools and most importantly, the desire to build this yourself. If you like a challenge then this is a great job to get stuck into.

Now on to the important bit.

How to build a veranda – The step by step guide

Step 1. Planning the size of your Veranda

This is a very important step of the build. It’s going to determine the overall footprint of your covered outdoor area. I used a 3D rendering tool (SketchUp free) to help with this part of the project. It gave us an idea of what the veranda would look like and also helped us understand how the sun would cast shadows during the day.

You can skip the 3D rendering and instead mark out the area with string or pieces of wood to get a feel for the size of the veranda. Think about how high the veranda will be, how wide and how far it will protrude from the house. Building materials may affect your decision here as they will only be available in certain sizes. Construction timber tends to come in 1.8m, 2.4m, 3.6m, 4.2m and 4.8m lengths so it can be sensible to stick to one of these. (But you don’t have to)

My veranda is 4m wide and 3.6m deep. The height at the house is roughly 2.5m and 2.1m at the front of the veranda (at the point where the support posts are). There is a 36cm drop from the rear to the front which works out to be about a 7 degree angle.

How to calculate your veranda roof pitch

To ensure sufficient run-off your veranda roof needs a 5 degree angle or above. To calculate this I used a triangle calculator like this one. https://www.omnicalculator.com/math/right-triangle-side-angle

This is an important tool. Not only will it give you the pitch angle (Angle α) of your roof but it will also show the length of the rafter (c). To calculate your pitch simply input the lengths (a) and (b) for your veranda and the rest will be calculated for you.

Veranda width & depth

The width of your veranda is up to you but remember it can’t be wider than your house. The depth of the veranda again will be up to you. Just be careful it’s not too short as you won’t be able to fit much underneath and protection from the rain will be minimal. Go too far and your materials will be expensive and difficult to support. The ultimate depth is going to be between 2.4m and 3.6m.

I’d recommend sketching out your design on a piece of paper before you get started and make a note of all the materials you’re going to require. I’ll list what I have used below as a guideline.

Step 2. Buying materials for your veranda

Once you have your plan sketched out it’s time to find your materials and get them ordered. It’s best to use C24 construction timber for the frame as this is the strongest wood for the job. Avoid C16 construction timber for this project, it won’t provide the required strength you’ll need. (Unless more supports are added)

Here is a list of materials I used for the wooden frame and some useful links to where I purchased them. Most were purchased from Travis Perkins as their prices are very competitive and they offer free delivery.

Veranda wooden frame materials

Material	Quantity	Cost £ each (Mar 2022)
C24 Treated Timber 47mm x 100mm x 4.8m	1	£23.17
C24 Treated Timber 47mm x 150mm x 3.6m	5	£25.98
C24 Treated Timber 47mm x 150mm x 4.8m	1	£34.63
Sawn Treated Timber Softwood Carcassing 25mm x 50mm x 4.8m	4	£5.47
Fence Posts 100 x 100mm x 2.4m	2	£19.20
Bolt Grip Post Support Bolt Down 100mm	2	£12.50
Bolt & Nut M10 x 110mm Din Cup Zinc Plated (20pk)	1	£7.91
Coach Screw M8 x 50mm Zinc Plated (5pk)	2	£2.96
Coach Screw M8 x 100mm Zinc Plated (25pk)	1	£21.30
Zinc plated screws 40mm x 5mm (20pk)	1	£2.78
Brown Rawlplugs 30mm x 7mm (48pk)	1	£1.73
TOTAL		£605.66

Here is a list of materials I used for the roof.

Veranda roof materials

Material	Quantity	Cost £ each (Mar 2022)
Solid polycarbonate sheets 5mm (4000x1000mm)	4	£270
ALUKAP-XR 45mm Aluminium Bar with End Cap in White – 3.6m	3	£85
ALUKAP-XR 60mm Gable Bar White – 3.6m	2	£130
Evo-stik Flashband Self Adhesive Flashing Tape Grey 100mm x 10m	1	£16
Sponge Cord Black Foam Rubber Gasket – 4mm x 15m	1	£25
TOTAL		£1636

Finishing materials

To finish the veranda and protect the wood we used a Ronseal decking stain. This costs about £26.

Total cost of this veranda – £2,267.66

That is a fair chunk of money for a veranda but I did shop around to find the cheapest materials. If you are looking to build a veranda on a budget then take a look at my other post where I built a veranda for under £500. (back in 2018)

Step 3. Locating and installing bolt down post supports

I started by marking out where the footing support posts (also known as a post shoe) were going to be located. As I have decking I first removed a couple of boards so that my post supports could be anchored to the patio slabs underneath. (I could have mounted these on top of the decking but it looks much neater when underneath.)

The post support (100mm) was secured to the patio slab underneath by drilling into the slab, inserting a brown Rawlplug (7mm) and screwing with a 40x5mm screw. I used a masonry drill bit (7mm) to drill into the slab.

I then replaced the decking. An extra piece of wood was required to support the decking wood on one side as seen in the image below on the left.

I wanted to leave enough space on my decking to walk around the end of the posts. (My decking is also 360cm long and I’m installing a dividing wall.) Therefore I wanted the two support posts to be located 80cm in from the front edge.

Step 4. Cutting the support posts to length

The support posts now need to be cut the correct length. This can be done with a hand saw. I have also cut a section so that the support beam can sit nicely onto the post. As seen in this image

Step 5. Fixing the house support beam

Using a long spirit level I drew a line on the house wall to indicate the height of the support beam. I then cut the beam (47x100mm) down to 4.2m and drilled 9 equally spaced holes along the timber. I used an 8mm drill bit for this.

The holes were then marked on the wall where I drilled and added Rawl plugs. The support beam was secured to the wall using 100mm coach screws.

Step 6. Cutting and securing the front support beam

I cut the front support beam (47x150mm) to 4.2m and created an angled cut at each end. (for decorative purposes.) The cut was 20x10cm.

I marked out the line with a pencil and cut with a hand saw.

I then lifted the piece into place, check the posts where straight by holding up a spirit level, then marked and drilled two holes in which I would insert the 110mm bolts.

I was very careful to ensure the posts met at an accurate right angle. This can be done by using a roofers square and checking the posts with a spirit level. Try strapping the spirit level to the side of the posts to make things easier.

Finally I cut a piece of wood (random off cut) at 45 degree angles to secure and strengthen the front support posts for the veranda. These were simply screwed in at a 20 degree angle. Drill pilot holes first.

The wood was a slightly different colour but this wasn’t an issue once stained.

Step 7. Cutting the rafters

Be careful here. Timber lengths are rarely the exact length specified. With these 3.6m lengths there are discrepancies by up to 3cm. My first job was to cut all the pieces to the same length, exactly 3600mm.

I then cut out the same 20x10cm angle (as in step 6.) at one end. I used a hand saw but you can also use a circular saw.

After each cut I sanded the corners for a smooth finish.

Now, the timber end that touches the house needs a small cut at an angle. I used this piece from my table saw to draw the angle but you can also use a protractor.

For this we want to use angle β from our triangle calculator. Which is 82.65 degrees. This doesn’t have to be an exact science. Just as close as possible.

I then wanted to notch into this so that the rafter would sit over the support beam on the house. I measured 4cm up and 4.7cm in (the size of the support beam). These were cut out using a hand saw.

I then measured the 281.3cm along the rafter (minus the bits I’d cut off) to locate the front support beam notch location. It’s actually better to mark these before you cut anything.

I then created some pocket holes so that I could secure the rafter to the support beams with screws. I used a Kreg Jig to make the pocket holes.

I then fixed the rafter in place at the very centre point on the two support beams. You will need to ensure the rafter is perfectly square so that the roofing sheets fit flush down each rafter.

You can then repeat the process for the remaining four rafters. The rafters will need to be placed accurately to ensure the roofing sheets fit perfectly. When fitting the roofing sheets you will need to leave a 12mm gap for screws to be inserted. Clearamber have some very useful resources on their website here.

You will notice the AluKap Gable Bar says to deduct 42mm. As I have used 47mm rafters this would only leave a 5mm edge to support the roofing sheet which felt too small. Instead I decided to deduct less than this (30mm) and drill into the roofing sheet to secure with screws. You a use a metal drill bit to drill into solid polycarbonate sheets.

So the spacing between each rafter needs to be 962mm. It’s a good idea to cut a piece of timber to 962mm and use this as a measure for each space. I used a piece of 25x50mm timber for this.

You should then have something that looks like this.

Step 8. Adding roof sheet supports

The polycarbonate sheets can be quite flexible, therefore they need support in between the rafters. I cut 16 lengths of 25x50mm timber at 962mm. Created some pocket holes and installed them between the rafters at equal intervals.

Step 9. Securing the roof sheets

You’ll need to cut the rafter gaskets to length as they are delivered in one long roll. The rafter gasket is a 45mm wide rubber strip that sits on top of the rafter. This creates a water tight soft seal between the wooden rafter and the polycarbonate glass sheet. There are two more smaller rubber gaskets that clip onto the aluminium bars that sit on top of the poly sheets. These should be installed now.

With everything ready, two people will be required to lift the polycarbonate panels into place. Once the first piece was up I slid the rubber gaskets underneath each side and lined them up nicely on top of the rafter. Then the aluminium bar sits on top of the sheet and is secured in place with the provided screws.

To ensure the gable end pieces sat level I had to cut some slim pieces of 5mm polycarbonate from the off-cuts. (Because I ordered cut to size 3.6m sheets from the 4m sheets.) If you don’t have any off-cuts then you will need to source some 5mm wood or cut your own pieces. Here is an example:

The 3 middle bars were a little easier.

I made sure the front of the aluminium bars sat flush with the front of the rafter. There was a small gap by the house but only a few millimetres. These were going to be covered by flashing tape anyway.

The end caps should be added before the top aluminium bars are secured in place. These will need to be screwed into the lower bar. I drilled a small 3mm hole in the correct location and fixed with the provided screw.

The protective top aluminium bar simply clips on top. I used a rubber mallet to gently tap the bar on securely all the way along each piece. I needed a ladder to reach all the pieces one by one.

I left the protective plastic layer on whiles working with the sheets to prevent any scratching but I still had to be very careful. Here are some progress pictures:

Step 10. Sealing the gap between the house and the roofing sheets

To ensure a water tight seal between the house wall and veranda roofing sheets I used a flashing tape. This simply pushes onto the wall and the roofing and is semi flexible so it can be push over the aluminium bars. It then forms a water tight barrier so that no water can run down the wall behind the veranda.

Step 11. A dividing wall

This part is completely optional. We wanted to provide a bit of a snug area, some protection from the elements and a bit of privacy on our decking and veranda area. To build this wall I used 25x50mm pieces of timber. I fixed one up the side of the house and one up the support post. I then made two small 10mm spacers out of wood and slowly added pieces of timber to create this wall. The ensure a nice even spacing all the way along the wood I added a middle support. It’s a nice finishing touch for the outdoor living space.

Step 12. Protecting the timber and finishing the veranda

The final part of the project was to ensure the timber would last with a couple of coats of protective wood stain. We actually used a decking stain for this as we had some left over. We used a Ronseal Country Oak decking stain.

Finally we added our furniture, some plants and a couple of swinging chairs to make the space feel like home.

Thanks for reading this article. I hope it’s provided some useful guidance for your own project. If you are thinking of doing this yourself but have some questions, please feel free to leave a comment below (with your details) and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. Likewise feel free to leave a comment on what you think of this project.

How to build a DIY garden sofa and coffee table

Check out the latest addition to this veranda. A beautiful sofa and table set made from solid Iroko wood.

Do you need planning permission for a veranda in the UK?

Some verandas may require planning permission but the majority will not. Simply stick within these rules and you’re good to go:

• The raised platform must not exceed 300mm in height. (If you are building a decking area or raised platform this must not be higher than 30cm)
• No extension in front of the main elevation or side elevation fronting  a public highway. (The veranda must be on the back of your house. Don’t build on the side or front.)
• The maximum height within 2000mm of a boundary shall not be greater than 3000mm. Or. The maximum height must not exceed 4000mm. (Keep it under 3m to be safe)
• The maximum depth for a single storey building must not exceed 3000mm for an attached building and 4000mm for a detached building. (How far can the veranda protrude from the house.)
• The total area of ground covered by the veranda must not exceed 50% of the land around the original house.
• Must not be wider than the existing building. (You can’t build the veranda past the side walls on the back of your house.)

How to build a veranda on a budget

If you don’t have the money to invest in this project please take a look at my other veranda which I built for a fraction of the cost. You can save money on this project by opting for a cheaper roofing sheet material like corrugated polycarbonate sheets and the simple fixings that secure them.

Common veranda questions

Here are some common questions about verandas. I hope you find what you are looking for. If not, please feel free to reach out to me. I can’t promise I will know the answer but there’s no harm in asking. (See comments section below.)

Does a veranda add value to a house?

It most certainly does. You are essentially creating another living space in your home, an area that can be used for many purposes. Yes the veranda is going to cost money to build but this will easily be added to the value of the property. When you come to sell this will be an added feature and benefit for any potential buyer.

It is well known that by adding additional living space you can increase the value of your home by between 5 – 15%. Just make sure you maintain it properly, keep it looking clean and free from rot!

What height should a veranda be?

Generally speaking the veranda should be at least 2.1m to allow for suitable head clearance. This can be different at the house side which is mostly higher to give a suitable pitch. Ours is 2.5m and 2.1m. You can however go higher if you wish, as long as you stay within the 3m (or 4m) restriction of planning.

What wood do you use for a veranda?

Most verandas are constructed from a C24 construction timber. These are available in different thicknesses so make sure you get the correct thickness for your design. It’s the span between support points that you need to worry about. Take a look at this table for some further information on span widths and timber.

Size of Rafter	Slope of roof <22 degrees
Breadth x depth (mm)	Maximum span
47 x 100	2.08
47 x 125	2.74
47 x 150	3.4
47 x 195	4.59

What tools do I need to build a veranda?

Here is a list of the tools I used on this project. You may not need them all but it does make the job easier.

• Mitre saw
• Hand saw (9tpi)
• Kreg Jig and clamp
• Circular saw
• Drill driver and impact driver set
• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Hammer
• Chisel
• Rubber mallet
• Rafter square
• F clamps or quick clamp
• Protractor or angle rule

Can I build a glass veranda?

Yes, you can build a similar structure but simply swap the polycarbonate sheets for glass. 10mm toughened glass would be required, which doesn’t cost much more that polycarbonate but you will need specialist equipment to lift these into place.

Check the weight of the glass beforehand to ensure the structure is suitable to support the additional weight. Additional supports might be required.

How to maintain your veranda

It’s important to maintain your veranda to ensure it stays looking good and most importantly remains safe.

Wood care

Wood is a natural material and will rot if not cared for and treated annually. You should treat the wood with a suitable outdoor wood stain, paint or oil. You can find loads of suitable products at your local hardware store. Check regularly for rot or build-up of water in certain areas.

Cleaning the glass veranda

The roof will need to be cleaned regularly to ensure mould and moss don’t build up. I’ve found that it can be quite tricky reaching onto the veranda so I invested in a long cleaning pole.

I’ve also recently decided that a window cleaning robot would be a nice idea. I’m looking to get one of these in the future.

How much does a veranda cost?

This is a good question and not easy to give a straight answer. My veranda cost roughly £2260. This cost was determined by the size and roofing type I used for the project. You can build a veranda for under £500 but this will be smaller and use corrugated polycarbonate sheets for the roofing.

The cheapest roofing material you can buy that is suitable for a veranda is the corrugated polycarbonate sheets. I would advise buying the thicker type (1.3mm) as it will last longer and won’t make as much noise in heavy rain. It’s difficult finding these in your local hardware stores so try online instead. I purchased mine here on eBay. Pricing for a 2.4m (8ft) sheet will be about £26.

My 3.6m (12ft) clear solid polycarbonate sheets at 5mm cost about £270 per sheet. In comparison the corrugated sheets of a similar size will cost you £39 per sheet. Thats a big difference.

How to make your veranda even more amazing

A basic veranda will create an amazing outdoor living space but there are more options to really transform this space. Depending on your imagination you could consider one of the following:

• Add an outdoor heater or two. Keep warm whatever the weather with an electric or gas heater.
• An open fire pit. These are great features that can help you keep warm, provide an open grill for cooking or simply roast ing some marshmallows.
• Build a pizza oven. A pizza oven is a nice addition for those who love to cook outdoors.
• An outdoor kitchen. You could go as far as adding an outdoor kitchen to your veranda for the full blown outdoor cooking experience.
• Swinging benches and chairs. Relax and unwind with a swing seat or bench.
• Blinds. Protect yourself from the sun with manual or automatic blinds. We added a simple shade sail as a cheaper alternative.
• Festoon lighting. This kind of lighting can really make your veranda pop and provide suitable light for later evening enjoyment.
• A log burning stove. Keep warm with a log burning stove and flue system.
• Hanging plant baskets. Brighten up the place with plants, flowers and foliage.

Find a veranda kit

If you don’t have the desire to build this veranda from scratch then you can buy kits online. All the materials come pre-cut so all you have to worry about is the construction. Here a a couple of options for a pergola style canopy.