A front-door canopy is a relatively small part of a new home, but it sits in a prominent position and is seen every day. With six to build on the same development in Wick, Littlehampton, the challenge was not just getting one right. The setting-out, projection, roof line and hipped detail needed to remain consistent from plot to plot.
Starting with the two wall plates
Each canopy began with two timber wall plates fixed back to the brickwork. These established the main support and the position from which the canopy would cantilever.
Before the trusses went in, we checked the level, projection and hanger positions against the required setting-out. Time spent here mattered: any variation in the plates would be carried into the trusses and become more obvious once the OSB and metal finish were added.
Hanging the canopy trusses
The timber trusses were then installed on hangers fixed to the wall plates. This created the repeated triangular framework while keeping the area beneath each canopy clear of posts.
We worked through the run checking the seating of each truss, its spacing and the roof line as the structure developed. Repeating the same checks on every canopy helped the set look intentional across the development, rather than like six separate one-off details.
Forming the hip as a visible feature
At the exposed end, we formed a hip to bring the roof planes together neatly. It gives the canopy a more considered profile than a simple boxed end, but it also calls for careful cutting and alignment because the lines remain visible in the final shape.
We checked the hip and adjoining rafters before boarding, while every connection and edge was still accessible. That meant the OSB could follow a clean, continuous roof form without having to disguise uneven framing underneath.
Completing the canopy in OSB
Once the framing was complete, we enclosed the canopy in OSB to create the continuous deck and shaped end required for the covering. The board joints, perimeter and junction back to the wall were checked so the next trade received a sound, clearly formed substrate.
Our part of the work finished at this stage. The final grey aluminium covering was designed and installed by others, so we have kept that distinction clear in the photographs and project description.
The Wick canopy build, stage by stage
A small structure that relies on consistent setting-out
This Wick project is a good example of the carpentry that can easily be underestimated on a new-build site. The finished canopy may appear simple, but its appearance depends on accurate wall-plate positions, repeatable truss spacing, clean hip lines and a properly formed deck.
Working through the six plots as one coordinated package allowed us to maintain the same proportions and construction sequence throughout. It also gave the follow-on contractor a consistent base for the aluminium finish.
For developers and main contractors, Sixes Carpentry undertakes practical new-build carpentry, roof carpentry and timber-framing packages across Littlehampton, Wick, West Sussex and the wider South Coast. For homeowners, we can also discuss a one-off entrance canopy where the design and supporting detail have been properly established.
Project note: Wick, Littlehampton, West Sussex. The photographs and video frames show Sixes Carpentry's own timber-framing and OSB work. The final grey aluminium covering was completed by others.