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Cola Canopy® FAQ’s
Each COLA Canopy® is custom made to suit your space, fabricated right here in New Zealand! Let us know how big the space is you would like to cover, and we can send through a ballpark figure. If this sounds like a solution, we will come out and visit your site and put together a formal quote for you.
Shade Systems have completed COLA™ projects over Tennis courts, basketball courts, Bowling Greens, Cricket lanes and much more. We love to stretch ourselves, so get in touch with us and we will help you find a solution.
The central height of a COLA™ structure is dependent on the width. The average height of an 18m wide canopy is 4.5m at the edge. The central height is around 15 – 20% higher than the edges, so the total from the ground to the centre of the canopy would be approx 7.5m. All of our canopies are Bespoke, therefore we can supply a structure with taller legs if specified.
Grass does not grow underneath a COLA canopy® due to several factors. The tensile membrane fabric blocks 100% of UV rays, protecting people from the harmful rays of the sun but also preventing grass from growing. Shade Systems COLA™ canopies are also 100% waterproof which means that the grass will not receive any water in order to grow.
We offer the full package, Including all your design, consent, engineering, structural fabrication and galvanising, painting of framework, cover/tensile membrane, foundations (providing standard ground conditions) and full installation.
Each structure is engineered by a certified tensile membrane engineer to suit the location, wind zones, lee zones and snow zones. We can produce a PS1 from the engineer with all the calculations showing this once this has been completed.
We offer add-on’s such as lighting and sound systems meaning that these canopies can be used for events such as assemblies, and also after school sports practices extending into the evening. We also offer padded pole wraps to ensure student safety when playing sports.
Our COLA™ canopies have a high light transmission fabric roof which allows for great learning spaces during the day as opposed to a tin roof. This tensile membrane fabric is MOE approved and provides low maintenance with warranties of up to 25 years. The COLA Canopy® is a large clear span structure which means that it can cover single or multiple courts without having any poles inside the playing area. These canopies are beneficial for al seasons, sheltering students and the community from the rain in winter, and the sun in summer.
Right here in NZ! We have two dynamic factories in Northland, one manufacturing 100% of the fabric covers and the other producing a good proportion of the steel framework, with the balance being outsourced through dedicated engineering workshops in the Auckland and Waikato areas.
Our lead time on COLA® Canopies is around 6 to 9 months.
It’s really up to you! We recommend installing the canopy first to keep your turf in top shape and avoid any unnecessary wear. But don’t worry, if your turf is already in place, we can still work around it to install your canopy with care.
Absolutely! We can install a canopy over your existing turf. To protect your new turf, we take extra precautions like laying down ground protection mats and carefully planning the installation process to avoid any damage. Your turf will stay in perfect condition while we get your new canopy up and ready!
Yes, your structure will need regular maintenance and upkeep so you can enjoy peace of mind knowing it will continually perform optimally and look its best for years to come.
Our Aftercare team is always ready to address any maintenance needs, keeping your outdoor space functional and attractive.
www.shadesystems.co.nz/aftercare
We recommend your structure is professionally cleaned according to the guide below.
Our COLA Canopy® structures are engineered to a 5-year design life.
Yes it can! If your canopy suffers damage or shows signs of wear, it’s important to address it quickly to prevent further issues. Whether it’s from storms, vandalism, or just general wear and tear, our team is here to help. Most repairs can be done right on-site, but for more extensive damage, we may need to bring it to our workshop. For non-urgent repairs, we can schedule them alongside your regular cleaning program, or our on-call technicians can handle any urgent repairs promptly.
We currently only supply white fabric for our canopies.
Most of our workmanship is done in-house by our dedicated Shade Systems team. We do subcontract a small portion of the work, such as partnering with a few trusted teams who assist our installers with canopy installation. For specialized tasks like plumbing, drainage, and electrical work, we rely on qualified technicians. Additionally, a small part of our steel fabrication is outsourced to engineering workshops in Auckland and the Waikato areas. However, we aim to keep as much of the work in-house as possible to maintain our high standards of quality and service.
Yes! The cover is fabricated in-house in our custom-built factory here in New Zealand. All steel is rolled, galvanised and painted within New Zealand.
Not at all. We can arrange installations at any time that suits your schedule. While some sites might be safer to work on when children aren’t around, we generally find ways to work around these considerations and minimize disruption. Just let us know your needs, and we’ll do our best to accommodate them!
Check out our Projects page for completed projects.
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