Compare

Opening louvre roof vs fixed canopy

Cost: A fixed canopy costs less per m² than an opening louvre roof - use the price calculator for an indicative figure.
Flexibility: Fixed canopy is always covered; louvre roof adjusts to conditions on demand.
Maintenance: Fixed canopy needs only cleaning and a fixings check; a louvre roof has a motor, drainage channels and pivot points to keep serviced.
Consent complexity: Both depend on the specific structure, but the electrical work for a motorised system is an extra factor to plan for.
Lifespan: Both use aluminium framing and are built to last well beyond their warranty period with basic care - fewer moving parts on a fixed canopy is one reason it needs less attention over time.

Both keep rain off and both are built on 6063-T6 aluminium. The difference is whether you want to control the sun day by day.

Opening Louvres installed by Impact Outdoors

Side by side

	Opening Louvres	Elite Canopies
Roof	Motorised aluminium blades that open to full sun or close flat	Fixed 6 mm polycarbonate sheets, clear or tinted
Light	Adjustable from fully open to fully closed	25–88% light transmission depending on tint
Wind rating	Up to 200 km/h	Up to 160 km/h
Snow loading	Up to 80 cm	Up to 50 cm
Drainage	Concealed drainage in the posts, 3-degree fall	Concealed drainage in the posts, 7-degree pitch
Extras	Integrated LED lighting, rain sensor, remote and automatic control	Custom shapes, black or grey frames
Warranty	10-year structural	10-year structural

Which should you choose?

Opening Louvres

Choose an opening louvre roof for exposed sites, for full sun on some days and a sealed roof on others, or if you want lighting and automation built in.

Elite Canopies

Choose a fixed canopy if you mainly want rain cover with good natural light and a simpler, fixed roof.