Leicester Animal Aid, Dover Case Study
- Product:
- Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy
Case Study
Product: The Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy
Size: 9m x 4m
Upgrades: HeatGuard™ Polycarbonate Roof Panels
Canopy Frame Colour: Hipca White
Installation Date: August 2020
The Brief
Leicester Animal Aid is a rescue and rehoming centre who care for around 400 dogs and cats every year who are lost, abandoned, neglected unwanted or relinquished because their owners can no longer care for them.
Their dog kennels feature hatches to provide the dogs with free-flow access to the outdoors, but because the kennels are south facing, they receive direct heat all day from the sun. They were therefore looking to invest in a canopy to provide shade and shelter to the dogs when enjoying time outside.
The Solution
Due to the pandemic, we were able to carry out a virtual survey, so the Fundraising Manager from Leicester Animal Aid sent us some photos of the area they’d like a canopy and answered a couple of questions. Because they were looking to cover the outside area of two kennels, we supplied an estimate for two Coniston Wall Mounted Canopies which were 4m x 4m and 5m x 4m.
They were happy with the estimates and therefore requested a full site survey so we could provide them with a firm quotation. During the survey, our Area Sales Manager suggested they go for just one canopy that covers both kennels, with a total length of 9 metres which would go over the wall that divides the kennels. The canopy would therefore provide continuous cover from the weather and would require less posts, making the quotation more cost effective.
So that the staff could see the quality of our canopies and the heat difference that even the standard roof panels provide, we arranged for the Staff to visit a local school where we had installed a Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy in November 2019; Oak Wood School in Nuneaton. The school’s Site Manager Chris Gidlow kindly welcomed the staff from Leicester Animal Aid, and only had good things to say about the Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy.
They visited the school on a sunny day and Chris took them to the Coniston which featured the standard 35mm structured polycarbonate roof panels, and then to an older canopy with 10mm solid polycarbonate roof panels that was supplied and installed by another company. The temperature under the 10mm polycarbonate wasn’t much different from the open air however, the temperature under the Coniston with the standard 35mm structured polycarbonate panels was much cooler.
Satisfied with the quotation supplied and the canopy they’d seen at Oak Wood School, they placed and order for a 9m x 4m Coniston Wall Mounted Canopy with HeatGuard™ polycarbonate roof panels.
HeatGuard™ panels are manufactured from a specially developed pigment which allows light to enter through the roof at the same time as deflecting solar radiation. Tests have shown that these panels can reduce solar heat transmission by over 50%, making them perfect for this type of installation. We have used these before at Pets World in Kent, so this was the perfect solution for Leicester Animal Aid and they were keen to take us up on it.
The Installation
We supplied the canopy in August 2020 and installed it within just one day as scheduled. Because the installation area already had a concrete base, we were able to base fix the posts, causing minimal disruption to the surface and enabling the dogs to use the kennels straight after our installation team had cleaned the area and left.
We also supplied canopy post protection pads for the posts, so if the dogs were to bump into the posts, they shouldn’t hurt themselves. Our post protection pads feature a reinforced PVC outer layer, which is means they can be easily wiped clean if the dogs choose to scent mark them.
Our Area Sales Manager contacted Leicester Animal Aid a couple of weeks after the installation as a courtesy, and they confirmed they were very happy with the canopy.
“We needed a shelter to give our dogs much-needed shade in the summer and some extra shelter in the winter. We want to give our animals the best we can and Able Canopies have not let us down.
The installation team were professional, on time and have provided a very high-end finish. Our dogs are already benefiting from being able to access their outside space in all weathers.
The customer service from Able Canopies from start to finish was professional and painless. We would recommend them to other animal charities and anyone seeking to improve their outdoor space.”
– Helen Wilber, Fundraising Manager – Leicester Animal Aid
“They (Able Canopies) were brilliant, kept to themselves, and cleaned up all their mess themselves, we didn’t have to do anything really other than let them in the gates! The shelter is looking fab, and some of the dogs have already seen the benefit with the recent rain we’ve had.”
– Alex Stevenson, Kennel and Cattery Manager – Leicester Animal Aid
If you would like to find out more about our products and how we can help you with your outdoor shade and shelter project, email us: sales@ablecanopies.co.uk or call us on: 0800 389 9072
