Awnings are a great way to spend more time outside and enjoy the sunny weather. They provide shade from the sun and can help to reduce UV exposure as well as keep you cool on a sunny day. A good patio awning also increases your outdoor usable space, giving you more room to spend outside with family and friends, or just relaxing outside.
In this post, we explore some of the most common awning types for home as well as the different types of materials out there to choose from, and what you might consider when installing an awning at yoru home.
Of course, for an expert opinion and free quote, contact Premium Living Victoria today.
What are the different types of awning materials available to me?
One of the first things to consider before deciding on the perfect awning for your home is which type of material and fabric is right for you. Traditionally, for the awning frame, materials include metal, wood, or a polycarbonate material; for the actual awning canopy, materials include canvas, cotton, polyester, or hybrid technologies.
Things to think about when deciding for yourself are how well they resist the elements, how well they block UV rays, how easy they are to clean, and how breathable they are (do they let air flow in and out). Lastly, you’ll have to consider what your budget is as some materials are more advanced.
Each one of these materials offer different levels of pros and cons, as well look at now.
Home Awning Materials
Cotton
Cotton is a popular choice for an awning fabric as it’s one of the most cost-effective choices. It’s easy to clean, flexible and is breathable. If it gets dirty, you can simply take it off and throw it in the washing machine. However, they don’t offer the same kind of UV protection as some other options.
Polyester
Polyester is affordable, breathable and easy to clean, usually requiring a wipe-down on occasion to bring back some of its original vibrance. Polyester also offers a fair deal of breathability while still blocking out some harmful UV rays.
Canvas
Canvas awnings are another popular choice with a good price point and solid durability. However, they can tend to accumulate debris from nature which can cause the canvas awning to sag or become unstable, perhaps offering less of the breathability you’d get from cotton.
Hybrid/Advanced
Other awning materials blend natural performance with advanced protection like the Sunbrella awning which provides unparalleled performance and protection from the elements while still being affordable.
Stationary and fixed awning materials
Stationary or permanent awnings for your deck or patio are made from, in most cases metal, or a durable polycarbonate material.
Metal
Metal is one of the stronger materials available and requires professional installation as they are a lot heavier than something like a polycarbonate awning. Something else to consider about metal awnings is that they can easily absorb and transfer heat which can add to the temperature you’re already experiencing outside.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a lightweight and durable material (usually a lifespan 10-15 years) and is great for blocking out UV rays. These panels can be clear, semi-translucent or opaque, and be constructed in a variety of striking configuration like arches, slightly curved shape, or “eyebrow”.
Retractable Awnings
Retractable awnings are one of the most popular type of awning as it offers the most flexibility and convenience: extend the awning when you want to be outside but be protected from the sun or rain; retract it when you don’t need it or are experiencing inclement weather to avoid possible damage.
These awnings are easily controlled either manually, via a motorized function or via a remote control. Some of the higher end models even include a feature that auto-detects inclement weather and can self-retract. Pretty cool!
There are also variations of the type of retractable awnings you can get including sloped, concave, and waterfall.
Compared to a fixed awning, the frames tend to hold up a little worse due to the moving nature of the retractable awning, so there’s a bit of a trade-off for the convenience. There is also an upfront cost involved with a retractable awning which is often higher than installing a simple fixed awning.
Fixed Awnings
The counterpart to retractable awnings, fixed awnings are, as the name suggests, fixed or stationary. So it’s very important that you know exactly where you want to put the awning as it’ll be tricky or undesirable to move later on.
Fixed awnings are a great way to provide permanent shade to a section of the home or patio but it should be obvious that these types of awnings will need to withstand whatever nature can throw at it. That said, you’ll want to hire a professional for the installation.
The design and canopy types for these kinds of awnings can vary wildly from metal, to polycarbonate, with designs ranging from domed, to concave, to eyebrow.
Stationary awnings are the most durable type of awning but require the most upkeep of the frame and the canopy as these will be constantly exposed to the elements. Refer to the section above about the different types of materials of awnings and which one might be best for a fixed awning.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, your needs and budget will dictate which type of awning is best for your home or business. In any case, the premium home experts at Premium Living Victoria can answer all your questions. Call or send us a message today and let’s find the perfect awning for your home!
