Awnings are roofings that you can use in your house for – patios, verandas, balconies, or gardens, and even in your commercial building as a storefront or outdoor seating. If you decide to get an awning it will mean that you will have a lot of options and customizations to choose from. This wide range of choices can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you don’t know much about awnings and canopies.
We’ve decided to help you and explain the process for you. Here are 3 key aspects you will need to consider:
#1 Location
The location is the biggest factor. An awning for your storefront has wildly different uses than an awning for your balcony.
Usually, when it comes to commercial awnings for storefronts, quality is everything. The awning will be the focal point of your business, were your customers will assess the quality and professionalism of your service. You should choose a strong aluminum/wood frame and a fine fabric that doesn’t tear and get discolored easily. You should also look into a company that can superimpose your business’s logo unto the awning. Without that, your store will look generic and won’t stand out.
However, home awnings are way different. Here you should focus on practicality and durability rather than style. You should look into an awning that provides excellent protection against the sun, the rain, and the wind. You should also make sure you will have an awning large enough to cover your whole patio or balcony. Retractable awnings are generally superior to fixed awnings in home settings. If it’s not about the aesthetics, you won’t need to use your awning 24/7. A retractable awning will give you the option to fold it whenever it’s not in use, which prolongs its life significantly and preserves the fabric and frame.
#2 Material
Choosing an awning you have to consider the materials it’s built out of. You don`t want an awning with a fabric that loses all of its colors after a single summer and a frame breaking after a strong windstorm and an awning that will last you a lifetime.
Awnings are made of two primary parts, the frame, and the fabric: the frame should be flexible and durable. Awnings are particularly susceptible to wind, and having an awning with a weak and hard frame would mean it’s going to break very fast. The fabric is the heart of your awning, and a worn-out fabric would decrease the curb-appeal of your house or business immensely.
#3 Types
When it comes to style, there are three types of awnings we can encounter:
- Open Cassette Awnings are perfect if you operate a traditional small restaurant or cafe, it will make it look more authentic.
- Full Cassette Awnings fit perfectly with Modern architecture.
- Traditional Victorian Awnings are usually made out of hardwood. A traditional home or cafe would look great with this awning.
When it comes to functionality, there are two types of awnings:
- A fixed awning is fixed in place, and you usually need professional help to remove it. It is stronger and provides more wind resistant, but it has a shorter lifespan. It`s known to be great for storefronts.
- Retractable awnings can be retracted whenever you want. It gives you greater flexibility over sunlight and shading in your balcony and garden, because of its longer lifespan, it is a popular choice when it comes to homes.
