Anyone who has attempted to buy patio awnings knows it can be a little confusing at first; to the uninitiated it can seem like a major struggle just to know what they are looking at. This guide was put together to help you to understand what you’re looking for when you go shopping for patio awnings. There are effectively three types of awnings to buy:
Standard Awnings
These are a design classic. They are composed of an aluminium roller with brackets attached to the ends, as well as a gearbox and a winding handle hook. This is then connected to a square steel bar which itself connects to the wall brackets. To be well made we would recommend that a Standard awning have at least 2 wall brackets if it’s 3 meters in width and at least 3 wall brackets if it’s as wide as 4 meters. Standard awnings will always be lower cost than other types of patio awnings because they are more simple than more complex awning designs.
The cons to Standard awnings are that they have no built in weather cover built into the awning. This means that when they are wound in the fabric can become exposed to weather which can lead to damage over time. There is a workaround you can use which is to purchase ‘weather covers’ which slide over the awning when it’s wound up. These will not only protect the awning but keep it clean, particularly during frosty or snowy winters.
Half Cassette Awnings
These awnings are comprised of three quarter aluminium tubes, within which the roller tube and the material are situated. They can include a motor and remote depending on preference. These awnings are of a much more sophisticated construction than Standard Awnings, they will weather better due to their design and should last you a long time. The half cassette body does a great job of protecting the canvas from mould or fading which is a common problem with the Standard Awning. Typically Half Cassette Awnings are much heavier and more costly than the Standard variety but they are a worthwhile investment due to their superior design. One thing to be aware of is the strength of the supporting wall. If this is something you are worried about then double check on the strength of the wall. One way to get round the problem of weaker walls is to fix the bolts to the wall with added 2 part epoxy glue. Let this strengthen over six hours before hanging the wall brackets from it and fixing the awning.
Full Cassette Awnings
As the name suggests these awnings are designed to provide the perfect weather protection for the roller its cover and the arm system as they can all be retracted into a closed cassette. They are very similar to a half cassette awing but will go even further in providing all year round protection to the important fabric of the awning.