With brighter and sunnier days ahead of us, the idea of extending your entertaining space into the garden, to enjoy the outdoors at all times of the day becomes rather appealing. And patio awnings are the exact antidote needed to accomplish this. These roof-like covers shelter your deck or patio, to provide shade, protection and style to your outdoor space.
With various factors to consider, from the different types of patio awnings to several ways of being controlled, where do you begin when it comes to your selection? Fortunately, with our guide, you’ll have all the information you need to make the right choice for your humble abode. Before you know it, you’ll have a comfortable and stylish space for entertaining and relaxing, for those brighter and warmer, feel-good days.
In its simplest form, a patio awning is a sheet of canvas or other material that has been stretched across a frame to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain.
Shelter from the weather, and more importantly unpredictable British weather, increases the lifespan of your outdoor furniture.
There may be the potential to save some money in your pocket as awnings shade your property and lower solar heat gain.
Who wouldn’t want a spot for entertaining outdoors for those lovely, warmer days? Patio awnings add outdoor space that’s usable both in the rain and sun.
Enjoy your garden without worrying about those harmful UV rays.
Enhance the appearance of your garden, patio or conservatory with these stylish numbers.
These are fixed to the wall and usually extend over an outside seating area with a patio or decking. Fixed awnings can help homeowners to expand their living space beyond their interiors, creating a sheltered outdoor area perfect for hosting parties and barbecues and unwinding in the fresh air. But if you’re worried about the rainy days that the UK is prone to – patio awnings have got you covered! They can be neatly retracted back into their cassette for protection.
As their name suggests, freestanding awnings do not need to be wall mounted. They have a complete structural framework that can be positioned anywhere since they don’t rely on being placed by a wall. Popular in big open spaces, you have the choice of positioning your freestanding awning over a patio, decking, pool or lawn – the world is your oyster. This type of awning is a durable open shelter, available in a range of styles to complement your home’s aesthetic, such as the butterfly and flat top.
If you’re looking for a truly unique style of awning, then look no further than conservatory awnings. They’re fitted onto an existing roof and offer excellent temperature control. Internal designs provide shading from under the glass, whilst external designs are fitted over it. Best of all, because of its internal and external design, it’s as easy as ABC to manage your conservatory’s climate. Just use the remote control that comes with a conservatory awning to retract and extend the awning depending on the weather – simplicity at its finest.
Described by many as ‘state-of-the-art,’ vertical awnings are essentially a more advanced window blind. They’re very much similar to your typical indoor blind but of course they’re fitted outside the window instead. Vertical awnings bring together retractable awning technology with weatherproof materials, which is why you’re able to have the best of both worlds and have them fitted outside your window too. They have a drop-arm design, so they can extend away from the wall, and angled, to offer the best possible shading. This makes them the perfect option if shading to the side of a patio area is important to you, as well as having privacy from prying eyes.
If you’re on the lookout for a stylish roof-like cover that will open and close without you having to manually do so – welcome electric patio awnings into your life. These can be controlled automatically and from wherever you may be, whether that’s at home or on a beach.
Relax in the shade in summer or be kept nice and dry if you need to tend to plants whilst it’s raining, with peace of mind that you’ll be protected automatically.
So, leave your worries at the door when it comes to those windy or stormy days whilst you’re away – just one tap from the palm of your hand means your awning can be closed. Yes, you read right, you don’t even need to be at home to do this!
No problem! You can further enhance your electric patio awning with climate sensors to do exactly this. Picture this, the sun is out and shining, and you’ve got a Sunis Wirefree RTS sun sensor in place – it’ll automatically lower or raise your awning depending on the intensity of the sun. Or maybe you’d prefer a temperature sensor like the Thermis Wirefree io. On a hot summer’s day, it’ll wirelessly alert you, as well as automatically close your awning to keep your outdoor space cool.
So, no need for you to leave the deckchair! But we all know the UK is prone to some pretty windy days, so we’ve got you covered even for those times, with the Soliris RTS. You get the best of both worlds with this nifty device as it’s both a sun and wind sensor. It’ll extend or retract your awning as the sun makes an appearance or goes in but will also retract your awning when wind speeds exceed a preset value (from 10 to 50 kph).
Somfy awning motors have a number of smart options to increase your comfort. Your Somfy dealer knows which motor will best suit your situation according to your preferred method of operation and options. Furthermore, the properties and size of your awning will determine how powerful your motor needs to be and what forces will be exerted on the supporting wall. To be certain, ask an authorised Somfy dealer!
To put it simply – with manual awnings, you’ll turn the handle to open and close them. But remember, the bigger the awning, the harder it’ll be to turn the handle. So, why not consider an electric patio awning, and then you won’t ever have to worry about all that hard labour! Manual awnings are best suited if you’re wanting something a little smaller.
If the chic electric patio awning sounds like your cup of tea, for many years, just like the sleek TV remote, the hand-held remote has been the most popular way to control them. Many allow you to manage up to a certain number or groups of patio awnings with simple directional control – just like the nifty Situo 5 RTS Pure. Hand-held remotes have simple commands like up, down and my (preset favourite position). Some even offer extra practicality to program wind and sun sensors – clever right?
Controlling your electric patio awning via a wireless switch is also just as popular as the hand-held remote. Similarly, products like the Smoove Origin RTS Pure DIY, allow you to control a single awning or a single group of awnings with wireless motors. Like a hand-held remote control, wall switches usually have the standard raise, lower and my (preset favourite position) functions. Keep in mind that they need to be installed close to a window, though they don’t involve any wiring or electrical work, so installation is a snap – bliss!
A patio awning can elevate your outdoor space significantly, in addition to offering practical benefits for you, your family and guests – so what are you waiting for? Invest in a patio awning and trust us – you’ll never look back!
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