Both residential and commercial buildings would somehow appear incomplete without the presence of sun awnings. For homes, a number of different options are available in the U.K. market.
Patio Awnings
These options, especially the retractable ones, were mainly present on upscale homes. Fortunately, people of all classes can now enjoy the same comfort, style and luxury when relaxing at their patio as prices for these awnings have sensibly reduced to affordable levels.
Handling of these retractable units is easy – one can use either a motor or a manual crank. Of course, motors are the easier alternatives as these are even equipped with remote controls and climate sensors. This ensures that retraction of the awning can take place automatically whenever there is a sudden heavy rain or storm.
These items are also perfect for outdoor entertaining purposes – they shield sliding doors from the sun and keep the interior temperature cool.
Window Awnings
These are typically found in two versions – traditional and contemporary. The traditional ones are often made with sides to enable more protection from the sun. Most homeowners tend to choose these for their windows facing the east and west.
Spear awnings are favoured by many, and have frames made of wrought iron. These tend to complement modern homes better than traditional ones.
Drop arm awnings are not lacking in popularity either. These can be rolled up on a special tube and can be handled via a motor. Installation is often done for windows at the second floor to enable automatic retraction.
Porch Awnings
These are mainly installed to increase the level of privacy and protection at the porch area. Additionally, the porch can be shielded from the impact of rain and sun. Canvas seems to be the favourite material option, as the awning can be rolled up and down by using an easy, rope-and-pulley system.
Some homeowners tend to install decorative awnings for their patios. These are not really meant for total sun protection as many of the available options are rather smaller in width and height.
Deck Awnings
A deck can be the perfect place to meet up or simply to relax, but if it is not shielded from the glaring hot sun and the merciless impact of rain, one could most probably stay for no more than a few minutes.
With deck awnings, the temperature can be reduced to as low as twenty degrees cooler than the unshielded area. At the same time, the harsh effects of UV rays can be avoided at all times even when it’s 12:00 o’clock in the afternoon.
Typically, a deck awning is mounted on the side of a house and it extends over the deck. Some are equipped with vertical supports, while some are not. These are commonly permanent fixtures, but one can choose to install the retractable versions so that retraction can be done whenever necessary.
If the deck is built unattached to the main house, the use of a freestanding awning would be more practical.
To sum up…
Sun awnings are available in varieties of designs, materials and sizes. Their width range is between 7’ and 20’ wide and the more popular options are those made of canvas and metal.