Choose Your Awning Carefully...

Such a choice… what a dilemma … and to make the right selection it is important to carefully evaluate all of the options. First decide why you are looking for a shade and what it must do for you. Generally the three most common requirements are:

1 > A covered area for outdoor activities that provides protection from sun and light showers
Whether you wish to extend your recreation area, enjoy Alfresco dining, or just enjoy sitting outside there are several pleasing options to choose from. No longer will a short shower or chilly breeze need to bother you!

2 > Prevention of internal heat ingression
Why not just put up an internal blind – certainly it will be cheaper. It will also be virtually a waste of time if room temperature control is an issue. An internal blind absorbs the heat from the window and allows it to permeate in to the room. A correctly sited external blind STOPS the window getting hot therefore effectively assisting the prevention of uncomfortably high room temperatures. And don’t forget – the lighter the material colour the greater the deflection of heat.

3 > Privacy
Would you enjoy a little extra privacy – a chance to avoid the prying eyes of curious onlookers! Or perhaps you just value your own space. Strategically positioned awnings are part of the perfect solution and are further enhanced with side blinds.

We will start by examining the options to provide a covered outside area for outdoor activities

	For normal outside home requirements the most practical solution would normally be the retractable arm awning. The huge choice of colours of fabrics, the operating options and the wide range of sizes will cater for virtually any domestic situation
	A more robust structure is the Patiola. It is a semi-permanent structure with extruded aluminium uprights ultimately offering - 'a room outdoors'.
	Moving on to a completely different concept is the butterfly shaped Terrasol. It is the only awning that can cover areas of up to 36 square metres without needing wall support.
	The versatile alternatives to the awnings featured above are our range of sun umbrellas. Be it the big, bold Giant Umbrellas
	or the elegant Paraflex both offer superb methods of shading in and around your garden.

This pretty well sums up the most popular options to provide outdoor cover. So, we will now look at the most effective methods of preventing heat and light ingression into your home.

	Drop arm awnings are the practical and popular solution with aesthetic appeal. Variable enough to provide gentle protection from direct heat to enjoy a relaxing siesta to assisting temperature control of the complete house
	A more basic and less costly solution would be the cassetted vertical exterior blind.
	A further, rather unusual blind is the Dutch Canopy. Whilst not always appropriate, this canopy can be a very pretty alternative and, just occasionally, eminently suitable for some properties enhancing certain features.

	Either look at individually or combined, a drop down valance on a retractable awning or
	retractable side screens to provide effective, easy to use privacy and protection from cool breezes.
	Of course the Patiola with the full length cover will perform like the drop down valance.