Design, Type & Material – Outdoor Patio Awning
Design, Type & Material – Outdoor Patio Awning
Patios are a wonderful way to blend the interior of your house with the outdoors. They are fantastic spaces to hold friendly gatherings and barbecues on a warm evening or just enjoy some time in the sun. To get the most out of their space, many people invest in retractable awnings for their patio which increases the number of days it can be used. This is not as simple as deciding an awning is needed and then immediately buying one from an awning supplier. The first thing you need to do is understand the range of designs, types and materials you have available so that you can make the best decision for your home.
Patio Awning Designs
Photo: Awnings by Design, Brisbane
1. Solid Patio Awnings
Solid patio awnings are the best type to have in areas that suffer from a lot of heavy rain or snow during the winter. It completely covers the patio keeping it dry and if you want to get rid of it during the summer, it is possible to have a waterproof retractable awning.
2. Latticed Patio Awnings
Latticed patio awnings come in a wide variety of different designs. These are excellent when you want your awning to protect you from strong sunlight but do not see enough rain to require a solid cover. Since the lattices can be combined in so many different ways, it is possible to find something for most homes.
3. Pergolas
A pergola is similar to a latticed awning. It relies on support pillars to hold up a wide lattice-type covering for your patio. The key difference is that these are designed in such a way as to allow vines to grow through the lattice in order to form a natural roof.
Patio Awning Types
Photo: Awnings by Design, Brisbane
1. Slide on Track
This is the most versatile types of awning. The retractable awning is extended on rails and often folds into pleats when not needed allowing for easy near-instant protection from the sun or rain.
2. Lateral Arm Awnings
This type of folding arm awning is mounted directly onto the wall. It can be simply extended to provide shade and protection or retracted into a neat watertight enclosure that will help keep it safe during heavy rain and winds.
3. Tension Shades
These retractable awnings are often used as a kind of sky-light for a fully enclosed patio. It uses a tensioned fabric membrane panel to provide shade from the sun and is a perfect way to do so while maintaining a property’s modern design.
Patio Awning Materials
1. Wooden Patio Awnings
Wooden awnings are one of the top choices for people that want to go with a simple yet elegant style. There are a variety of rich, warm tones available and it will fit perfectly alongside any house with a traditional design. The only drawback is that out of all materials, wood requires the most maintenance to keep it weatherproof and polished.
2. Aluminium Patio Awnings
Aluminium is a common choice among metals because it is lightweight, durable and highly resistant to the elements. The flexibility of the material allows it to be adapted to suit most designs since it can come in a wide variety of designs and colours. It is even possible to apply a faux-finish which all but guarantees that something suitable can be found.
3. Acrylic Patio Awnings
Acrylic or vinyl awnings have a similar variety of finishes and styles available as aluminium. It is also similarly resistant to the weather and easy to maintain. The one thing to bear in mind is that if the vinyl does not have some kind of polish or paint applied, it may discolour when exposed to strong sunlight for a long period of time.
No matter what your requirements are, there is an awning to suit you. With the proper planning and forethought, you should be able to easily find the perfect accompaniment to your home. Find an outdoor awning provider in Melbourne you trust. All you need to do is pick a design and a material and decide whether you want it to be retractable and if so, whether a folding arm awning is correct or if you want it to slide on a track. You can have whatever you want.
Featured photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash
