Awning for patio to relax
Whether it’s for a barbecue or just to relax, an awning for your patio or balcony is a great alternative to a fixed patio cover. Especially the retraction and extension allows you to use your awning flexibly depending on the weather. Therefore, this design is incredibly popular and an affordable alternative to the slightly more expensive patio covers.
Prices
The inexpensive variants
As with any other product, there are plenty of different quality and price segments for awnings. A cheap awning for patio can usually be seen directly that it is cheap – at the latest when the first season is over and you would like to take it off again directly. One must look around for it only once in the building market or meanwhile also with Amazon – there is to be bought it in most diverse remarks of companies from all countries for few hundred euro. But there are also cheap awnings that meet a certain quality standard. For this purpose, it is best to contact a specialist in the field of “roofing”, who, in addition to terrace roofs, also offers good and inexpensive awnings.
The luxury awning
And then there are the awnings, which not only have insanely good quality, but are also real eye-catchers and give the home terrace a certain flair. With these high-end awnings, the price is definitely in the range of several thousand euros, but here you invest in a product that lasts almost forever and enhances the home not only visually. If one already has a terrace roofing, a so-called Beschattungsanlage offers itself – the awning is thus attached over or under the terrace roof. If the awning is to function as the only roofing, we recommend the folding arm awning, which really looks very classy and can be controlled from anywhere by remote control or via app using a smartphone. And if there is still to be lateral protection, you can access the so-called side a wning.
Advantages
Awning for patio as sun protection
The awning for patio is not only for sun protection, but also brings one or two things that most people do not think about. This includes, for example, sealing off from the gaze of overly curious neighbors. Do you know the feeling of being watched by the neighbors? Then this is a thing of the past, at least on the area covered by the awning. If you like to get fresh air, but want to protect yourself from the sun, this product will do everything right. The design specializes in blocking out the sun’s rays and giving you a cool, shady spot.
Protection from wind
If you use paper plates or plastic cups at barbecues on your patio at home, even a small windbreak could be of great importance. That’s because plastic dishes, like many other things made of thin, lightweight material, are a sitting duck for the wind. Therefore, an awning set at the right angle of inclination can really be worth its weight in gold here.
Awning for patio under glass roof
Are you one of the lucky ones who has already purchased a patio canopy? If so, you’re probably thinking that you don’t need an awning anymore? But this is not quite true! With a glass roof, the sun’s rays will still reach the area below the roof. Relaxed reading or looking at your garden – you can forget it without sunglasses and sunscreen. Moreover, the sun’s rays will heat you up quite a bit under the roof. Therefore, an awning for patio can be installed very well under the glass roof. Above all, even a standard awning is then sufficient, which does not need to be water resistant, since the raindrops will only reach the glass roof anyway. However, you can also install the awning above the glass roof. In that case, you’ll need a rain awning for patio if you don’t want to retract it when it rains. The decision is entirely up to you.
What to consider before buying an awning for patio
If you own an awning for patio, you should not fix its construction without prior considerations. In addition, you should also pay attention to how strongly your product reacts to adversities such as wetness and wind. Because the waterproofness is usually specified by the manufacturer as well as the wind resistance. Therefore, you should first look at the product details before you decide to buy. But now the information in detail.
Mounting
As a rule, it is attached to the wall with the help of screws, so first of all you need to drill holes on the wall. When drilling, the main thing is to make sure that the holes are not too deep and not too wide. Because too large a hole has a negative impact on stability. Especially in strong winds, the construction will rub against the hole due to leverage and, in an emergency, even damage the wall to which it is attached. If the damage is too severe, the entire construction could fall down.
The right angle of inclination
The right angle of inclination is incredibly important, because on the one hand it determines how large the shaded area is and how strong the wind gets in. On the other hand, the angle of inclination ensures the proper drainage of rainwater. If you want to use the awning in the rain, the material should be water resistant. The material should be able to repel water and, with the help of the right angle of inclination, ensure that the water runs off. If the angle of inclination is not right, a layer of water usually forms and spreads over the material, putting a strain on it. In the worst case, damage would be the consequence. Therefore, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Not every awning for patio is suitable for rain
“Is it raining? Then I immediately extend the awning!” Beware this could get really expensive in extreme cases if you don’t have the right awning! Because not every design is suitable for rain, but exclusively for wind and sun protection. Awnings with such a material often do not let a certain amount of water roll off. This damages the material, for example in the form of color change or cracks due to the extra weight caused by the water.
Cleaning
When cleaning, we recommend that you first remove dirt with a brush or, if the surface is large, roughly with a broom. After that you can use a garden hose with low pressure. We do not recommend using a high-pressure cleaner, because firstly the pressure is much too high and can cause damage to the material. Secondly, not every material is 100% waterproof and could be damaged due to the high amount of water. Therefore, even with the garden hose, pay attention to the amount of water. As a side note, of course, the material will dry faster if you use less water.
Stubborn stains
If stains are not removed even after rinsing, you should use cleaning agents. Always be careful which detergent you use, because some of them can irritate the material and cause damage. It is best to read the product description, because it usually explains how you can clean the material gently. At the end, you should rinse again with water and then let it dry. Usually the material is free of dirt after drying and can be used again.
Additional equipment
Electric motor
For people who find cranking too much of a hassle, there is the option of installing an electric motor. This way the retraction and extension is done electrically at the push of a button. Generally, you have the choice between a switch and a remote control. A prerequisite for this is, of course, a power connection, but that is self-explanatory. This variant is particularly well suited if the awning often retracts and extends, because the constant cranking becomes annoying over time. In addition, high-quality designs can also change the angle of inclination. This gives it more dynamics and allows you to adjust it better, for example, when the sun is low.
Awning for patio control by remote control
To use the remote control it must first be coupled with the electric motor. Depending on the equipment, the radio range varies. As a rule, the classic remote control has 2 buttons for retracting and extending. With the high-quality, which can also adjust the angle of inclination, are provided with more buttons. However, the operation is generally quite simple and you do not need to worry.
Motor can also be retrofitted
If you already own an awning and cranking is too much of a hassle, you don’t have to buy a new one. With a little craftsmanship, you can install the motor yourself or hire a professional to do it for you. However, we recommend buying an awning with an integrated motor right from the start, as the coordination between the awning and the motor is usually already perfectly coordinated by the manufacturer. This recommendation applies in principle, so not only for those people who do not feel like cranking.
