What is an Awning

Take a walk down a busy street in the warmer months and you're bound to see window awnings over a shop or commercial buildings – often striped or brightly coloured, reminiscent of ice cream sellers on a seaside. Now awnings are coming off the high street and into our gardens – and they're a far more luxurious affair. They basically involve a wall-mounted cassette, holding a swathe of fabric which extends as two retractable arms fold out and provide shade to the area beneath.

Patio awnings open up your outdoor living space and possibilities by adding an area of shade even in the strongest sun and they're so beneficial it's like having an extra room in your home, extending your interior home into the outdoors and giving you more space. During warmer months it's perfect for al fresco dining and optional heating and lighting allow you to enjoy it during the cooler months too. Looking for a quiet spot to curl up with a good book? Your patio awning creates the ideal cosy nook, the fabric giving you shade from the bright sunlight which can sometimes give you a headache while reading.

In simple terms, retractable awnings are comprised of a panel of fabric that can be extended over an area to provide shade, usually over a patio or deck, with metal arms on either side to support it. These arms are attached to an exterior wall, usually above a French door, patio door or bi-fold door opening into your home. Motorised awnings are our standard and can be operated by a simple remote control. 

Modern technology is transforming window furnishings throughout our homes and retractable awnings haven't been left behind either. Now you no longer have to scrabble for the remote control to operate fabric awnings - just reach for your phone instead. Smart electric control now helps you operate the furnishings on your house's exterior as well as those inside for total ease of operation. With the integration of a hub, you can use an app on your phone or tablet to operate your awning from inside or out. And it's not just about extending and retracting either. With the app you can set timers - it's idea if you want the sun to warm up the patio or deck up to a point but then put it in the shade so it's just right for you when you're ready to enjoy it. It's also a great way to create the illusion of being at home if you're out of the house.

Our high quality patio awnings come in a wide range of different fabrics, from plain to striped, patterns to pinstripes, and in a wide range of colours so you can choose to complement or contrast with your home or outdoor area. You can also choose from straight or scalloped edging for a matching valance for your awning, and the colour of the cassette, for a true bespoke experience.

The fabric used in both our awnings is a 100% solution dyed fabric which offers excellent solar protection and superb long-term UV protection. The individual fibres are dyed before being woven which means that the colour dye is locked into the core of the fibres during manufacture (in contrast to the traditional yarn-dying process where colours are applied to the surface of the finished yarn) and this gives exceptionally long-lasting, ultra-vivid colours.

The lifetime of your awning depends on a number of different factors, including weather, usage and location. As well as a full 12-month warranty, which covers repairs or replacements to any faulty goods, our awnings also come with a five year guarantee which also includes the awning motor.