A Comprehensive Guide to Different Types of Awning Material

Awnings are highly customisable and come in a variety of materials, designs, styles, and sizes. Widely deployed in both domestic and commercial settings for several decades, iterative changes and updates to designs and features have continuously made awnings relevant.

The availability of so many choices often makes it hard for homeowners to make a decision. What are the different awning materials? What are their pros and cons? Which awning fabric replacement is best for my property? This blog post will help you answer all these questions.

Polyester Awnings

The most used manufactured fibre worldwide, polyester is resilient, abrasion and wrinkle-resistant, easy to clean, and weather-proof. It is also extremely flexible, so not only do awning fabrics come in various colours, but it is also easy to print high-fidelity logos on them, making them excellent for companies and stores.

There’s a reason it is the most widely used fabric in the world. It doesn’t have many downsides. Being a synthetic oil-based fabric, however, raises some environmental concerns. Though, in recent years, recyclable polyester has made its way to the market and is quickly gaining steam.

Acrylic Awnings

Having low absorbency, being resistant to mould and mildew, and being capable of withstanding UV rays all make acrylic fabric see extensive use in outdoor applications. It is an excellent awning fabric that provides ample protection from the elements all while being durable and flexible.

Acrylic fabric isn’t without its downsides, however: It is prone to piling and sensitive to heat. While its low absorbency is a great advantage when withstanding rain, it also means acrylic awning fabrics don’t absorb dyes well, meaning they come in a limited set of colours and styles.

Aside from acrylic fabric being a popular option for awnings, acrylic coating is also regularly used. Applying an acrylic coating to polyester or cotton gives it a unique sheen and additional protection against the weather. This has made acrylic awnings popular with homeowners!

Keep in mind acrylic coating and fabric aren’t made from the same fundamental materials and are only tangentially related.

Canvas Awnings

Though synonymous with drawing canvas boards today, canvas fabric is one of the oldest and most durable fabrics in the world and has seen and continues to see widespread use for making sails, backpacks, tents, and yes, awning fabrics.

Canvas moreso refers to the style of weaving the fabric rather than the materials used, and this is why we have several types of canvas fabric:

  • Cotton Canvas Fabric

historically the most common type of canvas fabric, cotton is flexible, durable, and easy to stretch. It has seen widespread use as rugs, clothes and bedding. However, due to its low availability and stretchability, it isn’t the best awning fabric.

  • Polyester Canvas Fabric

With the invention of polyester in the 20th century, it quickly took over cotton as the most commonly used material to produce canvas fabric. It isn’t as flexible as cotton, but its lack of stretchability and affordability make it a great choice for many applications.

  • Polyester-cotton Canvas Fabric

Though they certainly exist, it is rare to find canvas fabric made 100% from polyester or cotton on the market. Rather, widely available canvas fabrics feature varying mixes of polyester and cotton to offer the best of both worlds. Poly-cotton canvas awnings have the flexibility of cotton and the affordability of polyester.

Vinyl Awnings

Though associated with construction work, not only is vinyl (PVC) commonly used to produce textiles, but vinyl fabrics are popular for their excellent protection from UV rays, durability, and reliability. They are commonly used in awnings, boats, and other outdoor applications.

There are many advantages to going with vinyl awnings: They’re easy to clean, affordable, and long-lasting. You even have a large selection of vinyl fabrics to choose from, so you can find one that perfectly suits your property.

This diversity is also its greatest downside. Unlike cotton, which is a natural material, there’s no universal agreement on how vinyl fabrics should be produced. So, the actual quality of vinyl awnings varies significantly depending on the manufacturer. You have vinyl awnings that are great and embody all the advantages of vinyl and ones that feel cheap, are tough to repair, and crack in mere months to years.

Metal Awnings

Relatively out of vogue today, metal awnings were once very popular and a feature of domestic and commercial properties in the UK. Metal awnings don’t feature a piece of fabric, rather, they’re entirely built from metal, usually either steel or aluminium.

Unsurprisingly, metal awnings are second to none in durability and longevity. They provide black-out shading, which is great during the summer months. They can also be engraved and embroiled, which opens a lot of design space to make the awning look unique.

All these benefits come with severe limitations. You have no control over shading, your choices of designs and features are heavily restricted (e.g. you can’t have retractable metal awnings), and your awning might be susceptible to rusting and corrosion.

Fibreglass Awnings

Fibreglass awnings, featuring glass panes, are unique in the sense that while they are technically awnings, they provide little of the practical applications of awnings. They don’t offer adequate shading, aren’t retractable, and can’t be deployed anywhere. They, however, do shelter the space from wind and rain.

Fibreglass awnings are for home and business owners who are more after the unique aesthetics of awnings. Being translucent and letting light in makes fibreglass awnings a great set piece in high-end gardens and commercial buildings. However, being inflexible and expensive limits their use.

Best Blinds for South-facing Windows

exterior vertical blind

Providing more warmth and ample natural light, south-facing windows are highly desirable in the UK. Rooms that are south-facing are often turned into living rooms, halls, and other gathering spaces.

Being central to the home’s appeal and comfort, choosing the right blinds for your south-facing windows is key to bringing the best out of your rooms! This blog post will guide you through the best blinds for their south-facing windows.

Best Blind Types

Roller Blinds

Practical, affordable, and capable of partially regulating heat and sunlight, roller blinds are a middle-of-the-road choice that while not particularly excelling at anything, does its job well as a blind for a south-facing window.

Exterior Blinds

Exterior blinds offer excellent cover, maximise space, and provide exceptional privacy. This is all doubly true for a south-facing window where protection from the sun and heat is paramount! 

In addition to staving off excessive heat, exterior blinds are excellent at insulating your interior and furniture pieces from harmful UV rays. This in combination with the excellent privacy they provide has made them the blinds of choice for larger halls and living spaces. If you want safety-first blinds that maximise comfort and space, you can’t go wrong with exterior blinds. 

Venetian Blinds

The simplistic elegance of Venetian blinds has made them a classic in households for centuries, and they’re not out of vogue yet. They make for a perfect match with a south-facing window as, aside from having excellent aesthetics, they give you fine control over the amount of light coming in.

Roman Blinds

Roman blinds don’t give you the same control over shading that Venetian blinds give you, but they more than make up for it in versatility and design. Homeowners have the choice of a multitude of designs and shapes to choose from – they can pick the Roman curtains that complement their south-facing rooms best!

Pleated Blinds

Though not popular in the UK, pleated blinds dominate much of the market in the rest of Europe. These thin, lightweight blinds provide sufficient shading while maintaining great air circulation. If you want constant fresh air in the room, these are the right blinds for your windows!

Traditional Curtains

We’d be remiss to not mention traditional curtains when discussing window coverings. Though they’ve fallen out of favour recently, they’re as elegant and chic as ever, and while they’re not compatible with more modern interior design trends, if you have a period home or a traditional layout, you should consider traditional curtains.

Picking the Right Blinds

After choosing the blind type you want to go for, you need to decide on its fabric, style, colour, and more. These aren’t easy decisions – here are the key things you need to consider:

Getting Aesthetics Right

Their functionality isn’t the only relevant property of blinds, their aesthetics, and how they impact the design, layout, and atmosphere of the room arguably matter more. If the south-facing window overlooks the front of your house, the blinds will influence your property’s curb appeal as well!

There are no hard and fast rules in interior design – There are basic axioms like the style and colour scheme of the blinds should match and complement the room, but beyond that, the qualities you should look for in blinds will depend on your preferences.

Insulation and Heating

Not only relevant for the summer heat but for winter as well, it is important to consider how your window coverings impact the insulation and heating in your home. Here, everything from the colour of the blinds to the fabric and its thickness matters.

Thicker, larger curtain fabrics provide better insulation during both summer and winter. In winter, they absorb more heat; in the summer, they can completely block light from the sun, keeping the interior cool. The colour of the fabric matters, as well: Darker colours absorb more heat and are considered “warmer,” lighter colours vice versa.

Motorised or Regular Blinds?

Another choice you have to make is whether you want to go for motorised or regular blinds. The former has become increasingly popular with homeowners, and it can make for an excellent addition to a south-facing window, allowing you to control the amount of sunlight on the fly with a remote control!

Motorised blinds’ only downside is that being designed to be fully operated electrically puts a limit on how they’re designed and styled. Traditional long curtains, for example, don’t have motorised variants. For many popular blind types, like Venetian, Roman, and Exterior blinds, however, excellent and affordable motorised variants are readily available!

Considering Alternatives to Blinds

If you want to create shading and improve the interior design and curb appeal of the home, blinds aren’t the only option. There are alternatives definitely worth considering. 

Take awnings for example. Much like blackout blinds, they can completely block out sunlight, create shading on demand, and improve the exterior appearance of your property. But they also have additional benefits like creating outdoor spaces that are usable year-round. If you have a patio or a balcony, an awning could be the right choice! 

Keeping the House Cool in Summer: 7 Tips and Tricks for UK Homeowners

With constant news of heat waves and temperatures hitting new highs every summer, homeowners in the UK need ways to combat the heat and keep their homes cool, and this blog post is exactly what you’re looking for! We’ll go over 7 practical tips you can use to ensure your home is cool and comfortable. 

#1 Picking the Right Blinds

Keeping your blinds closed to block the sun is standard advice to keep the interior cool, but it is often not enough to cool down the house to the desired temperature. This is where the type of blinds is a factor.

Blackout blinds or exterior rollout blinds are far more effective at completely blocking the sun and the heat during the day. This alone makes the interior a few degrees cooler when the summer sun is beating down on the house.

If high-humidity night heat is the problem, on the other hand, you can use breathable blinds made from bamboo or thin fabrics. These let the night air in and keep the interior feeling cool and fresh. 

#2 Install an Awning or a Canopy

Installing awnings or canopies is an excellent way to combat the summer heatwave. Protecting your house from direct sunlight and UV rays, blinds can create shading and keep the temperature down. This is why they’re a favourite among British homeowners:

  • Affordable

Compared to an air conditioning unit, awnings are highly affordable, and in the UK, they’re more than enough to keep your house cool, even during the middle of summer.

  • Flexible

Whether it is the patio, the kitchen, or the living room, you can install awnings wherever and however you want. They come in many shapes and sizes that can fit virtually every house layout and design.

  • Multipurpose

As opposed to an electric fan, for example, aside from combating the heat, awnings and canopies also make the location largely weatherproof and create excellent living and gathering spaces! Sun canopies for patios will protect against the summer heat as well as the autumn rain!

#3 Making Use of Breathable Fabrics

The type and colour of the fabrics you use throughout the house have an impact on interior temperatures. Breathable, light fabrics like cotton don’t trap heat, allow air to pass through, and keep the rooms cool. Meanwhile, wool is infamous for trapping warm air. Linen has the same breathability as cotton, while silk is somewhere in the middle.

Simply by replacing a few of the fabrics, like the bed sheets, you can improve airflow in the room and keep the room cool, especially during nighttime.

#4 House Plants to Combat the Heat

London’s infamous urban heat islands are 5 to 7 celsius degrees hotter than surrounding parks and rural areas in the summer. This is a significant increase that often takes bearable summer heat to hot weather that impacts your mood and productivity. The primary reason for this increase in temperatures is the lack of plants and greenery in these urban areas.

Making sure you have sufficient greenery indoors and outdoors will keep your home cool all while keeping the air fresh and the atmosphere welcoming. You have complete freedom over which plants to choose, allowing you to use this opportunity to adorn your home as well!

#5 Cold Water is a Great Way to Create Cool Air

Using cold water to create a wet sheet and cover your tower fans with it is a very effective trick to create cool air currents that will combat the hot air and keep your house cool. It takes minutes to set up and can bring down the temperature by more than a few degrees!

However, you constantly need to rewet the sheet every 30 minutes or so as it’ll quickly get dry in the warm weather while being in constant contact with the fan. This can range from mildly inconvenient to annoying depending on the situation.

#6 Pay Attention to Electric Equipment and Light Bulbs

Computers, conventional incandescent light bulbs, and other electronics generate substantial heat when they operate. In a room with windows shut, lacking proper ventilation, this is enough to drive temperatures up to an uncomfortable degree.

A combination of solutions can keep your home cool here:

  • Consider Replacing the Electronics

Obviously replacing your computer or TV just because your room gets a few degrees hotter in the summer is unrealistic, but replacing conventional light bulbs with LED lighting will reduce heat generation and energy consumption. Consider which electronics you can replace!

  • Employing Fans and Opening Windows

Installing a fan or opening the windows to allow cooler air is often enough to combat whatever heat your electric appliances generate and bring down temperatures in the room.

#7 Improve Insulation

There’s a common misconception that insulation is only relevant to keep the house warm during the winter, but it is just as effective at keeping it cool in the summer. Improving your house’s insulation can effectively keep most of the heat out during summer. Fibreglass, reflective bubble barriers, and foam are all great insulators against heat due to their high thermal resistance. 

Improving heat insulation is easier said than done, sadly, as it requires substantial and costly renovation work. Heat films can be a temporary solution but are not as effective. However, like awnings, this is a permanent solution. Once you improve the insulation in your home, you can enjoy cooler summers for years to come! 

Pros and Cons of Retractable Awnings

Flexible, affordable, and practical: These are the common terms you usually hear when retractable awnings are mentioned, and this has been reflected in their recent popularity in the UK. Are motorized awnings really worth it? Should you consider a retractable patio awning for your home? Do they have any utility for shop owners? We’ll answer all these questions in this blog post by going over the pros and cons of retractable awnings!

Pros of Retractable Awnings

#1 Creates a Space Usable Year-Round

Retractable awnings do an excellent job of regulating weather by creating shading, obscuring direct sunlight, and blocking drizzles and wind. Whether it is a store or a home patio if you want the space to be comfortable, a retractable awning does remarkably to ensure the space is usable year-round!

#2 Flexible

A retractable awning is extremely flexible both in its application and use. It can be installed anywhere from balconies to gardens, patios and storefronts, and it comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs to best match your needs.

A modern retractable awning is also operable through remote controls, has wind and rain sensors, and can be integrated into smart home systems: No need to operate the awning manually and no need to worry about potential wind or rain damage.

#3 Increases Property Value

Thanks to a surge in popularity, homes with retractable patio awnings and garden awnings have seen their value appreciate due to rising demands for these properties. This means that aside from all its utilities, retractable patio awnings can be a great investment that can make up for their costs partially or in full if you ever sell the property.

#4 Improves Store branding

Not just for homeowners, a retractable awning is a great place to prominently display your store name and logo. It helps your store stand out from the background and ensures potential customers can spot your business more easily.

Long have gone the days when branding didn’t matter for brick-and-mortar stores, and embellishing your logo on a retractable awning is an affordable and effective way to establish yourself!

Gives the Property A Visual Flare

Aside from all its practical uses, retractable awnings also give the space a visual flare. Thanks to a choice of hundreds of fabric designs of different sizes and colours, home and business owners can use the awning to complement the design and improve the atmosphere of the space!

#5 Environmentally friendly

Not only are some awnings made from, at least partially, recyclable materials, but they can be used as an alternative to air conditioning for temperature control. Air conditioners are inefficient, consume a lot of energy, and are responsible for a sizable portion of global gas emissions.

Motorised awnings, on the other hand, consume minimal electricity and the shading they provide is more than enough to combat summer heat in the UK!

#6 Protects Furniture Pieces from Degradation and Discolouration 

Direct sunlight and UV rays are harmful to furniture. They not only cause discolouration, but they can even damage the wood fibres of chairs, benches, etc. The shading a retractable awning provides can protect your patio furniture pieces and ensure they continue to stay in stellar shape.

Cons of Retractable Awnings

  • Requires Maintenance

To ensure a retractable awning is looking and operating at its best, it needs to be regularly maintained. This just doesn’t mean lubricating the awning and scrubbing its fabric, but it also means making sure it is properly retracted and protected during overly bad weather conditions.

  • The Upfront Cost Can Be High

The upfront supply and installation costs of a retractable awning can be considerable, especially if the installation process is complex. This can dissuade some homeowners from considering a retractable awning. However, awnings are a good investment, and the appreciation in your property value will make up for the costs.

There are also more affordable, simpler, non-retractable awnings available that are worth considering! They are neither as flexible nor useful as modern, retractable ones, but they get the job done if minimising cost is your highest priority.

Are Retractable Awnings Worth It?

The answer is a simple yes if the recent popularity of awnings is anything to go by. Many homeowners find them practical, affordable, and reliable – a great value! 

However, ultimately, only you can decide whether an awning is worth it for you or not. Will you take advantage of all the utilities retractable patio awnings provide? Do the style and design of an awning appeal to you? Do their pros outweigh their cons? Considering these questions will help you answer whether awnings are worth it in your particular circumstances or not. 

How Much Does It Cost to Have an Awning Installed?

UK Awning Installation Cost Guide for Beginners

From outdoor living spaces to shading and curb appeal: Awnings are an excellent addition to homes and businesses. Retractable, store-front, and bespoke patio awnings: You have many choices that help you create excellent living areas, control shading, and make the space weatherproof. 

Businesses and homeowners often have a major concern, however, that impacts the adoption of awnings: What does an awning cost? How much of it is supply costs and how much is awning installation costs? Do I need to pay for additional landscaping and planning permission? 

 This blog post was specifically written to address these questions and concerns. It is your comprehensive guide to all factors that determine the cost of an awning installation! 

Awning Installation Cost Guide

Average Awning Cost

Awning costs fluctuate from as low as £100 to as high as £9000 depending on size, type, materials, features, etc. This is sadly why awning companies generally don’t list prices, as they’re largely determined on a case-by-case basis. Here’s a ballpark of how much different types of awnings cost: 

  • Traditional, off-the-shelf awning: £300 to £500,
  • Motorised, off-the-shelf awning: £500 to £1000,
  • Retractable, off-the-shelf awning: £1400 to £3000,  
  • Bespoke awning: £2000 to £4000.

Average Awning Installation Cost

The installation costs of awnings also vary depending on the size & type of the awning, the layout of the building, local labour costs, etc. Additionally, you might need to obtain planning permission and do additional landscaping work, representing extra costs. 

  • Installation cost: £100 to £400, 
  • Landscaping cost: £200 to £500
  • Planning permission cost: £100 to £250.

Factors that Go Into the Cost of an Awning and its Installation

To budget better, you have to understand the factors that go into the awning and installation costs in detail. This is a fraught task, sadly. This is why it is so important for awning suppliers to have active customer support teams that actively communicate with home and business owners and provide free and accurate quotes without any hidden charges or fees. This is certainly what we do here – our clients can quickly and effortlessly learn about our installation prices by Awning Depot whether they need bespoke awnings or motorised awnings simply by getting in touch! 

Type of Awning

Awnings come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Patio awnings and store-front awnings are entirely different. You can choose between full-cassette and semi-cassette awnings. This is an advantage. It means households and business owners can get awnings that match their needs and preferences. 

It has one drawback, however: The selection being so diverse means costs will also differ substantially depending on the type of awning. This is the largest factor determining the price of the awning. 

Size of the Awning

An awning can be only a metre wide and 50 CM long designed to fit on top of a small storefront or it can be more than 5 metres wide, 4 metres long and designed to create the ideal outdoor living space in a garden. Due to the amount of materials needed, the size of the fabric, and the complexity of the installation, the latter will simply cost far more. When contacting an awning company, make sure to voice the dimensions of the awning you need to get an accurate quote. 

Bespoke Awning Costs

Made-to-measure awnings that are designed to the client’s preferences, measured to their requirements and fitted with all the features they demand, a bespoke awning offers a lot to homeowners and business owners. This comes with a price tag, sadly, due to the extra attention and manpower that goes into designing an awning that matches your exact specifications. 

Additional Costs

Aside from the cost of the awning and its installation, there are a few other miscellaneous costs you need to know about: 

Electric Operation

If you want to motorise the awning with the ability to operate it through a remote control, you’ll naturally have to incur additional charges. The typical cost of adding electric operation is around £300. 

Maintenance Costs

Awnings are durable and practical. As long as you take proper care of them, they require minimal maintenance and repairs. Regular cleaning and slight touch-ups are all you’ll need, and it’ll run you less than £100 a year. If you neglect the awning, however, repair costs can be substantial.

Awning Installation Cost UK FAQ

How Much Does It Cost to Have an Awning Fitted?

 Installation cost varies a lot depending on the type of awning, size of the awning, labour costs, etc. It is always a good idea to directly contact the awning company and try to get a direct quote from them! 

How Long Does It Take to Install an Awning?

Largely depending on the type of awning and the complexity of the work, an awning installation can take anywhere from a few brief hours to multiple days. It is always a good idea to speak with the awning supplier or the installation team beforehand to learn how long it’ll take precisely so you’re adequately prepared. 

Can I Install an Awning Myself?

If you have the required tools, installing a traditional awning is possible and relatively simple. It can make for a nice DIY project you can spend a weekend on. Larger, electric bespoke awnings, however, are complex and difficult to handle. This is why a professional team should ideally handle them. 
At Awning Depot, not only do we offer an excellent range of awnings, but we’ve also handpicked a specialised team that takes care of all aspects of the awning installations for our clients.