If you’re thinking about how to create a great space in your garden for a really nice seating area, you really should take a look at retractable awnings. These are great products that can be installed on just about any building, meaning that they are perfect at providing shelter for spaces adjacent to a building that you would find in a garden, such as a patio. This article will provide information about retractable awnings from both a general understanding point of view, and to help those trying to determine which features of the retractable awning are worth investing in.
The schematic of a retractable awning varies to a certain extent depending on the specific product that you purchase, however there are also some commonalities. This is mostly not a big deal, however if your awning suffers damage and a part needs to be replaced, it does mean that you will likely have to reach out to either the supplier or the manufacturer directly in order to get suitable replacements.
At their most rudimentary, a retractable awning consists of a canopy, two foldable arms, and a roller assembly, and some sort of operating mechanism. The canopy can be made from various types of fabrics, and is attached at either end to the end of the foldable arms and the roller assembly. The fabrics that are used in a canopy can be made from a range of different materials, sometimes with natural fabrics, but more often than not synthetic materials are used for the advantages they bring. Namely, synthetic materials offer reliable waterproofing, can be made with very strong structures to resist damage from high winds, and can be sun resistant as well. Beyond the practicalities of the materials used, you can also get fabric that has been printed with any type of colour or pattern so that you can fulfil your personal inclinations for the style of retractable awning you want.
The retractable awnings will always have at least two foldable arms, which are designed to fold in on itself when the awning is retracted, or extend outward when the awning is put out. The foldable arms can also be increased in number in order to provide additional support, which is one of the solutions required to produce an awning of a larger size. Usually, a pair of foldable arms are adequate for supporting the weight of a awning canopy of about fifteen feet in diameter, however different materials used in the construction of the arms is going to alter this slightly.
The roller assembly is attached to the end of the canopy fabric, and as part of the retraction of the awning, it will roll around and wrap the canopy around itself. The advantage of this is that the fabric of the canopy is both protected from damage that can be caused by wildlife or by weather, and that the canopy uses up less space when it isn’t needed. The roller assembly is composed of numerous parts, but in essence the main component is essentially a rolling pin that can rotate. Often times, this component in an awning will be housed in an additional cover that offers protection for the fabric so that damage is even further reduced. Many feel that the hood profile that acts as a cover also provides a cleaner look, making the retractable awnings that include this component have a more aesthetically pleasing look.
The operating mechanism of the retractable awning is where the difference in the types of retractable awnings really gains importance. There are two main types of mechanisms, and the retractable awnings available may have one or both of these. The first to examine is the manual operating retractable awning, which usually requires the assistance of a separate arm. This separate arm is necessary as the actual awning is usually placed out of reach, and so the arm is used to attach to the awning to either pull it out or to rotate a wheel, which are the two most common manual operating mechanisms. The second type is an electrical operating mechanism, where an electrical motor is attached to the retractable awning in order to operate the product automatically. This is usually used by a switch that is placed beneath the awning, however there is also the option for purchasing a remote control for the device. You can even purchase ones that can open automatically when sensors detect rain. The electric motor is usually attached to the roller assembly in order to drive the rotation, however with some models the engine is used to drive the foldable arms outward instead, but both achieve very similar results.