Awnings; Advantages, types, fabrics and useful tips | super guide complete!

Awnings for terraces, gardens and windows

Since temperatures will soon reach levels quite high – if we don't already have them – we wanted to review some concepts about the different types of awnings , fabrics and their characteristics main ways to protect our home from light solar .

The awnings for terraces are one of the the most classic mobile-fixed shielding mechanisms abroad in Spain. It reminds us of the installation company of Solstore awnings… «Installing an awning is an economical and useful for making shade" is to protect windows, terraces, gardens, porches or whatever you want.

Generally they can be vertical, projected or horizontal, and not only serve to protect the solar radiation or heat, they also graduate the ventilation or protect against adverse weather conditions , including other points.

Types of awnings

Now, we have to review what are the types of most common awnings that we will find in the market:

1.- Fixed awnings or stationary

A fixed awning is a welded frame that is attached permanently to a wall. These should not move and make them a permanent addition to your home or business.

2.- Awnings retractable

A retractable awning also attaches to the housing, but can be opened or pulled back to provide as much or as little coverage as you want. The retractable awnings extend with controls motorized or manually with a crank. They divide themselves depending on the structure of the mechanism and are mainly three:

*We remember that each manufacturer has its peculiarities in mechanisms and arms, both fixed and articulated or automated.

1. No Chest . The system winds the fabric leaving it out in the open. The collection of the fabric is through of a crank.
2. With semicoffer . The system has a box that, when the parasol is gathered up, it protects both the structure and the fabric, but leaving out the final skirt and arms. can be manual or mechanized.
3. With Chest . Here the mechanism swallows completely the arms and the fabric forming a hermetic.
4. Awning with Monobloc system . It's a special system intended mainly for awnings of large dimensions which is widely used in the field of catering or to cover large terraces . The peculiarity lies in what has more reinforcements , that is, the anchor points on the facing are not only at their ends, according to measurements They can have from 4 to 8 anchor points.

Depending on the manufacturer and customer needs, the optional features of awnings retractable are varied and can be purchased as basic model or with additional functions that make them more easy to use. We list three characteristics commonly available:

• Motorization . motorized controls allow extension and retraction by a mechanical system. These are operated via a switch or with a remote control. It allows us an ease in its deployment which comes in handy when we have large dimensions, in reality which makes it the most popular.

• Wind, rain and sun sensors. These sensors will automatically extend or retract your awning, depending on the weather. In addition to being convenient, this helps to keep the awning protected from the elements of the weather time.
• Protection covers against weather . An accessory for mounted models on the roof, a weather protection cover protects the first six to eight inches of awning fabric, preserving its appearance and durability.

Best of all, retractable awnings They virtually disappear when not in use. Practically all manufacturers already have a model of this guy.

Parts of the awning

We want to show a comparison of the parts of a awning simple to a complex one, so that we can recognize the complexity they have reached:

The material. Types of fabrics in awnings

Different materials require different amounts of maintenance and adapt to the appearance of certain homes about others.

From simple rigid to retractable models, Today they come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. While traditional awning styles to They were often made from wood, metal, or cotton canvas with a simple in style, their modern cousins feature more durable that require much less maintenance.

The fabrics of the awnings generally come in two different types of fabrics, with one or two different treatments:

As the specialists of Solstore , advances in technology by Of course they have also reached the world of protection solar and its fabrics. For example:

• The Soltis® 96 fabric stops up to 95% of UVA and UVB rays. Which has one micro perforated texture that favors the evacuation of air heat and locks in heat by forcefully reducing the sensation of heat.
• The Sunless© fabric that no longer only protects or has a high resistance but also has a fire retardant treatment that with a braided texture favors the breathability and provides visibility to the outside.
• Or the STAM© fabric which, in addition to being fire retardant and high quality, great value aesthetic.

The angle of inclination

According to the Technical Building Code and the IDAE (Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy) is establish some recommendations that determine the angle of inclination that they must have according to the orientation. We want add a scheme with the most characteristic data to determine what angle should be the awnings in relation to the vertical and horizontal of the facing:

Tips for choosing a awning

Although obviously the qualified professional is here to advise us, yes we can remember some key points of how to choose an awning :

– Sun protection . is the purpose Fundamental, the fabric must be of good quality that I blocked between 99% and 90 of UV rays, and infrared as well we will avoid the sensation of heat, managing to limit the temperature and regulate it achieving that energy saving expected that along with quality glazing, we will have a perfect optimization of the environment.

Remember that micro-perforated fabrics not only protect us from sun on the gazebo , but also allow interior-exterior micro ventilation, avoiding the effect greenhouse.

– Visible light and density . a good awning dramatically reduces ambient light intensity avoiding glare that is very annoying and harmful to the eyes, which together with the blinds in the houses, provide excellent light control.

– The color of the fabric . The tonality influences in the freshness it offers and in the filtering of the rays, it is In other words, a canvas with a darker color will have a percentage of more filtered rays but we will also have more darkness into the interior of the house. Taking this premise, we should use intermediate tones.

– Restrictions . Remember that when buy an awning if you live in a community of neighbours, it is possible that there are specific rules for both sizes, colors...etc. You should ask!

Today they are offered in all kinds of styles to suit to any budget and place. For doors, although not seems, they are equally suitable for applications residential or commercial and create a convenient shed as well as looking great.

What advantages do they bring to the housing

• Shade only when we need it and sun when we want. Although the previous sentence is obvious, in reality, we are not realizing that taking advantage of some useful meters that before its installation, for the day, we did not step directly. We increase the habitable zone of the house at a low price.
• New technologies allow us to have some retractable and motorized awnings that maintain the function of blocking the sun without miss those wonderful views. Similarly, you can retract during the darkest hours of the day, or on days cloudy, to illuminate the interior of the home in a way natural.
• The design does matter, and of course the hand shows of industrial designers in maintaining a balance of beauty and technical quality in the awning . Now the they all bring design to the home!

• Sometimes we forget that UV rays from the sun can severely damage and fade furniture, window sills, carpets, upholstery, curtains, the floor of the house...etc. With a good parasol or pergola, You can protect that valuable interior furniture and prolong its life. useful life.
• They help in energy saving . In on hot days, spread it out to prevent the sun from entering your home. The shade of your interior will naturally cool your home and will reduce air conditioning costs by up to 25% that together with the PVC windows we will have an envelope perfect. On cold days, you can retract it, allowing the sun helps to heat the house.
• They are a regulator of the interior ventilation of the home and obviously also protect not only from adverse weather conditions, but also of the "unwelcome onlookers".