Tips For Choosing The Right Awning Fabric

By Author: Michael Richman
Total Articles: 12
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If you want to create a comfortable place outdoors for your customers to enjoy, whether is a sidewalk café or restaurant patio, you should go for an awning fabric with soft colors and made from the right material to the job you’re looking for done. However, if you want to create a cheerful atmosphere or you are going to host parties outside at your facilities, choosing a Mediterranean or aquamarine blue could be a great option. Fabric awnings come in a variety of subcategories with ranges in heat protection, transparency, cost and weight. Read on to learn some of the science behind these simple, but deceptively not-so-simple commercial add-ons.

The calendar may say February, but that doesn’t mean the first tastes of spring – heat, humidity and severe weather – can’t make a cameo appearance across much of the country. Already places like Atlanta have hit 73°F, Chicago soared to 63°F and Newark, New Jersey reached a record high of 66°F on January 30. Clearly warmer weather is fast approaching.

That’s why it’s a great time of year to consider installing an awning or multiple awnings for your business. ...
... Awnings are an ideal way to add outdoor space while protecting expensive tables and seating from from UV rays and sunlight. Although there are various awning materials available in the market, fabric awnings are the preferred choice for commercial uses due to its aesthetic value. Choosing the right awning fabric may be simple for experts but with the abundant choices of fabrics, styles and designs, many first-time buyers are often confused which fabric to choose.

The first thing that you have to consider when choosing the right fabric is to determine the purpose of the awning and where it will be placed. Fabric awnings break down into three subcategories and include, traditional canvas, mesh and acrylic fabrics.

Canvas fabrics are the oldest type, but have stood the test of time. Relatively heavy and durable, canvas awnings block out nearly 100% of the sun’s heat. This is particularly beneficial in warm, humid climates where sultry nighttime conditions prevent a business space from naturally cooling. If it didn’t get as hot to begin with, your space will be left more comfortable at night even if the outdoor thermometer says otherwise.

Mesh awnings are a bit lighter, protect a little less from the heat, but allow light to partially pass through them. This is a great option when trying to “shade in” a pool area at a hospitality establishment or screen out bugs and pests at your eatery. A major plus for mesh awnings is their mildew resistant and UV protecting nature. Once again, humid climates benefit from this style. Lastly, acrylic fabrics are lightweight and are popular considerations when choosing retractable awnings. They also have a large variety of colors to choose from which in some cases, tips the purchasing scale in their favor. As a general rule of thumb, awnings made out of polyester or acrylic or coated with laminates will last longer and require less maintenance and upkeep. These synthetic coatings help create a moisture barrier where instead of seeping into the fabric, water is wicked toward the surface, similar to how Rain X helps bead raindrops into larger “puddles” on your windshield, allowing them to be more effectively wiped away by your wiper blades.

So if you are going to get an awning installed to cover the doorways, heavier fabrics might be the better choice. However, if you want to use the awning to protect your windows, then lighter fabrics might be the better option. Whichever you choose, fabric awnings can be designed in such a way that makes them color fade and stretch resistant, too.

As mentioned above, next to heat, awnings are great at block the sun’s harmful UV rays. Not only do these rays burn human skin, they’re highly effective at breaking the molecular bonds that make up the pigments of color. That means your tan or brown outdoor patio couch and chairs can quickly become faded and uninviting. Awnings of all fabric types do a good job protecting in this category.

Choosing the right color is essential to make the awning stand out. Before you are overwhelmed with the choices of colors, you will do well to note that it is something you can easily address by discussing your needs with experts. For example, if you want to create a comfortable place for your customer to sit outside, consider soft color fabrics. If you want to create a cheerful atmosphere and you are going to host parties on your patio, choosing a Mediterranean or aquamarine blue is a good option because this color is party-friendly while evoking a flare for the exotic.

Moreover, you can find these colors in both stripe and solid patterns and they can really cheer up your outdoor atmosphere. On the other hand, if you’re seeking greater intimacy, colors like oranges, yellows or reds are good choices because of their calming effect, creating a relaxed environment. The safest way in choosing the right color is to select a color scheme that matches the dominant color or colors of your business and brand.

After choosing the right color, it’s equally important you find the right pattern. While stripe and solid patterns are two of the most used, you can easily find sellers that allow you to order fabrics with custom designs and logos. However, custom pattern can be pricier. Lastly, regardless of what fabric that you choose for the fabric awning, proper cleaning and maintenance is the key to make your awning fabric lasts for a longer time.

Just as spring inevitably follows winter, the technology behind awnings and the subcategories of fabric shade structures will only continue to advance. University of California, Berkeley scientists have already developed prototype fabric structures that generate electricity when moved or twisted. Imagine that. No more bulky solar panels and the like. One day in the near future the entire awning itself will become a miniature power plant.

That’s an additional reason why considering a fabric awning today makes so much sense. The more familiar you are with traditional and modern installation techniques, the more ready you’ll be when the awnings technology of tomorrow arrives in a not-too-distant “today.”

The writer is associated with Academy Inc., a Los Angeles based manufacturer of commercial shade structures, which include products such as dome awnings, custom canopies, and beach cabanas.