Providing shelter
The main purpose of awnings, canopies and roofs is to shield people from rain and/or sun. However, the quality can be very variable and you should try to buy the best you can afford. It is best to oversize if possible as sun and rain rarely come straight down and, if you can, construct something solid rather than temporary. These types of construction are more likely to stand up to bad weather and should be more durable in the long run.
What’s the difference?
| Awning | Canopy | Roof | |
| Covering | Fabric, often canvas | Steel, rigid, plastic, fabric | Steel, rigid, plastic, tiles, etc |
| Retractable? | Sometimes | Sometimes | No |
| Support | From wall | Wall and pillars or just pillars | Walls and/or pillars |
| Costs | Low | Low-medium | High |
Comparing fabric, steel/aluminium and rigid plastic coverings
| Advantages | Fabric | Steel/aluminium | Rigid plastic |
| Colour/design options | ••• | • | • |
| Easy to shape | ••• | • | • |
| Easy to repair | ••• | • | • |
| Strong weather resistance | • * | •• | •• |
| Resistance to fading | • | •• | •• |
| Lifespan | • | •• | ••• |
| Resistance to stains | • | ••• | ••• |
| Guttering usable | - | •• | •• |
* Although fabric covers can be removed or retracted in case of storms
What to look for when selecting an awning, canopy or roof
| Retractability | Is it important for you to be able to roll it out or back? There are manual, mechanical and even sensor-controlled versions |
| Build quality | If you are looking for a moveable canopy or awning, the quality of the working parts is critical |
| Material | As noted above. See if you can get a guarantee |
| Heating/lighting | These can often be provided as integrated options – sometimes the heat and light can be produced from the same unit |
Parasols And Umbrellas
Parasols and umbrellas are more effective at keeping the sun off people than keeping them dry. They are, however, relatively cheap and portable and can be bought easily from local DIY and home stores.
You should consider these only as a temporary or fair weather. By winter they may not afford adequate shelter or heating to maintain customer comfort.
Site by: Dijit new Media