You know that if you have a business, almost everything involved is branded – from the colours you use for your business sign, to your website colors, down to the font you use for your business cards. Therefore when it comes to something like Awnings, business owners get a little worried that they might not have enough options available to them to have it blend into their business, so they go without them.

Awnings are a special product because they not only offer benefits such as:

– Offer a bigger return on investment for outdoor spaces: If you have an outdoor space such as a restaurant or cafe, people WILL want to sit outside if you have space, but they also love it if you have a covering over the space. Awnings are much less expensive than building an entire roof overhead and they still allow the cool breeze to flow in the space.

– Offer increased visibility for your business: Yes you can get your name or business logo printed on these Awnings.

– Add sun and UV Ray protection: As mentioned above, if you have an outdoor area like a space to eat or you have customers that want to wait outside to be seated or seen, an Awning is a great place to offer some shade.

While these 3 benefits are the biggest reasons business owners purchase Awnings, they also do so because they can also be 100% customized so they blend into your style, design and brand.

Types of Awnings

These are two main types of awnings

Stationary and Retractable

A stationary Awning stays in place and is “fixed” to the building’s exterior. These are stable but cannot be moved, which also means they need to be cleaned more often when it comes to snow because the snow can cause damage. However, these have no mechanics (pulleys, motors, etc.) which means they offer lower maintenance costs.

On the other hand, a retractable Awning allows you to pull the Awning in when, not in use, and out when in use. These can be either “pulled” in manually with the touch of a button or they can be put on a timer.

Both of these have their advantages and disadvantages. Once you figure out the type you want, you’ll also need to start looking into the details of the Awnings such as materials used, colours and textures.

Materials and Fabrics of Awnings

The number of materials and fabrics used in Awnings varies, but some of the most common options are:
– Metal
– Polyester
– Canvas
– Cotton
– Wood
– Polycarbonate

Getting to know these materials is imperative. Metal for example is going to be the sturdiest, but it is not exactly considered the “pretty” option of the bunch. Cotton and canvas can create a better aesthetic look and feel, but they also tend to be better for colder or rainy climates because they can resist moisture.

Awning Shapes

If you have a shape in mind, chances are a company can design it for you. The most common shapes include:

– Traditional
– Waterfall
– Dome
– Canopy

Within these shapes are sub-categories, for example, dome and then bull-nose which offers a straight-edged side, rather than a curved edge. Choosing the right company to install your Awning can offer you the best advice on which product would suit your building the best.

Colors and Brand Ability

Early we mentioned the ability to brand these Awnings to your business. Essentially an Awning can be coloured to any paint under the sun. You can also find patterns such as stripes – which is the most common pattern. You can even take this a little further and find a printing company that will take your Awning and print your business name or logo onto the Awning.