Frequently Asked Questions about Awnings and Pergolas

Our awnings are all water resistant, but not completely waterproof. In general terms, awnings are designed to protect you from the sun, not the rain. Awnings are intended for use on relatively still and sunny days, not cold, wet and windy ones. A pergola with a fixes and waterproof top would be a better choice for times like these. Having said that, our awning fabrics do have a degree of water resistance, so a light shower will not be a problem.Our awnings are all water resistant, but not completely waterproof. In general terms, awnings are designed to protect you from the sun, not the rain. Awnings are intended for use on relatively still and sunny days, not cold, wet and windy ones. A pergola with a fixes and waterproof top would be a better choice for times like these. Having said that, our awning fabrics do have a degree of water resistance, so a light shower will not be a problem.

Generally speaking, it is possible for our awnings to be fitted to a hollow wall. However our team of qualified installers will take great care to assess wall quality to determine whether it is sturdy enough to take the awning safely and securely. In any case where there is a hollow wall, the installer will employ superior hollow wall fixings to ensure a secure and safe installation of the awning.

Our awnings are designed to withstand a light breeze. As a rough guide, a breeze of between 20mph and 25mph will generally be fine. Any breeze should be constant and not coming in sudden gusts, as this could damage the awning and or mechanism.  The direction of the wind is also an important factor too. For example, you should avoid having an awning fitted in an area that is likely to be subjected to up draughts, as these could cause the awning to act like a windsock. 

Should there be winds stronger than the speed mentioned above, then it is recommended that the awning is retracted. A smart phone will give wind speeds on most weather apps, so you can easily and quickly see whether the wind speed will be too strong to safely extend your awning.

We can advise you accordingly should you be worried about whether there may be any restrictions concerning the installation of an awning or pergola at your property. There may be a restrictive covenant in your area that details what is and is not permissible, but the likelihood of this extending to an awning or pergola are very limited. Clearly, consideration for your neighbours should be a guiding factor, as blocking the light to your neighbour’s property could lead to unnecessary tension.

Usually our awnings will fit any house. However, as some of them are very heavy, it is important to ensure the structure can be supported properly. Our professional team of installers will advise you about this.  Whatever property you have, we guarantee that your awning will be installed quickly, cleanly and safely.

Both polyester and acrylic fabrics are synthetic, both are manufactured from petroleum. The main difference between the polyester and acrylic fabrics used on our awnings is that PU coated polyester tends to be considerably more breathable, but acrylic is a much better insulator.

PU Coated Polyester fabric

Pros: This material is more waterproof than acrylic, much easier to clean and generally cheaper

Cons: Polyester material on our awnings is quite thin. Should it wrinkle, they tend to remain for longer. The choice of colours can be limited. The colour of the polyester fabric can fade under strong sunshine over a period of time.

Acrylic fabric

Pros: Acrylic fabric used in our awnings is washable in a domestic washing machine. The material is thicker than the polyester fabric. Acrylic fabric tends to resist wrinkling. Acrylic awning fabric comes in a wider range of colours. The colour is less likely to fade when exposed to strong sunshine.

Cons: Acrylic awning fabric attracts a higher price. Although water resistant, it is not waterproof.

So to decide which fabric you should choose for your awning will rather depend on what you use it for. If you are using it commercially for a shop or for an extended period of time in an opened position under frequent sunshine acrylic is recommended as it is more durable, making it worth the extra financial investment. If the awning is purely for occasional domestic use, then a polyester awning may be the answer.

The longevity of the awning will depend on a few factors; therefore it is impossible to determine how long one will last. The factors that determine how long the awning will last include where the awning was installed, the weather conditions it is subjected to, how regularly the awning has been maintained, serviced or cleaned will make a world of difference and it also depends on the type of awning that is installed. The cover is often the first casualty, as it is the part of the awning that is subjected to the most stress and sunlight.

Should the cover to your awning require replacement, we can help, as we stock replacement covers too.

Yes, our awnings will all come supplied with a detachable manual crank handle.  In the event of a power cut or blown fuse, you will still be able to open and close your awning.

A positive fall is simply a way to describe the angle of the roof of the pergola and how effective it is at shedding water.

If a pergola has a positive fall angle, it will be far more effective at shedding water during a rain storm.

The simple answer is no, but if the installation of the awning is going to involve alteration to a listed building, then this may require permission. Should your property be subjected to some sort of protection order, you are most probably going to be aware of it and you should alert our installers prior to work commencing.

As the awning is to protect you from the sun and not rain, it should be retracted during periods of heavy rain. However, a light shower is unlikely to cause any problems. Should you retract the awning when it’s wet, it will not be damaged, as the material is man made, but you should open it as soon as the rain has passed to properly dry it out.

The main difference between an awning and a pergola is that an awning is usually a temporary structure, while a pergola is a permanent structure. A pergola is often attached to the house or ground with posts and columns.

Both awning and pergola are outdoor structures that provide shelter from the sun. An awning has a fabric cover that extends over or in front of a place to provide shelter, while a pergola is an outdoor structure consisting of a framework where climbing or trailing plants can grow, offering a more dappled shade when covered in the climbing plants.

The simple answer is, it depends on what you want to use it for.

Both awnings and pergolas are very popular for improving the look and function of a garden. Although they offer similar functions, pergolas and awnings are completely different and are intended to be used for different reasons.

A pergola tends to be the better option if you’re interested in creating an entertaining space in your garden but are not too concerned about being shaded or protected from the weather. An awning provides great sun protection but must be attached to a pre-existing structure, so your options for where you can place your awning can become limited.

A pergola and pergola awning are the best combination for creating a versatile entertaining space, not limited by location and with superior weather protection, depending on the material used for the awning of course.

An awning is a sheet of material attached to your home or to a special mechanism that is itself attached to your property. Regardless of how the awning cover is attached to the property, it’s the awning cover itself that is the actual awning.

A pergola is a freestanding structure made from posts or beams that create a shaded area for entertaining, relaxing or encouraging climbing plants. An awning may sometimes be attached to a pergola, but the pergola refers only to the structure itself. Pergolas can be built on any space in the garden, whereas an awning is usually attached to a fixed point of the property.

Pergola awnings refer to awnings that are used on pergolas. While pergolas are great for creating a space in your garden for entertaining and relaxing, it isn’t always ideal for protecting against the weather. Pergola awnings are made and installed to the precise dimensions of your pergola for optimum protection against wind, rain, sun and snow.

Certainly from a domestic point of view, an arbour is considered a freestanding structure that operates as an entrance to a part of another area or garden. It can also serve as a shelter for a bench or seating area, they are frequently referred to as waiting arbours. Arbours often have plants climbing up and overhead, much like the pergola. Arbours include two or four posts with a simple slatted roof. The sides of an arbour can be either open, covered with lattice or trellis work for a more enclosed effect and to help vines better attach, or they can be solid.

The pergola is often built over a patio or deck as a shade structure. The pergola is also based on a similar construction to the arbour. When attached to a house, a pergola will extend from the exterior side or roof, creating a shaded or semi-shaded space that links the interior of the house to the open outside area. The pergola provides a slatted roof for a patio, deck, or outdoor room.

A pergola can be connected to a property on at least one side and may consist of a series of independent columns supporting beams that form an open roof, or it can be a freestanding structure.

As a freestanding structure, a pergola can be identified by having four or more posts or columns. It supports a roof that is traditionally flat, with beams left alone in one direction or topped with cross beams or slats. The pergola’s roof can be left open, covered with weatherproof fabric or conservatory style polycarbonate roofing material, or to support vines and climbers. The pergola can serve as a privacy screen, particularly if covered by dense climbing plants.