A Basic Guide To Awning Designs
Whether you place one above a door or a window, there’s no denying that adding the right awning can have a visual and even practical impact to your home or business.
In fact, there’s more you can do with an awning. You may even choose to install one on your patio to protect you and your outside furniture from the sun and light rain. While you may have a vision of the type of awning you want, it’s always good to understand what to look for in an awning to find the perfect one that fits your needs
Awning Type
Awnings are primarily divided into two types and have several shape variations. Those two types are stationary or retractable awnings. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages.
Stationary Awning
Stationary or fixed awnings have a welded structure that is permanently attached to a wall. As a result, this type of awning is perfect for small spaces like windows and doors since it provides full weather protection.
Despite generally having the most durable and sturdy structure, they can still be subject to severe weather conditions. Fixed awnings require regular care to remain strong over time and will need to be replaced occasionally. However, a high-quality awning can last decades with proper maintenance.
It is also important to keep in mind that with stationary awning, you cannot alter the orientation after installation
Retractable Awning
Retractable awnings are similarly attached to your property, but they may be opened or closed as needed to provide the right amount of shade. A hand crank or motorised controls are available to extend or retract the awning.
Due to their frame's low maintenance requirements, retractable awnings are perfect for patios and decks. Retractable awnings, as opposed to fixed awnings, can be attached to both the roof and the walls. Retractable awnings are generally the least resistant to weather or damage, but they may be stored during harsh weather.
However, there are certain drawbacks to retractable awnings. Retractable awnings are not only more expensive to purchase, but they also have higher repair costs.
Awning Style
Awnings in unique styles can provide individuality to your house or business. Unlike stationary awnings, which have a wide range of options, most retractable awnings are only offered in the decorative style.
Dome Awning
Awnings with rounded faces and sides are known as dome awnings. A dome awning has more aesthetic appeal and architectural uniqueness compared to more traditional designs.
Though many distinct styles are based on this basic shape, a perfect dome awning resembles a quarter sphere. The width and height of the ideal dome awning are equal. Besides, the awning's bottom extends from the wall by the same amount as its height.
This design has drawbacks and is only typically used over single windows and doors. Dome awnings protect you from the rain and, like other window awnings, block the sun to maintain a lower interior temperature. By installing a dome awning in Malaysia, it will enhance the appeal of your building and give it a touch of traditional European charm.
Traditional Awning
The traditional awning design is a well-liked, practical, and affordable design that looks fantastic on both commercial and residential structures. The fixed frame's length and downward slope can be changed to suit your tastes. It offers excellent shade covering without obstructing the view from the window much.
Traditional awnings are popular in the United Kingdom, a country that values tradition in many ways. They have a distinctive appearance that reflects the bygone era of the 1800s, grounding the overly modern pace of the street today.
One of their great appeals is that traditional awnings never overshadowed the architecture despite covering the entire sidewalk. Instead, it adds a touch of Victorian elegance to your building.
Quarter Round or Convex
Convex awnings, also known as quarter-round awnings, offer the same coverage as traditional awnings but with an outward curvature rather than a straight angle. A quarter-round or convex awning is ideal if you're looking for a modern awning design, especially for structures or homes with a modern aesthetic.
This awning style will also give your building an added dramatic flair, which can benefit businesses that want to stand out. By adding images or logos to the valence of the awning, this type of awning is also an excellent addition for companies wishing to increase brand recognition.
Cover Type
There are many different types, dimensions, and materials of awning fabrics. Selecting the best awning material types for your building requires more than just keeping your budget in mind. Here are a few more durable options that require much less maintenance.
Acrylic
Compared to traditional canvas, synthetic fabrics made of acrylic and acrylic-coated synthetic fabrics are far more durable. They have a high fading resistance and effectively repel water.
There are three types of acrylic fabrics available:
- 100 percent acrylic fabrics
- polyester fabrics coated with acrylic
- cotton-polyester blends with an acrylic coating
Since uncoated polyester is more vulnerable to sun damage, awnings generally should not be made using it. Awning fabrics made of acrylic and polyester are often opaque and heavy. Therefore, they function well in humid environments and are resistant to UV ray damage and mildew.
Vinyl
Vinyl can also be applied to awning fabrics. Compared to acrylic and acrylic-coated materials, these materials are often a little heavier. They are also more translucent, making them an excellent choice for backlit and illuminated awnings.
For medium- to large-scale awning projects, laminated vinyl is the preferred fabric choice since it is sturdy, waterproof, and long-lasting. The highest quality and most durable of all vinyl fabrics are vinyl-coated polyesters, which have a thinner protective coating and resist UV light and mildew. However, it performs less well in humid settings.
While vinyl fabrics are resilient, they are not the best material to use in windy areas of your house or place of business because they are not breathable or flexible.
Metal
Metal awnings are typically more durable than the previous varieties of awning material in Malaysia. These awnings may enhance a building's beauty and elegance, but they are less practical than fabric awnings.
To help prevent corrosion and damage, they frequently need maintenance. Furthermore, installing metal awnings is more expensive, and they are heavier. They may serve as a heat magnet during the warmer months, causing your outside space to become warmer rather than cooler.
Which Awning to Install?
Awnings come in a wide variety of styles, patterns, fabrics, colours, features, and options nowadays. Your reputable awning supplier can offer suggestions and price ranges for the awning that best suits your needs.
Here are three factors to consider when deciding which awning you should install for your building:
1. Location
The primary function of your awnings is to give shade or cover around your building's doorway, patio, street/sidewalk, walkway, or windows. As a result, whenever you install an awning, you should always consider location or placement.
The positioning of your awnings will enhance your building's façade. Therefore, they should be positioned properly and in a way that complements the architecture of neighbouring structures and awnings.
Avoid installing your awnings where there is already a covered pathway because this could hide the unique elements of your building.
2. Aesthetic
As you design the text and graphics that go onto the external surface of the awning and valance, awnings may do more than provide shade or shelter around your building. They can also raise awareness of your company. Additionally, the colour of your awnings should improve and compliment the appearance of your commercial space and any nearby awnings.
3. Comfort and maintenance
The UV-resistant qualities of your cloth awning will encourage clients to linger longer on the premises or allow you to spend more time on your patio at home. Furthermore, it can help protect your business premises or home patio from prolonged sun exposure, which can harm your furnishings, the wall, and so on.
Choose steel or aluminium for the awning structure because these materials can withstand Malaysia's harsh weather conditions and the weight of your cloth awning.
With this information in hand, you will find it easy to design the ideal custom-made fabric awning for your commercial area or home.
Looking for a variety of awning designs in Malaysia? Visit France Fabric Awning now!
Consider consulting a specialist like M & N France Fabric Awning for a flawless awning design in Malaysia. As Malaysia’s commercial awning manufacturer, our team of well-trained technicians can design and install awnings efficiently to meet your requirements. For more information, contact 012-9891491 or visit our showroom here.
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