What should I consider when purchasing an awning?
An awning raises your home’s value and comfort. But...choosing the right one can be tricky with so many models in the market. Fortunately, Brustor comes to the rescue with tips and tricks for the right choice! An awning raises your home’s value and comfort. But...choosing the right one can be tricky with so many models in the market. Fortunately, Brustor comes to the rescue with tips and tricks for the right choice!
Key criteria for a smart awning purchase
Keep these criteria in mind for patio terraces:
- Housing design: ask yourself, ‘Does the housing match my home’s style?’
- Awning width: does the span of the awning cover the width of my surface?
- Overhang: will the awning create the shade I need, e.g. 360° shade for my dining area?
- Where would I like to hang the screen?
- What is the best kind of fabric for my space?
- How do I plan to use the awning?
- Is the screen in a windy area?
Brustor’s golden tip? Don’t jump in at the deep end. Make it easy on yourself and ask a licensed dealer. Our dealers have years of awning installation experience. Plus, they’ve got the knowledge and chops to help you make the best technical and aesthetic choice. Considering a retractable awning? Get in touch with a Brustor dealer for a no-strings-attached consultation. They’re eager to lend their expertise to create your custom quote.
What awning matches your home’s style?
An awning’s housing helps define the aesthetic. That part remains visible, even when the awning is retracted. Naturally, you need to put plenty of thought into the design. Brustor sells a variety of designs to match the diversity of building styles. Do you have a more traditional home? The B25 is ideal. What about a sleek newbuild? In that case, the B27’s square housing is just the ticket. What about dwellings with a bit of both? Meet the B24.
Is the awning available in the right width?
Not all awnings come in the same widths. Consequently, Brustor designed a special retractable awning line to cover extra wide spaces. Say hello to B35 and B38. These awnings can be produced up to 15 metres wide (B35). In contrast, B38 offers a maximum width of six metres.
Ultimately, that makes these awnings perfect for, e.g., the hospitality sector, where spacious terraces call for sufficient shade.
Overhang: will the awning create the shade you need?
An awning’s dimensions determine the overhang. What is overhang? Overhang is how far your awning extends from the wall to the front frame when the awning is fully extended. For example, the B35 awning has an overhang of up to four metres. In other words, when fully extended, the awning is four metres. Naturally, this affects your potential shade, so it’s a must to consider overhang in your awning selection. Fully extended, your awning should always provide your garden table or lounge with full shade.
Brustor’s awnings extend anywhere between three and four metres.
Where would you like to hang the awning?
So, you’re considering a retractable awning... In that case, you need to be 100% sure that the surface it’s suspended from is sturdy enough. For instance, you could mount the housing on a wall or mount it flush with the façade.
We recommend contacting a Brustor licensed dealer for complete peace of mind and to avoid unpleasant surprises. They’ll check whether additional reinforcement is required, how to provide it, and list the best possible solutions for you.
Which fabric is best for your awning?
The sky’s the limit when it comes to sun protection fabrics. And that’s why you’ve got to carefully consider your priorities. Maybe you’re in the market for waterproof fabric or the opposite...something water permeable. Or perhaps you need full UV-proof sun protection fabric. Every fabric (from acrylic to polyester) has its perks. What’s more, a wide range of colours are available.
In fact, end customers even have the freedom now to choose more sustainable, environmentally friendly awning fabrics. These fabrics are produced from recycled fibres without using harmful chemicals. The fibres themselves are reclaimed from surplus production scraps. They are collected and reprocessed into full-size lengths of fabric.
How do you plan to use the awning?
What you’ll use the awning for largely determines your priorities. Looking for an awning to enhance the vibe of your outdoor space? Great! Why not add LED lighting in the arms and under the housing? Now, you have an awning that provides sun protection and conveniently keeps your garden lit at night. It’s perfect for dinners after sunset, boosting the cosy factor.
Brustor’s awnings have several LED lighting options, from LED under the housing to isolated LED spots in the awning arm joints and LED strips across the arms.
Is the screen in a windy area?
Lastly, wind load is key when deciding on the best sun protection solution. Is your awning’s installation site particularly blustery? If so, you should opt for a more robust, reinforced set of arms.
Brustor offers three arm types, each characterised by unique properties. Wind resistance is one of those. Click for more about the three types.
Interested? Book your Brustor dealer consultation.
By now, you know that selecting an awning requires careful thought. Do yourself a favour and book a consultation with one of our licensed dealers. They’ll help you find the best sun protection solution.
