Patio garden shades are really important if you want to enjoy al fresco living, but there is more than one way to keep the sun out of your garden and garden patio. In this guide, we will look at all the main garden shade structures available and give you some key features for each so you can choose the best fabric awning for your home.
What is an awning?
A garden canopy or garden awning is essentially a temporary structure that can provide year-round shelter from rain, wind, snow and sunlight. A garden canopy covers different areas of your garden depending on its size; it can cover an entire garden area or just part of it such as a patio or decking area. They are different from gazebos.
The main difference between a gazebo and canopy is that the latter is meant to be temporary outdoor furniture while the former is a permanent design. Canopies are mainly marketed for their lightweight, easy installation, and convenience when needed. Gazebos come in various shapes and sizes but they all have something in common—they’re usually built from wood or metal with a roof shape on top of straight posts.
What is an outdoor canopy? The basic type of shelter from the sun is called a canopy. It’s just like the canopies you see above sports stadiums, under which there is nothing but open space with no walls or support columns for protection from rain or wind.
What are the main awning fabrics?
The most common fabrics used in garden awnings are:
- Polyester
- Acrylic
- Olefin 4. Sunbrella (durable fabric) 5. Outdoor water-resistant material blend
- PEVA – used for garden screening cloth because it is weatherproof, flame retardant and recyclable
- PVC – durable outdoor vinyl fabricated using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as well as several other materials including acrylics and plasticizers etc., which makes this garden canopy type very affordable, however, it is not recommended for use in garden pergolas or structures similar to sunrooms, as the colour may fade due to UV rays from the sun over time.
Do you need fabric awnings or umbrellas?
Most people call all covered outdoor shade structures “awnings,” but in fact, there are two distinct types of structures: awnings and umbrellas. In general, an awning structure resembles a porch more than an umbrella. It features sturdy supports positioned at the outer edge of the cover and solid sides that meet firmly at the top.