Canopy Awnings

nedbenj — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:14:37 +0000

Canopies and awnings can be both decorative and practical, keeping off the rain and sun, as well as improving the look of your property. For bespoke awnings, it’s best to use a reliable professional company. If you’re having awnings specially made and live in the US, look for a company which is a member of The Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA). Awnings can be a great way to brand and advertise your business, lending it style and personality.

Canopies

There are many manufacturers which supply canopies in kit form. They are generally easy to assemble (though it normally takes two people) and are very useful for weddings, parties, car covers, etc. As well as being waterproof, an important consideration when choosing a canopy is UV protection: longterm exposure to sunlight can damage the canopy’s material, weakening it to the point that it tears. Look for a canopy made from UV-resistant material.

Fully Enclosed Canopies

Whilst many canopies consist of just a roof with minimal side walls, enclosed canopy kits are also available. If you need complete protection from the sun, rain or wind, then these are a good choice. As well as being used for parties and functions, they make great portable car covers.

Patio Canopies

nedbenj — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:05:26 +0000

The majority of patio canopies are manufactured from a plastic, such as woven polyethylene. This makes the canopy durable and waterproof. The actual structure is normally made from tubular steel or aluminum. Depending on where you plan to use the canopy, you may need to consider a model which comes with tie-downs (ropes or bungees used to secure the canopy). There is a large variety of styles available, some providing a very decorative solution, others plain and practical. You can expect to pay anything from about $90 upwards, depending on size and quality.

Shade Sails

nedbenj — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:24:18 +0000

They are available in ready-made and custom-built versions and are widely used in commercial as well as residential settings. They are widely available in triangular or square forms. When selecting a shade sail, one of the most important considerations is the ability of the fabric to stop harmful UV light; good models will block over 90% of UV-A and UV-B light. Although most shade sails are not designed to be waterproof, rather water-resistant, there are some which are made from waterproof fabrics. This type needs to be installed with quite a large pitch to ensure that the water rolls off and doesn’t pool on the sail.

Ideally, you should look for shade sails which use stainless steel fixings for strength and long life. The perimiter of the sail should be reinforced with nylon strapping, steel cable, etc., as should all the anchor points.

Shade Sail Installation Tips

Installing a shade sail is quite easy. Make sure that whatever you’re attaching the sail to is sufficiently robust, strong winds will exert extreme forces on it. Also, make sure you use the correct type of fixing for the application. If you are fixing the sail to posts, then bury at least a quarter, preferably a third, of the post underground and concrete them in.

To make sure the sail doesn’t lie flat, you want the fixing points to be at different heights. This helps rainwater to run off and looks more attractive. If you are using a square sail, then twisting it by having two high and two low fixings diagonally opposite each other, makes for a particularly stylish result.

It’s very important to ensure an even tension across the surface of the sail. This is accomplished by tightening each fixing a small amount and moving on to the next one, continuing until the desired tension is achieved.

Entrance Canopies

nedbenj — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:04:45 +0000

This type of canopy is available in many different styles, the most popular being sloped, casement (like a sloped canopy, but with a flat section at the top), convex, rounded, gabled and dome. They can cover just a small area above the entrance way, or extend several yards outwards from the building.

Whilst they are generally covered with vinyl or canvas materials, rigid glazed entrance canopies are another option and are especially useful where you need the canopy to provide shelter from the elements.

Most entrance canopies are designed to fit a specific requirement and are therefore made to measure by specialist suppliers. Make sure the work is carried out by professionals and you should ask to see references or samples of work the company has done. Selecting a firm which is a member of PAMA (the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association) is a good idea.

A canvas-type canopy should last a bare minimum of 5 years, normally considerably more. This of course depends a great deal on climatic conditions. Other than regular cleaning, they shouldn’t require any maintenance.