While vinyl is descriptive of the material, it is more than this. There are a wide variety of awning styles, most of which are made of vinyl.  However, you can find exterior shutters that are made of bamboo, canvas, or other wood products. Let’s not forget about the fact that with a fabric awning like vinyl, you can also have them roll up and stow away when not in use.  The benefit of this type of feature is that in weather that might otherwise threaten a free-standing patio cover, your roll up awnings can be safe and secure in their own protected storage case.  As you might have guessed, these awnings are retractable.  This retractable patio awning feature is activated either manually with a crank handle or motorized.

Motorized awnings are activated by either a switch or via a light sensor.  The switch can be turned on by hand or with a remote, depending upon your particular unit.  Also, you can use a timer to have your patio awnings open and retract when ever you like.  The light activated model will be triggered to open or retract depending upon the movement of the sun in the sky.

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Why vinyl makes such a great choice for garden awnings is that it is both flexible and durable.  It can be washed with a simple mild detergent and hosed off.  This makes them quite durable to resist the effects of the weather and also from dirt and grime.  Many newer awnings are also able to better resist the effects of the UV light on the fabric as well.  The newer vinyl awnings can give you longer lasting life to help you enjoy more time on your patio which is what they are all about.

Awntech 16′ Beauty Mark Maui Retractable Awning with 12′ Projection Your patio or other outdoor area develops an attractively shady character with the addition of this 16′ retractable awning. The 12′ projection from the wall provides ample shade for outdoor gatherings or simple relaxation away from the harmful rays of the sun. The awning installs easily…

16FT Evergreen 1000XT Retractable Awning This Refurbished 16 ft. SunSetter 1000XT Awning is backed by SunSetter’s 5 Year Manufacturer’s Limited Warranty. The SunSetter Evergreen fabric extends out 10 ft. 2 in. from your house and is made of an exclusive multilayer Vinyl material that is 100% waterproof and blocks 99.9% of UV rays making…

12FT Taupe 1000XT Retractable Awning This Refurbished 12 ft. SunSetter 1000XT Awning is backed by SunSetter’s 5 Year Manufacturer’s Limited Warranty. The SunSetter Taupe fabric extends out 10 ft. 2 in. from your house and is made of an exclusive multilayer Vinyl material that is 100% waterproof and blocks 99.9% of UV rays making it…

Coolaroo Select Series Top Roll up Sun Shade 6 Feet by 6 Feet, Mocha Select series sun shades are made with the unique knitted Coolaroo fabric. They provide a stylish look with superior durability. The smooth action roller clutch mechanism is designed to provide a smooth even roll even when exposed to extreme weather conditions. Stainless steel tie downs included…

Sunsetter Retractable Awning – Motorized Pro 15ft. (Coffee Stripe) (15′ wide x 10′ extension) The Sunsetter Motorized Pro retractable patio awning instantly creates shade, protection and comfort anytime you want! With a touch of a button, the deck awing can make your deck as much as 20 degrees cooler, while guarding you, your family, and guests from harmful UV rays. This porch awning can…

12′ Easy – Up Roll – Out Awning Easy – Up Roll – Out Awning. Retractable shade to cool off your favorite summertime “hot”spot! Here’s the classic summer dilemma: you love hanging out in the fresh air, but sometimes that harsh midday sun can melt your enjoyment of the moment. Well, under this Roll-Out Awning, temps can be as much…

There are several styles of roll up awnings to discuss.  Like all patio accessories, it seems, there are often several names used to discuss one item.  The same is true regarding the various types of outdoor shades and awnings.  Besides finding the term spelled as one word, as in ‘rollup’ awnings, you might also see these listed as retractable awnings as well.  Many online vendors and outlets use some of these terms synonymously, so don’t be confused.

Roller Shades

How They Work
The name of these particular awnings, basically describe their function.  Roller shades work by way of a mechanical winding or rotor that simply rolls up the awning as it closes and unrolls it as it opens.  This allows you to not only control how much shade you would like to have (in some cases) but also to open or close them only when you want.

If you live in a very sunny region, you will likely have yours open much of the time. In areas where the climate is known to swing, you might want to only keep yours open when you are using your patio to avoid damage to the awnings from the elements.  This is one of the key selling points and best features of this style of awning.  The fact that they can roll up gives you the ability to keep them protected while not in use.  The metal tube into which your awning is stored does a great job of keeping them safe from water, sun, and dirt and grime.

What Kinds Are There?
The main types are the manual or motorized styles.  A manual roll up awning will have a crank handle that you simply turn to open or close your shade.  It can be locked away when not in use, so the handle is out of the way.  These are typically less costly than the motorized awnings.

The motorized awning comes in several styles as well.  Aside from them all being electrical, the differences are in how the opening or closing takes place.  You can get these to operate by way of a switch.  These would require you to turn them ‘on’ and ‘off’ to open and close them.  Then, there are motorized versions that operate by way of using a remote.  Same mechanical means of function, but with the ability to open or close them right from your chaise lounge.

Finally, there is the automatic retractable patio awning.  This one opens and closes following either a timer or can be activated by light.  In other words, you could either set it to open at the time you would normally go out to sit and close in the evening or allow the sun to open and close your awnings for you.  What ever type of style you choose, roll up awnings will certainly make your patio time more comfortable and enjoyable.

There are ways to shade your patio and then there are ways to shade your patio.  If you are used to the simple and temporary ways of doing it by using a patio umbrella or other type of patio canopy, then you are in for some education.  These previous styles can work quite well for specific shading needs, but if you are looking to step up the look and function of your patio space, then you need to look at a more professional type of awning.

This is one of the hybrids mentioned that has both retractable awning members and acts as a pergola.

Now, having said this, there are hybrid awning-patio cover structures that accomplish both of these demands.  We talked about these structures in previous articles here at Patio Covers Place.  Briefly, what they look like are either pergolas or other four posted units, with the awnings that run along tracts on the ‘roof’ of the structure.  So, what you end up with are individual panels that can be retracted or closed to allow for more variable shading.  This can be great for those times when you want a little bit of both sun and shade.  Photo credit

Typical patio awnings can be anything from a fix-mounted unit to something that has the ability to fold up out of the way.  A fix-mounted patio awning is the way that you will save the most money.  You can get these made with a variety of materials and fabrics that withstand the elements quite well.  The frames for these types of awnings are usually made of a light gauge steel and powder coated for rust protection or they can be made with aluminum.  Both styles of frames come in various colors to match your awning or home decor preferences.  The awnings themselves also come in a wide variety of colors and prints.  A classic awning has a bold striped pattern, but solid colors are also a very common way to go.

Patio Awnings Come In Different Shapes and Sizes

Your awnings may also come with different types of trim.  You may have a solid straight edge or you can get a number of different trim styles, like scalloped edges.  These are all available in both the fixed and retractable awning styles.  The main difference between the two is in appearance and your specifications.

Most retractable patio awning styles come in both a manual and an automatic version.  The way that the awning retracts or unfolds is usually similar between the two.  A manually operated awning is opened and closed by way of a crank.  As you crank on the handle, the awning opens or closes.  These work just fine, but some people have personal situations where operating them by hand is either not possible or simply inconvenient.

Here are some images of retractable awnings with a scalloped edge and drop-down extra sun protection in desert tan.

In these cases, you can opt for one of the motorized versions.  Motorized awnings work in basically the same way as the manual styles, except that they are powered.  These can be operated in several ways as well.  There are styles that come with switches, remotes or timers.  For example, you can have a switch located just inside of your patio and just turn it on and it will open all by itself.  It will do the same in reverse when you are wanting to go back in for some time and don’t want it to remain open for any number of reasons – we’ll discuss a few of these further on in this article.   Photo credit

The remotes work on the same principle, it is just that they can be opened or closed from anywhere on your patio or indoors, not relying on a fixed switch mounting position.  The final option is to have your retractable patio awning controlled by a timer or sensor.  These work either by opening or closing at specific times that you can set.  The sensor styles are opened or retracted by sensing the sun in the sky.  As it rises or sets, your sensor picks this up and allows your patio to achieve just the amount of sun or shade you desire and at just the right times!

Buying and Maintaining Your Retractable Patio Awning

Some things to think about when purchasing or owning a retractable awning include cost, maintenance, installation and safety concerns.  If you are considering a purchase, then you are likely aware that these styles are a bit more expensive than the fixed-mounted awnings.  For a quality retractable awning, expect to pay approximately $1,500-2,000 USD for a standard 10’ x 10’ awning.  You can find cheaper ones, but you may be sacrificing quality.  You can also find more expensive ones which probably are the motorized ones with sensors and the like.  Custom sizes can also be ordered which will obviously up the price tag.  However, a proper fitting awning is what you are really after.  The long-term returns for a perfectly sized, quality retractable awning far outweigh any short-term savings.

With proper care, you should enjoy a quality retractable awning for many years.  There have been great strides in materials and parts over the years, so operation is smooth, quiet and quite quick.  Generally speaking, cleaning your patio awning fabric itself can be accomplished using a simple solution of water and mild detergent.  Follow your manufacturer’s directions for any stains that you may acquire to ensure that you don’t permanently damage or stain your awning.  As far as the motorized parts are considered, there is not too much to worry about there.  Occasional lubrication depending upon conditions will also keep your awning opening and closing smoothly for years.

When it comes to installation concerns, this aspect would best be left up to the professionals that can be recommended by your awning retailer. It isn’t that they are very difficult to install, just some issues with precision measurements and proper mounting will not only keep you safe but also make sure your awning functions properly.  A poor installation can give you safety issues.  This isn’t to say that an avid and handy DIYer couldn’t do this project, it would just need to be done right.

Safety is not something you want to be thinking about when all you want to do is be out there relaxing.  This is actually another benefit of a retractable awning over a fixed-mounted style.  The retractable styles can be closed during inclement weather to protect them from wind damage or other flying debris in a serious storm.  These awnings roll up or fold into their own protective aluminum case for safe storage.

For these reasons, motorized awnings make great sense.  Whatever style you decide upon, know that just having them is more than half the battle.  Don’t struggle with the decision for too long, you’re missing out on all the enjoyment you could be having out on your patio.  Pick up or order some type of retractable awning and kick your feet up by next weekend.