You might have spent a lot of time and effort to create a beautiful patio, planning the materials and decorating it with furniture. However, have you left out one crucial element that will enhance the space? What about a retractable awning? Consider the following reasons to install one over your terrace.

Make Hot Days Bearable on Your Patio

A retractable awning makes a patio bearable on hot days by reducing solar heat gain. Otherwise, the sun bakes the paving, which absorbs the heat to greater or lesser degrees depending on the specific material. The patio flooring then releases radiant heat. Thus, as you relax on the terrace, you take in not only the sun's direct warmth but also the reflected heat from surrounding substances, such as paving — not to mention sizzling chairs.

By extending the awning on hot days, you'll keep the whole area cooler, even when no one's using it. Thus, if you do wander out during a balmy evening, for instance, it will be much pleasanter. When scrutinising various awning models, consider their fabric, as some block more heat than others.

Preserve Indoor and Outdoor Furnishings

Even though awnings are outside, they can protect indoor fabrics and furnishings depending on the position of windows relative to the patio. Many homes feature glass doors and windows facing a terrace. While this creates a beautiful open vista for inside, it leaves your furniture, rugs, and cushions at the mercy of the sun, which can cause them to fade and discolour. By extending and opening your awning, though, you retain the spacious vista while blocking direct sun rays. Some awning models allow you to extend the covering partially, so you can adjust it as the sun passes across the sky during the day. Your outdoor furniture will also be spared from solar damage.

No Obstructive Poles

A retractable awning uses spring-loaded arms to move and support the fabric. Thus, they don't disturb your outdoor space with inconvenient poles that don't contribute anything to the landscape. You'll thus enjoy an open and uncluttered look and feel because the awning supports are all overhead.

Works with the Changing Weather

When the weather is cloudy and crisp, you can retract the awning. A fixed covering, on the other hand, does not provide such versatility. Thus, even when the weather is not picture-perfect, you can still enjoy the patio, whether for reading or tending to your pot plants. Retracting the covering will also allow more light to flow indoors through glass windows and doors, making your home brighter on gloomy days.

For more information, contact an awning service.