This depends on what you are trying to achieve. If it’s just sun protection over a deck, terrace, or patio, a retractable awning will meet your needs, but if it’s full weather protection for this kind of outdoor space, or you want to create an “outdoor room,” a fixed-frame awning is the better choice. For shading inside parts of your home, window awnings are very effective. These come in a variety of styles.
Other types of custom-made awnings, such as free-standing canopies, also are available to satisfy almost any shading and aesthetic requirement. Giglio Awning can design an awning to meet any need that you may have.
The differences reflect style and function. The great advantage of retractable awnings is “shade on demand.” You use the awning when you need it for sun protection; otherwise it remains retracted. Another big advantage of retractable is the minimal annual maintenance.
The big advantage of fixed-frame awnings is that they protect against all kinds of weather. They also can be configured to form a kind of outdoor “room.” However, they require annual maintenance (including removal in the fall and re-installation in spring), and they are always “there” for constant, uninterrupted shade.
An awning is more durable, for starters. And it can shade a much larger area. It can be designed and constructed to meet your home’s unique configuration. An umbrella is highly susceptible to wind damage and must always be handled manually.
At season’s end, check for wear, for tears or holes, and mildew. If there is any damage, have the fabric repaired before you store it for the winter. If the braid along the front edge of the valance has frayed, replace it. Consider having your awnings cleaned to remove the dirt, bird droppings, and surface mold/mildew before they become embedded in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned without removing it from the frame. Do not use bleach or detergents. Remember to let the fabric dry before retracting the awning. Best of all call Giglio Awning to satisfy your needs.
Check the hardware: fasteners, cables, joints, welds, and contact points where the frame is mounted against your house or porch. On fixed-frame awnings, replace the lacings annually.
At season’s end, check for wear, for tears or holes, and mildew. If there is any damage, have the fabric repaired before you store it for the winter. If the braid along the front edge of the valance has frayed, replace it. Consider having your awnings cleaned to remove the dirt, bird droppings, and surface mold/mildew before they become embedded in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned without removing it from the frame. Do not use bleach or detergents. Remember to let the fabric dry before retracting the awning. Best of all call Giglio Awning to satisfy your needs
Check the hardware: fasteners, cables, joints, welds, and contact points where the frame is mounted against your house or porch. On fixed-frame awnings, replace the lacings annually.
This depends upon its location. Endless direct sunlight, tree sap, and smoke (from your outdoor grill) are the worst enemies of your awning’s fabric. In general, the stitching is the weakest link and will need to be replaced first. With proper maintenance, one can usually expect seven to ten good years from acrylic fabric. The hardware usually carries a limited lifetime warranty and, as a rule, can be reused with new fabric.
Our Sunesta awnings carry one of the best manufacturer’s warranty in the industry.
As a rule, fading is not a severe problem, even in full sun. And most awnings fade uniformly, so the effect is hardly noticeable. But given their function and location–out in the sun and the weather–awnings will fade, and eventually you will have to replace the fabric. For more information click here.
To minimize corrosion, it is essential to use the proper materials up-front: stainless and galvanized steel and anodized aluminum.
At Giglio Awning we use only corrosion-resistant materials. After installation, proper care and maintenance can increase the life-span of your awning.
Because of the custom nature of awnings–measurements to fit a specific location–and their installation requirements, we only work on-site, directly with local and regional clients. In this way we can assure the level of quality that has always characterized our work.
From the time you place your order our professional staff can have your new awning installed within two weeks.
From the time you place your order our professional staff can have your new awning installed within two weeks.
Retractable awnings are primarily for sun protection and should not be left out in windy conditions or when the area the product is covering is not being used. Wind is an unpredictable force, however, and can quickly change direction and intensity. In “real life” applications the rule of thumb is: if you are comfortable sitting outside dining or reading the paper, then it is probably safe to use your awning. The concern with wind is a lifting up effect on the awning rather than a downward force; therefore, the greater the pitch, the more wind resistant the unit is.