Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Types Of Awning Material Used In Outdoor Sun Shades

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Types Of Awning Material Used In Outdoor Sun Shades


by Anna Sui


In the century prior to synthetic materials, most if not all awning material for patio shades was made of canvas which is a tough, tightly woven fabric made of cotton. The same material was used for sails, painting surfaces, certain kinds of clothing, and sacks or bags for carrying heavy items. The toughness of canvas made it ideal for any situation that demanded the use of a fabric in an outdoors setting.

In recent decades, synthetic fabrics from companies like Texilene and Coolaroo have sought to supplant canvas as the primary material for patio shades by offering additional or enhanced fabric properties. There are a number of properties that people seek in a good awning material.

Primarily these shades are protected against ultraviolet (UV) breakdown. Extended exposure to UV causes the organic chemical bonds to split, which accelerates the aging process of the fibers. Synthetic chemical bonds are much stronger and resistant to UV splitting. On top of this is that synthetics can be weaved more densely which stops a larger fraction of the light.

Ease of cleaning is another quality that is desired by consumers who have gone through several rounds of patio shades and awning material. In particular, modern synthetics do not get so easily infested by microbial growth as do canvas patio shades.

Awning material is of course used in both commercial and private residential awnings. Most people have rested beneath such patio shades positioned over the entrance or display glass of an establishment and attracting in profitable customers who may have been only seeking shelter. The low end awnings come with retraction mechanism in a hand-powered configuration, activated by a lever or lateral-arm set-up. Pricier awnings come with electrically powered retraction.

An outdoor canopy can be considered an oversized tent. People find it useful to have at least the top of a canopy shielded with awning material. The walls on the side are optional, since some owners care more about circulation whereas others are worried more about privacy. If the canopy owner goes ahead with adding sides, the presence of window flaps and wide entrances may improve air circulation through the structure.

Few shades do not use fabric. An example is the pergola which is a simple shade made of wood that stands on four or more columns in a square layout. Instead of holding up shade fabric, it carries wood slats that supply incomplete shading and partial sun. A related outdoor shade to the pergola is the garden arbor. The arbor is smaller in size, much simpler in construction, but cannot shade many people at once. In recent times it's largely a decorative element of the garden.




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Study more about solar shades by directly reading our website. Continue to have questions? It might be worth it to take a look at our resources about the pergola design industry.

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