What Materials Make Up a Retractable Awning?
Retractable awnings are a great way to cool off your deck or patio without the disadvantages of a bulky, permanently deployed awning. While manually retractable awnings have been available for years, recently motorized variants have become available, making owning and operating your awning easier than ever. These awnings can also provide additional benefits depending on their orientation and their construction materials. Does this Spark an idea?
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Fabrics
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There are two common types of fabric used in retractable awnings: laminated fabric and woven acrylic fabric. Laminated fabric is the industry standard, consisting of a center denier scrim sandwiched between two colorized layers, which are then sandwiched between two layers of protective lamination. Woven acrylic fabric is a single woven and colorized acrylic layer sandwiched between protective laminations.
Metals
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Retractable awning metallic surfaces are made primarily of high strength aluminum. This aluminum is reinforced to be stronger than standard aluminum, and is designed to support the awning and to last for a long time. Steel is selectively utilized, often in the roll tube and mounting bar, for additional strength and support where the awning needs it most.
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Sizes
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The retractable awnings are available in multiple lengths and widths. The lengths and widths are dependent on particular models. Sometimes, awnings can be completely custom-fabricated to meet your specifications. Awnings can be stopped at any point while they are extending or retracting to custom tailor your shade for just about any situation.
Benefits
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The primary benefit of the thick fabric materials used in awnings is the blocking of the sun. Temperatures can be significantly cooler underneath the awning's shade, as much as 20 degrees F difference under the right conditions. Additionally, retractable awning fabric can block out harmful UVA and UVB rays to help protect skin health.
Considerations
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Metal construction is the same throughout different retractable awnings, the fabric material being the biggest difference between models. Laminated fabric has the benefits of flame resistance and waterproof design, but is more prone to fading. Woven acrylic isn't typically flame-resistant and heavy rain can come right through the fabric. However, the color of woven acrylic will last for years.
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