Awnings: Keep your head cool (Markisen)

Awnings have a long tradition in the history of sun protection. They beautify the appearance of the street on the facades of numerous shops and restaurants and invite to saunter and linger in the cooling shade.

But also in private the awning has reached a good reputation due to its functional variety and decorative power. Being easy to handle awnings are becoming a reliable sun protector for terraces, balconies, conservatories and other places in need of protection. (Sonnenschutz)

The technical variations of awnings which often make sure an invisible and proper function are becoming more and more precise. Nowadays, the antiquated seeming version where the cloth of the awning is rolled up by the mounting and turning of an iron rod by muscular power can only be found occasionally. In the meanwhile the handling is performed by pushing a single button. Even more elegant is the automatic control via heat or light sensors which can move the awnings as if by magic.

Which kind of awning is the most suitable for your purposes is easy to find out. The conservatory awning already indicates it with its name. For large glass surfaces which are exposed to changing weather conditions during the year a variable, wear-resistant and reliable sun protection is of great importance. An inadequate sun protection would have dramatic effects: unpleasant temperatures and stunted plants. (Wärmeschutz) The conservatory awning belongs to the articulated arm awnings. Here, the cloth is lead to the place to be shadowed by the lateral articulated arms. The inclination can be adjusted exactly to the shape of the glass surface, from horizontally to vertically. For very large conservatories the assembly of several small awnings is recommended, since a better dosing of the shadow into the different corners of the conservatory can be realized and at the same time there is a smaller area exposed to wind.

Another case is the drop arm awning. Here the cloth is lead down by lateral drop arms. Due to this strongly sloping form it is well-suitable as a privacy shield and sun protection for smaller windows and protects exceptionally well from the beams of the low sun. (Sonnenschutz)

Especially decorative are basket awnings. Most of the time they are permanently installed and due to their front arch they are a perfect advertising medium in business. They radiate a friendly and at the same time a slightly nostalgic atmosphere which suits perfectly well to a nice café or a small shop.

Since awnings shadow our rooms from the outside they have to be well-prepared to face all influences of the weather. Awning fabrics belong to the most resistant and most functional cloths at all and are subject to frequent quality control and testing. An awning is supposed to look beautiful for a very long time and have a vitalizing effect with their fresh colours. Light fastness, colour fastness, being waterproof and tear resistance are essential criteria for the quality of the fabrics.

Selecting colour and design you can rely on your own wishes and preferences. Especially popular are white and yellow shades since they do not darken the light too much. Orange and red shades create a warmer atmosphere in opposite to blue and green. In the classic stripe design you can chose from various colour combinations and enjoy holiday feelings already while sitting under the awning. (Raumgestaltung)