Awnings

Awning types, options and services

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Awnings

Ideal for Patios, Gardens or Commercial Use in Colchester, Chelmsford & Ipswich

We offer a range of fully installed awnings to provide shade or shelter from the variable British weather. Awnings are suitable for the home, office and shop fronts and come in a range of designs, including drop arm, folding arm and conservatory awnings. An awning will provide a shaded outside space, helping to keep you cool and provide additional protection to your interior furnishings from damaging UV sunlight. Most awnings can be motorised and operated via remote control, with the option for automation dependent on factors such as wind, sun, rain or time of day. All of our awnings for domestic applications come with a 5 year guarantee. We provide awnings throughout all of Essex and Suffolk. See top of page for your nearest number.

Page last updated on 07/04/21

Folding Arm Awnings

Folding Arm Awnings

Folding arm awnings are the most common and can be used in most situations – from covering a garden patio, shading shop fronts or providing a sheltered outdoor area at a school or workplace. Electric operation with a remote control is now the standard, but manual operation is still available to keep costs down on smaller sized blinds. A full range of automatic controls are available to help get the most from your awning. Our folding arm awnings are fully cassetted, meaning that when the awning is retracted, the arms and fabric fold away inside completely and are protected from the elements. This prolongs the life of the fabric compared to awnings where the roller and mechanisms are exposed to the British weather throughout the year.

Drop Arm Awnings

Drop Arm Awnings

Drop arm awnings are less expensive than folding arm awnings and are more commonly used for shading a room than providing an outside shaded sitting space. With the ability to drop to an angle of 135° from the wall, they can offer almost full coverage to an average sized window. Smaller in both size and weight than a folding arm awning, they require less substantial structural requirements from the wall they are to be installed upon. Mounted in a protective aluminum case and with storm proof side arms fixed to the wall, these awnings are rated to resist a wind force up to 5 Beaufort.  The maximum width is 5 metres for a single unit or 6 metres for a pair coupled together (one motor driving two blinds). Motorised operating with remote control is standard, but manual operation available if the blind is of a size small enough to be practical to operate.

Conservatory Awnings

Conservatory Awnings

The ultimate in conservatory blind shading solutions, these awnings fit to the exterior of your conservatory, physically blocking the suns direct heat and glare from the glass. Our external conservatory awnings are akin to a large, motorised, cable tenstioned rollerblind. Hi-tech dyeema cables concealed within the side channels are tensioned via integral heavy duty double coiled springs. As the blind extends, these springs tighten – keeping the fabric taut at every position.

Awning Re-cover Service

Awning Re-cover Service

We offer a re-cover service for some types of awning – whether originally purchased from us or a previous company. If the awning is in good working order but the fabric is looking worn and tired, we may be able to provide and install a new cover for you, giving your awning a new lease of life. Not all awnings are built in such a way that the cloth can be changed, so a free on-site inspection would be required. Call or email with the size of your awning and we can give you an approximate cost or arrange for a no obligation visit.

Awning Repair Service

Awning Repair Service

Unfortunately, things sometimes go wrong. Whether it be storm damage, a power cut or surge ruining electrics, or just wear and tear – things sometimes need fixing. We offer a repair service of our awnings and those supplied by other companies. Gearboxes and motors are the most common things to fail after many years of use – but this does not have to mean a whole new awning. Some severe damage or problems of course can be terminal, so a free on-site inspection would be advised. Call or email with your problem for an estimate or arrange for a free, no obligation visit.

Specialist Fittings

Specialist Fittings

Spreader Plates & Gutter Brackets: If you desire an awning but live in a bungalow, have a single storey extension or gutters, soffits or other obstacles to overcome – an awning is still an option with the use of spreader plates or gutter brackets. These are specially made, powder coated steel brackets designed to spread the weight of the awning over more courses of brickwork or lift the awning over said obstacle. Combined with our use of chemical resin, this makes for a reliable and secure fixing. Some companies are unwilling to undertake such installations or tell you it cannot be done – or worse still do it but not do it properly! Quality awnings are heavy and  need a suitable fixing to take the weight of the blind, especially when fully extended.

Convert or Upgrade?

Convert or Upgrade?

If you have an existing manual (hand wound) awning, we may be able to motorise it should you start finding it difficult to operate or you’d simply just prefer the luxury of pressing a button and watching the blind unfold. Automation can also be added to both new and existing motorised awnings. Not all awnings are suitable for the components we use or are built in such a way that they cannot be upgraded, so a free on-site assesment would be advised. Call or email with your requirements and we can give you an approximate cost or arrange for a free, no obligation visit.

Automation & Extras

Automation & Extras

Our awnings can be fitted with a range of automated features and extras. The most common automation is a wind sensor. A combination of devices can be used in conjunction with one another depending on your demands and budget. Click here or on the above picture for further details of automation options.

Motorisation

Motorisation

Our electric awnings use Somfy motors and optional extras. Somfy was founded in 1960 and has developed into the world leader in motors and control systems for the automatic movement of products around the home and work place.  Above is a Somfy motor which mounts within the roller tube of an awning so is completely unseen. They vary in size depending on power output requirements in relation to the size of your awning. Most high quality awning manufacturers choose Somfy to power not only their awnings, but numerous other types of powered blinds on the market.

 

 

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