Retractable Patio Cover Fabric Manufacturer Comparison

Part of what we do at RetractableAwnings.com is research quality manufacturers to find components that combine creative designs with durable, resilient engineering. Retractable patio, deck pergola cover systems have especially demanding expectations; they are frequently used to expand available spaces in a way that is more flexible and adaptable than conventional construction. This means that they need to be able to offer protection in a much broader spectrum of weather (including hail, heavy rain, and heavy winds) and to be able to accommodate things like exterior heaters, lighting, fans, fire pits and other potential risks.

RetractableAwnings.com offers several different fabric lines with very different types of fabric. This allows you to choose the fabric that is best suited to your specific and unique retractable patio, deck pergola cover system and environment:

• Serge Ferrari, a French company that specializes in textiles and flexible materials for structural engineering and construction

• Para, an Italian textile design company known for its vibrant colors and trendy designs and patterns

The crucial factor for retractable patio, deck pergola system fabric is its performance in different scenarios, and there are three categories that we use to compare that performance

• Material type

• Warranty

• Overall performance (fire resistance, water resistance, light management, tensile strength)

Material comparison

Serge-Ferrari uses a patented PVC called Precontraint. Precontraint fabrics are structural fabrics; they are designed to maintain their shape and tensile strength even under heavy loads (meaning no tear, sagging, or distortion). Additional polymers are added during the manufacturing process to enhance its UV resistance and the vibrancy of its color.

Para fabrics are solution-dyed acrylic. Solution-dyed acrylic is resistant to UV radiation and sun damage, as well as chemicals such as bleach. The pigments are included in the acrylic as it is manufactured (rather than dyed as a natural fiber), so the pigment is literally part of the fiber. The acrylic fiber is also resistant to fading, mold and mildew and can be made fire resistant.

Warranty comparison

Check out the specific terms for each manufacturer for details on what is covered under the warranty.

Overall performance summary comparison

For patio, deck pergola cover systems, for sun protection, we offer one Para fabric line - Tempotest, but we offer three different Serge-Ferrari fabric lines for sun/heavy rain/hail/high wind. For clarity, the Ferrari lines are separated here to show how they perform individually.