If you plan to have an outdoor space in your yard or on the roof, you will most likely purchase patio furniture and invest in decorating the area . Eventually, you will need to protect all of it from snow, rain, and heat - otherwise, your efforts of creating a beautiful outdoor living space will go to waste.
Luckily, the solution is pretty easy - cover your outdoor patio or deck with a sleek-looking retractable awning, retractable pergola or rotating/retractable louver roof system. Not only will it protect you from sun exposure, but it will also provide shelter during bad weather.
When opting for a patio awning, most people check its design, longevity, and how protective it can be from the sun's UV rays, and often omit another most crucial feature- light or heavy rain and/or snow protection. Read on to find answers to why it matters and how you can save your outdoor area from light or heavy rain and/or snow protection.
Can You Use a Retractable Awning in the Rain?
Retractable awnings and retractable pergolas have different fabric materials that can repel water, and some of them are made of water resistant/repellent fabric and some from waterproof fabric at RetractableAwnings.com. When searching for outdoor awnings, you might stumble upon descriptions like water-resistant, water repellent and waterproof. It is critically important to understand the difference to be sure you install the correct product type and fabric to meet your needs.
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Water-resistant/water repellent - If the awning fabric states it is water-resistant or water repellant, then it simply sheds the water from falling on your patio furniture assuming retractable awning has enough pitch or angle placed on the arms. When used for a retractable awning, it has some protection but not enough for heavy precipitation. The pitch/angle placed on the arms will prevent water from “pooling” on the fabric and voiding the warranty.
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Waterproof - The best fabric that can protect your outdoor living space and provide shelter from heavy rain is waterproof. The material can withstand heavy rainfall, and water will not be able to penetrate through and damage your furniture regardless of whether or not the retractable pergola has enough pitch or angle on it.
The example of awnings that are not advised to use in heavy rain are:
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Folding lateral arm deck and patio awnings
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Side arm a/k/a drop arm commercial or residential awnings
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Canopy awnings
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Slide on wire canopies that are for sun protection only and not for light or heavy rain protection
Available Waterproof Awnings
Retractable fabric pergolas (not the same product as retractable awnings) that are waterproof usually come at a higher price and focus on the highest protection level. You receive fabrics that are manufactured according to a patented waterproof system. There are two types of materials you can choose from:
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Mehler German fabrics - these fabrics can be basic, premium, exclusive, semi-transparent, etc. The difference lies in the specifications like weight, thickness, cold, and heat resistance, among others.
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Serge Ferrari premium fabrics - these fabrics are manufactured in France and can be purchased for an additional fee. One example is light filtering, Ferrari 502 Proof.
Best Choices of Waterproof Retractable products
You can find freestanding and attached to the wall pergolas at Retractable Awnings - both have an aesthetic design and solid structure. Here are the examples of waterproof retractable pergolas that you can easily install to cover your patio:
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Antalya - Just like sunny Antalya in Turkey, this pergola will bring you joy by covering you from damaging sunlight and raindrops. It features an attractive design with a curved retractable roof with a non-rusting 6063 aluminum frame and marine grade stainless steel parts. You can enjoy your outside retreat with no fear of heavy precipitation rushing you back inside the house or building. The pergola is controlled remotely or via a wall switch or smartphone/tablet and provides maximum stability even in a heavy storm.
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Bioclimatique Retractable Louvre Roof - If you look for motorized awnings, this pergola is one of the most innovative and reliable options. The roof is relatively broad and highly protective from various weather conditions, including hail, heavy rain and snow. The structure is corrosion-free and can be controlled remotely, even from a smartphone or tablet.
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Adana - The Adana awning has a minimalistic and clean design, and its extended roof is firm and sturdy to protect you and your guests from sunlight, raindrops, and even hail. The Adana model is designed to fit into an existing pergola, trellis, arbor or any other square or rectangular structure.
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Konya - The Konya modern, streamline retractable pergola gives you flexibility and convenience. Thanks to its unique roof design, you can shade only a part of your patio and leave the rest open. It allows you to create space for various activities and keep warm sun right next to you. This unique retractable pergola can be attached or free standing , and it can have remote controls, among other features.
The list continues and includes plenty of retractable pergolas that have sleek and modern designs and can withstand different weather conditions. Retractable Awnings are sure to have a pergola that will suit your home patio, pool, or outdoor hotel or restaurant area.
Conclusion
Retractable awnings, retractable pergolas and rotating/retractable louver roofs are a great addition to an outdoor patio to spend a lovely day enjoying the weather. As a rule, it is not recommended to keep your folding lateral arm awnings open during harsh weather conditions, but if you want to relax outside during light rain, it shouldn't be a problem. On the other hand retractable pergolas and rotating/retractable louver roof systems are designed for heavy rain and even hail protection with rotating/retractable louver roofs, in addition, designed for snow protection/snow load.
RetractableAwnings.com makes sure to deliver only high-end water resistant and heat resistant retractable awnings and waterproof and heat resistant retractable pergolas and rotating/retractable louver roof pergolas, that will last many years. We also offer plenty of optional additions and accessories that you can use to make a custom retractable awning, rotating/retractable louver roof or retractable fabric pergola suitable for your personal and business needs. Use our questionnaire to see which products are best for you!
