Commercial awnings are popular in various companies, including retail establishments, restaurants, and even professional services. Awnings may give advertising space for companies, keep establishments cooler during the summer months, and give cover for passersby – may be prompting them to linger long enough to want to come inside the store itself.

Awnings will improve both your business as well as the experience for your clients. Awnings can be sophisticated or straightforward additions to the entrance, windows, or a whole patio cover that expands the dining area. Protecting your outside diners from the sun and rain will boost your restaurant’s image and profitability.

We’ll also go over additional factors that you or your customer want to consider while selecting an awning.

STYLE

Aesthetics are essential if you don’t want your awnings to stand out compared to the rest of your building. It is important to browse your options and consider several types, such as waterfall, semi-circular, or dome-style awnings, to get a feel for the best fit for your business which is the most excellent match for your company.

If you are going to invest in a commercial awning, it should match your company’s identity. Choose colors, logos, fonts, and other elements that best represent your company and brand. A commercial awning allows you to expand the type of signs on your storefront while also conveying a message to potential customers.

A modern, clean, and colorful awning adds a sophisticated aspect to a business, informing prospective diners that they are in for a five-star experience. There are clear dos and don’ts when it comes to awning design, and many of them are material-related. The design of the awning must be consistent with the overall brand of the restaurant. It may seem simple, but the material you pick will make a significant impact.

SIZE

The proper size for your awning will be determined by what you intend to protect and how much room you have available. If you want to add awnings to windows or doors to decrease solar glare and gain, the size is determined by the window or door.

The outside space you want to protect determines patio covers. It is possible to connect an awning to the structure to cover an adjoining outdoor eating area. A pergola-style canopy may be the solution if the outside space is located away from the building. These are crucial considerations to keep in mind throughout the design of your restaurant patio cover. Choose a canopy size that covers what you want to be covered; a little bigger canopy is always preferable to one that is too tiny.

MATERIALS AND COLOR

Both color of your commercial awning fabric and the type of material used can affect how much heat your awnings can hold. Lighter colors, for example, trap less heat in direct sunshine and maybe more appealing to homeowners wanting to create a fresh, inviting atmosphere in their homes.

There are three primary varieties of material to choose from when purchasing a business awning.

1. Vinyl and polyester composite – this material is both long-lasting and flame-resistant. It is a well-liked option for numerous stores and franchises.
2. Cotton blend canvas – this substance is both long-lasting and resistant to flames. It is a popular choice for many shops and franchises that install commercial canvas awnings.
3. Acrylic fabric – although this fabric is not waterproof, it is resistant to mildew and UV radiation, making it an ideal option for locations with hot and humid summers.

RETRACTABLE VS. FIXED

Patio awnings can help create an outside experience that will draw visitors and keep them coming back to your business. A fixed or permanent awning is often extended and protects your customers and furnishings from the weather and exposure to the sun. Fixed awnings are easily identified by their metal panels, slats, or lattices and are often made of cloth.

Depending on your business, you may find a retractable awning more practical. These awnings fully extend from a starting retracted position, allowing them to be developed as far as you want across the patio. Although a removable manual crank can be employed, a motorized model enables any staff member to open or shut the awning with the press of a button, remote control transmitter, or even a smartphone or tablet. Sun, rain, motion, and wind sensors also function with motorized versions to safeguard your investment. Awnings can also be stored away from the elements in a protected cassette or under an optional hood/cover.

When not in use, a motorized awning can be retracted and stored when not needed. Conversely, a permanent awning can be left up all year or uninstalled and the cloth stored.

PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS

The location of your project can have a significant impact on which awning designs will have a feasible use-life, and others will be in shambles after as little as a single year. Awnings that aren’t designed and built for the climate they’re in — whether it’s high winds, dampness, snow, ice, or unrelenting sunlight — will rapidly wear out and need to be replaced. 

Needs will differ from one place to the next. Applications that work well in dry climes, such as Southern California, would struggle in the wind, rain, and snow of the Northeast. Awnings should be built to avoid water gathering and mildew growth in moist locations such as the Pacific Northwest. Every awning should be constructed to resist sudden gusts of wind.

Customers frequently pick eateries based on their appearance. When you create awnings that fade and come apart rapidly, you are driving away clients.

ANGLE 

The angle at which your awnings are installed might have a direct influence on their overall effectiveness in the long term. As a general rule, most installers recommend that awnings be 65 percent to 75 percent of the size of the windows facing east or west.

ACCESSORIES AND ADD-ONS

Awnings for business might include additional features or components that can improve your clients’ experience. Lighting, speakers, fans, and heaters enhance the eating experience and lengthen when the outside space may be used.

Retractable side walls, sometimes known as retractable screens, shield clients from the sun, wind, rain, pollen, and even insects. They might be roll-down or sliding panels that enhance the eating experience. Other elements to consider are manual or motorized controls, wind, sun, rain sensors, tablet and smartphone controllers, and timers.

OPERATION AND FUNCTION

Consider the type of purpose you want your business awning to perform when selecting one. Commercial awnings are little more than a feature that can be employed as signage for some establishments. Other companies may choose to utilize them as a shelter to preserve items left outdoors during the day or as a shade for benches where clients may rest and rest.

Its intended use will heavily influence the size, form, and material of your business awning. If you want a more dynamic aesthetic for your storefront, consider retractable awnings. You can only take them out when necessary. However, depending on the owner’s preferences, the durability of non-retractable ones may be preferred. You can’t go wrong either way as long as you are selecting the model that best suits the needs of your business and customers.

SOLAR HEAT GAIN

Anyone who has run a business with a large bank of windows knows that solar heat gain may be a serious concern. Maintaining a consistently acceptable dining room temperature might feel like a zero-sum game. Direct sunlight may cause your climate control system to work overtime and generate uncomfortable hot spots if your windows are left open. On the other hand, keeping the curtains drawn might create the incorrect ambience, making your dining area appear dismal and dismal.

Retractable awnings are a simple solution for limiting sunlight and solar heat gain in restaurants, explaining their rising popularity. Restaurant employees can extend awnings to hide direct sunlight during the warmest, brightest portion of the day, similar to the broad, gently sloping eaves of traditional Japanese architecture. This change generates a deep border of cool shadow that does not obstruct the view. Awnings may be retracted as the sun moves to capture the final rays of sunlight.

It is critical to note that you must select a fabric developed for longevity and consistent performance to optimize the lifespan of your design. Whether you want to employ a crank-drive system or an alternate method, selecting a textile designed to retain flexibility over time is critical.

Cheap fabric that has not been adequately UV treated may become brittle and stiff over time due to sun exposure, making it more prone to fracture or rip. To keep flexibility, your awning should be made of high-quality polymer-based vinyl.

COMPLY WITH LOCAL LAWS AND ORDINANCES

Municipalities may have special criteria for business buildings and may only allow specified colors, sizes, and shapes for commercial awnings in some circumstances. So, before you order a business awning, double-check that it will comply with any applicable regulations. Also, if you rent your building, you should verify with your landlord or examine your rental agreement to ensure that your awning is permitted. Contact Accent Awnings for commercial awnings in San Diego and Orange County, CA.