The US gets a lot of sunshine. There is an average of 205 sunny days per year nationwide, but many places get a lot more. Los Angeles averages 284 days of sunshine per year, and Yuma, Arizona, is sunny 90 percent of the time.

All that sunshine is great, but when you’re sitting out on your patio, it can get a little much.

Investing in one of the best retractable awnings can help. When you want to enjoy the sun, you can sit out in its rays, but when you’re in need of a little cooling shade, just a quick touch of a button and your awning has you covered.

Sound good? Read on, as we take a look at some of the features of the very best retractable awnings to help you make your choice.

FABRIC QUALITY

When you’re looking for a retractable awning, you want to make sure that it’s made from good-quality materials. The largest (and most important) of which is the fabric.

Some awnings come with cheap fabric that simply isn’t up to the job. You need to look for high-quality material that is marine grade. It also needs to be water repellent, as well as fade and stain resistant, so that your awning stays looking beautiful for years to come.

The Accent Awnings Elite Retractable Awning is made from Sunbrella brand solution-dyed acrylic. It’s a high-quality marine-grade fabric that will give you years of use.

DURABILITY

Another key factor when choosing a retractable awning is its durability.

You may find some cheap retractable awnings online that seem tempting. The old adage always applies, however: you get what you pay for. A cheap awning is unlikely to last you for very long, whereas a high-quality and durable retractable awning can offer you years of enjoyment. 

One of the keys to durability is the quality of the thread used. The Accent Awnings Elite Retractable Awning uses SolarFix PTFE thread. This thread is designed so that it doesn’t lose any strength due to UV or chemical exposure, unlike polyester or nylon. Since your awning will be under the baking sun for long periods, using a thread that is impervious to the sun’s rays is vital. 

This thread is also three times more durable than bonded polyester.

SIZING

The size of the awning that you purchase will depend on your specific needs. The last thing you want is to be unable to find a retractable awning that is the right size for you.

There are two important measurements. The first is the width of your retractable awning. You’ll need a company that offers a wide range of widths if you want to find something that is perfect for your needs.

The other important measurement is the projection. This is how far your awning will reach when it is fully extended. Once again, you should look for a company that offers a wide range of projection lengths so that you can find something that will fit your location perfectly.

The Elite Awning comes in a range of widths all the way from 6 to 80 feet and has projection ranges of 5, 6.5, 8, 10, 11.5 and 13 feet. The width can be cut to the customer’s exact specifications, so you’ll always be able to find an Elite Awning to meet your needs.

COLOR

Another important consideration for your awning is the color.

Henry Ford’s famous mantra of offering any color as long as it’s black is thankfully a thing of the past. You’ll want to be able to match your awning to its surroundings, and that means you’ll need a wide range of colors to choose from.

The Elite Awning comes in more than 150 different fabric colors, containing solid colors, textured patterns and stripes. It means you’ll be able to find the perfect option for your needs. It’s not just the fabric that comes in a range of colors; the hardware also comes in a choice white, cream, or brown to help you match perfectly with your surroundings.

MECHANISM

If you’re buying a retractable awning, then the mechanism is one of the most important considerations. If this breaks down, your awning will be as good as useless.

You should look for an awning arm that is made from high-quality and durable material, that uses only the very best components to ensure years of trouble-free usage. We designed the Elite Awning using a two-part spring-loaded folding arm made from high-quality extruded aluminum, with aluminum fittings which are tumble-polished and then powder-coated. The cables and springs are also TEFLON coated for smooth operation. 

WARRANTY

For the clearest sign of how durable a retractable awning really is, take a look at the length of the warranty that is offered.

A company offering short warranties of five years or less doesn’t have much faith in the durability of its products. Those that offer a long warranty, on the other hand, are confident that their products will last many, many years without issue. Our arms are batch-tested to provide over 25,000 in-out cycles to ensure the industry’s highest quality & longest-lasting arms.

The Accent Awnings Elite Retractable Patio Awning offers a warranty of 10 years on the fabric. The retracting arm has an incredible 20-year warranty. That means that you can enjoy your awning for a decade or more without having to worry about it being defective. 

PRICING

The most important thing to remember when it comes to pricing is that buying the cheapest product doesn’t always represent the most economical solution. If you buy a cheap awning that barely lasts you a year, then you’ll be shelling out for another in no time. Supplying an awning that uses inferior nuts and bolts can save an awning company thirty to forty dollars per awning. The cost of power-washing your wall to remove the rust stains created by those cheap parts can cost hundreds of dollars each year.  An awning company can save forty to sixty dollars per awning by using cheap polyester thread in lieu of TEFLON thread, even though polyester loses 60% of its breaking strength in the first 3 years. Whereas the more expensive TEFLON thread maintains 100% of its breaking strength for 10 years. Invest in an awning that is built to last, and you won’t need to think about paying another cent for years and years to come.

The wide range of options available for the Accent Awnings Elite Retractable Awning means that the price will be dependent on the exact specification of the awning that you choose to purchase. You can contact us for a quote, and we will be able to supply you with a competitive price since we offer manufacturer-direct pricing that cuts out the middlemen. 

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE BEST RETRACTABLE AWNINGS?

If you’re looking for the best retractable awnings, then you should consider all of the points discussed in this article. The Accent Awnings Elite Retractable Patio Awning ticks all the boxes and that’s why we think it’s one of the very best retractable awnings you can find. If you would like more information about our products or have any other questions, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.