So far this year we have had some fairly inconsistent weather. One moment it is glorious sunshine, then all too quickly it is raining. This can make enjoying the outdoors quite difficult!

There are many reasons why people would choose to have Awnings installed to their homes. Of course, the primary motive for an Awning would be to provide shade and protection from the sun.  Awnings do a great job of this. They can extend your home at the press of a button giving excellent UV protection as well as a cool retreat when then sun does come out! Awnings will also keep your home cool and furnishings protected from fading with the rays of the sun.

With all this inconsistent weather a lot of people are buying Awnings to use, not only for sun protection, but also for sheltering from the rain. Is this a wise choice?

A good quality Awning will provide shelter from the rain, the fabric, whilst not necessarily being waterproof, will not let water penetrate it unless there is a significant amount of water pooling on the fabric. If you were to let water pool on your fabric to this degree it would break the Awning!

So are awnings designed to work in the rain? The simple answer is no. This is not the design. However, if you ensure that the angle or pitch of the Awning is sufficient, there should be no problem using the Awning in light to moderate rain as long as you ensure that pooling of water does not occur.

The recommended angle for water to effectively run off is a pitch of 14 degrees. To achieve this kind of angle with an Awning with a 3m projection you would need to look at fixing the cassette at a height of 3m at the back, which is rather high. This may not look the most aesthetically pleasing to the eye and it also will reduce the amount of shade.

The more you bring the cassette down the wall, the more vigilant you have to be when using the Awning in the rain. Of course, the Awning will look more aesthetically pleasing and will be much more effective at providing shade.

Ultimately it is down to the customers’ requirements as to what is best. Does anyone really want to sit outdoors when it is absolutely pouring down? If the answer is no, then look to having a lower fixing height on the wall and be vigilant when using the Awning in the rain.