Make Sure to Do This Before Buying Outdoor Awnings for Your Business

Professional outdoor awnings are often key parts of an overall strategy for making the outside area of a business appealing. When shopping for an awning for your business, there are several factors to consider. With so many options to choose from, it can seem overwhelming, but it’s really just a matter of finding the right fabric that fulfills your business’ needs. A high-quality fabric that will be durable and long-lasting should be a priority, but it’s also important to consider other features.

Quality Check

There are many different factors that can contribute to an awning’s quality level. Waterproofing, breathability, sizing, and UV resistance can all add to the functionality and construction quality of an awning. Getting an awning that is properly sized to the exact specifications is particularly important, because if an awning is ill-fitting or just too large or too small for the space, it’s going to be an eyesore and won’t function well.

Other factors are more dependent on your circumstance. In determining which special features are most important to your business, consider how the awning will be used. Is it covering an outdoor dining area? If so, it definitely needs to be waterproof. Rainproof awnings can be the difference between a great lunch service and a mediocre one. On the other hand, is the awning meant to block the sunlight from entering a window? In that case, it needs to be UV resistant so less sun comes through.

Built to Last

Durability is also very important when it comes to choosing an outdoor awning fabric. Awnings should be fade resistant, easy to clean, and fire resistant, to name a few important factors. As a small business, it’s crucial to make every dollar count. A quality awning doesn’t come quite as cheaply as you might want, but it’s important to consider how long a high-quality awning fabric will last as opposed to a lower quality, cheaper fabric.

Extending the life of your investment is always a good thing in business. For one example, you may want to consider a fade-resistant awning because awnings are out in the sun pretty much every day. This may be slightly less of a concern in somewhere like Seattle, for instance, than it would be in Los Angeles, but no matter how much sun exposure the awning is getting, every little bit chips away at its longevity. Awning fabrics that are built to be fade resistant will last longer, protecting your investment for as long as possible. The same goes for awnings made of easy to clean fabrics and fire resistant fabrics.

Appealing Looks

While quality and durability are probably the most important factors in choosing an awning, it’s also very important for the awning you choose to be visually appealing. The awning will be a huge part of the curb appeal of your business. It’s one of the first things people see when they are driving or walking up and people also may sit under it if it’s an awning that is providing cover. There are tons of stylish awning ideas out there, and your business can draw inspiration from other businesses as well as residential patio awnings.

Color, pattern, logo use and shape are all very influential when it comes to how your awning looks. Color-wise, you have to make sure the awning fabric complements the building’s materials as well as any signage or furniture you have outside. With patterns or logos, you’ll want them to be classy, clear, and relevant to whatever theme you may have going. Stripes or other shapes are an option as well as just a nice, large logo in the middle of the awning. There are also some varied shapes available -- slide-on-wire awnings are one such choice -- if you’re looking for a way to add visual interest.

There's a lot you'll need to know before selecting your next awning fabric. Download our free guide, "Five Factors to Consider when Determining Awning Fabric Quality" to learn more.