How Do I Waterproof My Awning?
March 18, 2021
What Is The Purpose Of A Canopy?
May 29, 2021Can I Leave My Awning Out in The Rain?
Can I Leave My Awning Out in The Rain? Leaving the awning open in rainy and windy weather may be seen as something normal by many homeowners. However, you should understand that awnings’ design says they should function in mild and sunny conditions.
When it comes to a storm, they may not be prepared to resist. You got to be fully aware of the material your awning is made of, and its structural durability. In this way, you can figure out whether it’s going to withstand the rain or not. Here are some things to consider.
Waterproof or permeable
If you want to know whether your awning is rain-ready, you have found out more about its material. In case the fabric is waterproof, like polyester or gsm acrylic, you can consider leaving it in rain. You can stay under the awning, being sure that no water will fall on you.
Even if you move inside when it rains, you may leave the awning on to protect your patio furniture. Once absorbing a large quantity of water, it becomes vulnerable to mold. One thing to note is that half cassette awnings are still in rain’s reach even after you retract them.
You may be good at covering it with a protective bag or a plastic film to prevent contact with water. If you don’t have the possibility to cover the retracted awning, make sure you open it during the first sunny day. You have to do it to allow the fabric to dry out and keep mold away.
Structural durability
Awning’s legs and fixings may be subject to high pressure during a rainfall. Since most storms come together with strong wind, the awning’s foundation may give in and ruin or bend.
With that said, even if your fabric is waterproof, your best decision is to retract it during extreme weather. If speaking of drizzle, you can leave the awning stay, as the wind is too weak to snap the structural casing.
Also, you are good to cover the hardware and the retractable parts with waterproof film to prevent rot. If any of the metal frame arms has cracks, you may need to cover them as well to prevent moisture access.
Pitch
An awning with a pitched top is more suitable for rainy weather. There should be a slope of 15 degrees to ensure the rain water drains off and doesn’t accumulate on the awning.
A long-lasting rain may lead to buildups of water on the fabric that may cause it to tear under too much weight. Even if the fabric resists to the high pressure, it will get saggy and stretched afterwards. It will spoil your house look and force you to invest in material replacement.
The area of the awning is also important. Large canopies distribute the water better so that each fabric section gets a low amount of water and becomes less saggy. If you live in an area where rain occurs quite often, try to focus on sloped and large awnings when shopping for one. This will ensure you can leave the awning open during a torrential downpour.
Electric awning convenience
Dealing with rain is much easier when you get an electric awning. It allows you to retract the awning remotely, preventing walking out and getting soaking wet. Just push the needed button from the comforts of your home and the fabric will hide from the rain itself.
Having an electric awning also benefits you when the rain starts when you nobody’s home. The automated moisture sensor identifies rainwater and automatically retracts to keep the fabric intact.
While not all motorized awnings have this sensor, you are good to ask the sales assistant for guidance. You can also install the sensor after you have bought the awning.
Can I Leave My Awning Out in The Rain? – Bottom line
Since awnings’ objective is to provide shade against the sun, dealing with rain may be a hard task for them. Still, you can leave the canopy open if its structural characteristics allow it. Awnings are ready to face up to rain if their fabric is waterproof.
Also if they have durable frames and fixing components, and if they are slopped. A minimum angle of 15 degrees will ensure the water runs off. If any of these features misses, you have to think twice before leaving the awning one-on-one with a rainfall.
We hope you enjoyed the article – Can I Leave My Awning Out in The Rain?
