How Do Retractable Awnings Work? A Comprehensive Guide

We love retractable awnings at Appeal Home Shading. They’re a great way to enhance your outdoor living space and make it useable all year round, and we’re extremely proud to offer them to UK homes. Non-retractable awnings are good too, but if push came to shove, we’d always choose the retractable ones. 

But have you ever wondered how they work? We know you have; our customers come from all walks of life and we’ve encountered lots of curious people over the years. Whether you’re a building industry professional or a knowledge-hungry DIY enthusiast, here’s a brief explanation of how our retractable awnings work.

How Do Retractable Awnings Work?

The core component of the retractable mechanism is the roller tube. This is what the fabric cover is attached to and it contains tension springs. These springs provide the necessary force to operate the awning; the tube can rotate in either direction and when it does so, extends or retracts the shaded area. 

Many retractable awnings also include adjustable support arms which provide extra stability to the extended fabric. This prevents sagging and enhances the overall functionality of the awning. 

Being able to do this gives retractable awnings an advantage over non-retractable ones. Fixed awnings are great and offer exceptional protection from the sun, but they’re less versatile. You can’t adjust them to suit different light levels and once they’re in place, that’s where they’ll remain. If you’re after a permanently fixed awning, there are plenty of style and design choices available, but at Appeal, we prefer the more flexible choice. 

Control Options

So, that explains the mechanical side, but how do we control them? Retractable awnings offer various options to cater to different preferences and technological advancements. For example, it’s possible to get motorised awnings that are controlled via remotes, wall switches, or even smartphone apps. They can be synchronised with devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Nest, allowing you to operate them via voice commands. 

Our retractable Haus awnings can also be fitted with automatic sensors that respond to changes in weather conditions. This is especially useful for forgetful people; if you’re at the office one day and the weather turns nasty, there’s no reason to rush home and close the awning, the handy weather sensors will close it automatically. 

And of course, there’s still the manual option. For all the technological advances, there are still people who prefer to operate their awnings by hand. If you want a retractable awning that relies on a hand crank, it’s still possible to get them. 

If you’re considering a retractable awning for your property, look no further than Appeal Shading. We offer a range of retractable awnings designed to seamlessly integrate with various architectural styles. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship and innovative design ensures that our retractable awnings deliver reliable and efficient operation.

For more information and to explore our range of retractable awnings, visit Appeal Shading’s Awnings today. Alternatively, you can arrange a free design consultation with our fantastic team. Get in touch and let’s see what we can do for you.