Patio Umbrellas, Heaters, Shades | Patio Heat and Shade

Let me set the scene… it’s a gorgeous sunny day, 72° with a slight breeze blowing in from the west. A little past noon, you and your spouse decide to stop for a bite to eat and when the hostess asks if you’d like to sit outside, the answer is a resounding, “Absolutely.” Like us, you love spending more time outdoors and on a day like today, “Al Fresco” dining is the only way to go.

Many of our favorite restaurants and local watering holes have outdoor seating for multiple reasons (not the least of which is to increase seating capacity and therefore profits). Many owners of dining and drinking establishments know that they key to profits is keeping their customers comfortable outdoors – whether that is the use of strategically placed patio heaters for colder days, fans for the dog days of summer, or adding shading to keep their customers cool.

Adding shading comes in one of three forms: using an umbrella, a shade sail, or an awning. Both Umbrellas and shade sails will do the trick but are for smaller areas and have drawbacks that a commercial awning doesn’t. Why pick commercial awnings rather than other shade alternatives?

Add more usable space: More seats for restaurants and bars means more sales, and who doesn’t like money? Even non-food/drink establishments benefit – sheltered from the harmful effects of constant sunlight and rain, products can be displayed outdoors to lure in additional business.
UV Protection: Continued exposure to sunlight can damage fabrics, wood, and other parts of your business… while using a retractable awning (motorized or manual) allows you to mediate how much sun your customers experience.
Safety & Shelter: By sheltering your business from water there are less chances for slip & fall accidents, keeping your patrons safe.
Increase Visibility: High contrast color options draw the eye, and patrons to your doorstep. Got a theme (like a modern Mexican restaurant based on the “lime” theme)? Match your awning color to your signature color for increased branding.

It’s easy to see that expanding outward (turning unused space into more income) is a no-brainer, but how should you implement your new-found expansion? Luckily, here at Patio Heat and Shade we’ve got the best outdoor comfort experts in the business, and we asked them to put together some ideas you may not have considered. Let’s take a look:

Install retractable awnings over outdoor seating and lounge areas for shade on days when it’s needed, or sunshine when it’s not.

Outdoor commercial patio overlooking a lake or inlet in tropical area, with wicker furniture, neutral-colored cushions, white tables and Advaning EA1610-A208H classic series retractable awning

Canvas awnings are a versatile, eye-catching choice for shading outdoor patio dining areas for restaurants.

Outdoor restaurant patio scene with dark red floor tiles, wood tables, black plastic chairs, wrought iron fence, yellow walls with wall-hung planters, two carriage post lamps and a Advaning EA1610-A430H2 luxury series retractable awning over top

Check out the premium-quality that the Advaning EA1610-A808H2 luxury series retractable awning brings to the table… it comes as a 100% pre-assembled complete kit and is DIY friendly. Features like an easy pitch tilt system help you to get your shade exactly where you need it, without having to go back to school to finish your Engineering degree. Finally, the Recasens 2100% premium solution-dyed acrylic fabric (sourced from Spain) is soft to the touch, mildew and mold resistant, and the dye process assures you of long-lasting color saturation with minimal fade even after years of use.

Create an ultra-contemporary aesthetic with a clear polycarbonate and metal awning.

Close-up of exterior shot of an awning above a doorway of a single-family home, with Advaning DA4735-PSS1A PA Series solid polycarbonate premium door awning with silver-finished aluminum brackets and clear solid polycarbonate base

Sometimes the bold, brilliant colors available on a standard retractable awning aren’t right for your business… and sometimes you really just need an awning to create a safe entryway for your customers and employees. The Advaning DA4735-PSS1A PA Series solid polycarbonate premium door awning is available in clear, frosted, or tinted gray varieties to fit in perfectly with your storefront. Remember, this is a non-retracting awning that will always shield your patrons and employees and can be selected in sizes up to 94” wide.

Types of Commercial Awnings: Which style is best for your business?

Retractable Awnings – Provides sun and rain protection while extended, allows sunlight when retracted. The most versatile and adaptable shade system that can literally work at the push of a button. Suggested for all business situations, as long as you can find fabrics and colors that fit in with your aesthetic.

Manual retractable awnings work just as well as electric ones but are typically only available on the smaller sized awnings (you know, physics and all that). Electric awnings are easy to operate and may increase the frequency of extending or retracting your awning.

Freestanding Awnings – Require no building attachment, these awnings are like ginormous umbrellas yet are still retractable to let in that good ole’ sunshine. Check out freestanding awnings to get a better idea of the options available to you.

Commercial Awning FAQs:

What is the best material for awnings?

It surprises absolutely nobody that there are multiple types of materials that your awning could be made from. Here are the most popular, and our thoughts on each:﻿Acrylic Awnings – Although expensive (up to 10 times the cost of canvas awnings), acrylic awnings are soft to the touch (kind of feels like wool), are moisture wicking and water-repellant (no that isn’t the same as waterproof). This is a luxury fabric for those who want their awning to keep the same beautiful appearance for years on end.
Canvas Awnings – As a woven linen material (made from hemp, cotton or linen) you judge your canvas by how many ounces per square yard… the heavier the fabric, the stronger the material (and more expensive). Canvas is hearty, able to withstand snow, rain and hail better than most but does require a clear varnish to be reapplied regularly.
Vinyl Awnings – About the weight of a heavy canvas (18 ounces per square yard), this synthetic material is flexible, flame-retardant and water and mildew resistant. Made of several layers, vinyl costs about 3x as much as canvas and since they have a limited ability to allow air to pass through (or to dry properly), they feel a bit stuffy and not as cool as other materials available.
Metal Awnings – Once the awning of choice for many during the 1950’s through 1970’s, these are obviously permant’ish structures (basically, a metal roof). Able to be painted to match the building, they are susceptible to rust and need regular cleaning, repainting and screw-tightening/replacement.
Fiberglass Awnings – A lighter alternative to steel awnings, the fiberglass is molded with the color baked-in (although you can get translucent coloring if you need to let more light in). Since you can’t paint it, you’re stuck with the look until you replace it. Further, fiberglass is subject to facing over time and can become brittle and crack, requiring it to be replaced.
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The best material for an awning? Canvas is cost-effective and hardy, but acrylic may be the best for business owners who want to maintain a professional and attractive appearance.

What’s the best height for an awning?

If you’re hanging an awning above a window or door, take the width of the window/door and add 10 inches. How far out your awning should extend depends on the area you want to shade and the direction your awning faces.﻿Start by measuring the area you want to cover to get a good idea of about what size you need. Next, check the direction of the awning in relation to the sun – in most locations that face East or West you probably won’t need an awning more than 10-13 feet due to how shadows naturally will fall in the range of your awning. If your wall faces North or South though, we recommend going for the greatest size possible. You North/Southers also should make your width 1.5 – 2 feet larger than your preferred coverage on either side instead of the usual five inches.

What size awning do I need?

Retractable awnings require 10 inches of clearance when hung over openings (doors/windows/walkways), and for planning an awning hung on a wall without an opening we suggest a minimum of 8’ from the ground.

Wrap-Up

Putting up a commercial awning to attract more business and expand your capabilities just makes good business sense. Customers will appreciate the respite from the sun, the shelter from the rain, and the consideration you’ve given them to create a comfortable outdoor space for their enjoyment.
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Selecting your awning is fairly straightforward, but if you need a little help, you’re in luck – we’ve got the best patio experts in the business. Our experts know just about everything there is to know about awning selection and implementations and are there for you if you need us – just give us a call and we’ll be right there with you, every step of the way.

3 Creative Commercial Awning Ideas

Install retractable awnings over outdoor seating and lounge areas for shade on days when it’s needed, or sunshine when it’s not.

Canvas awnings are a versatile, eye-catching choice for shading outdoor patio dining areas for restaurants.

Create an ultra-contemporary aesthetic with a clear polycarbonate and metal awning.

Types of Commercial Awnings: Which style is best for your business?

Commercial Awning FAQs:

What is the best material for awnings?

It surprises absolutely nobody that there are multiple types of materials that your awning could be made from. Here are the most popular, and our thoughts on each:

The best material for an awning? Canvas is cost-effective and hardy, but acrylic may be the best for business owners who want to maintain a professional and attractive appearance.

What’s the best height for an awning?

If you’re hanging an awning above a window or door, take the width of the window/door and add 10 inches. How far out your awning should extend depends on the area you want to shade and the direction your awning faces.

What size awning do I need?

Retractable awnings require 10 inches of clearance when hung over openings (doors/windows/walkways), and for planning an awning hung on a wall without an opening we suggest a minimum of 8’ from the ground.

Wrap-Up

Ideas & Inspiration

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications

Follow PatioHeatandShade on Social Media

It surprises absolutely nobody that there are multiple types of materials that your awning could be made from. Here are the most popular, and our thoughts on each:

The best material for an awning? Canvas is cost-effective and hardy, but acrylic may be the best for business owners who want to maintain a professional and attractive appearance.

If you’re hanging an awning above a window or door, take the width of the window/door and add 10 inches. How far out your awning should extend depends on the area you want to shade and the direction your awning faces.

Ideas & Inspiration

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications

3 Creative Commercial Awning Ideas

Install retractable awnings over outdoor seating and lounge areas for shade on days when it’s needed, or sunshine when it’s not.

Canvas awnings are a versatile, eye-catching choice for shading outdoor patio dining areas for restaurants.

Create an ultra-contemporary aesthetic with a clear polycarbonate and metal awning.

Types of Commercial Awnings: Which style is best for your business?

Commercial Awning FAQs:

What is the best material for awnings?

It surprises absolutely nobody that there are multiple types of materials that your awning could be made from. Here are the most popular, and our thoughts on each:

﻿

The best material for an awning? Canvas is cost-effective and hardy, but acrylic may be the best for business owners who want to maintain a professional and attractive appearance.

What’s the best height for an awning?

If you’re hanging an awning above a window or door, take the width of the window/door and add 10 inches. How far out your awning should extend depends on the area you want to shade and the direction your awning faces.

﻿

What size awning do I need?

Retractable awnings require 10 inches of clearance when hung over openings (doors/windows/walkways), and for planning an awning hung on a wall without an opening we suggest a minimum of 8’ from the ground.

Wrap-Up

Ideas & Inspiration

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications

Follow PatioHeatandShade on Social Media

It surprises absolutely nobody that there are multiple types of materials that your awning could be made from. Here are the most popular, and our thoughts on each:

﻿

The best material for an awning? Canvas is cost-effective and hardy, but acrylic may be the best for business owners who want to maintain a professional and attractive appearance.

If you’re hanging an awning above a window or door, take the width of the window/door and add 10 inches. How far out your awning should extend depends on the area you want to shade and the direction your awning faces.

﻿

Ideas & Inspiration

Heating

Shading

Cooling

Outdoor Living

Commercial Applications