Looking to keep your home naturally cool during the summer? An easy way to do this is to install retractable awnings. Toronto weather is quite unpredictable, and the awnings and shades are effective in protecting your home from the sunlight as much as from the unexpected rains showing up on your doorstep. But the difficult part is choosing the right fabric when it comes to these sheets of canvas. Speaking of which, the standard canvas still holds its importance, despite the growing popularity of metal awnings in Canada. Modern awnings are meant to provide fade resistance and durability along with sun protection, as long as you know how to properly clean and maintain them.

Tips for Choosing the Right Fabric for Awnings

So how do you know which one will work best for your awning?

Factors to Consider

1. Shade Factor

This is the primary factor with which you should concern yourself when choosing the right awning fabric. Materials with a high shade factor are perfect for awnings. Look for fabrics that block out 88% of the sunlight to achieve perfect shading.

1. Weather Resistance

The next thing that you should know about is how much weather resistance the fabric has if you want to avoid having to replace the product within a year. A weather resistant material can withstand rain, snow and any other extreme weather condition, not so uncommon in Canada. An additional benefit is that it will also be mould and mildew resistant.

1. Colours and Patterns

Awnings are not just important for protection and shade of furniture, but add value to your home by enhancing the appearance. Do not ignore this aesthetic factor, and take advantage of the various fabric, hues and patterns to create a look that matches your exteriors.

Different Types

Awning fabrics are available in all shapes and sizes. When choosing a material, pay attention to the durability and not just the cost, because a long-lasting product will be the best investment on your part. Mostly, the choice of material depends on where you intend to use it. The popular options include:

1. Cotton Canvas Awning

One of the most classic options available, this is perhaps the most environment-friendly option on the list. However, compared to synthetic fabrics, it does not hold up well. Another issue is that you will have to seal the product with waterproof chemicals every once in a while.

1. Acrylic Coated Polyester

Acrylic is a waterproof material that features colour fastness. Generally, considered to be a leak and stretch resistant material, this is a great option for locations that have frequent chances of raining.

1. Vinyl Laminated Polyester

This highly-mildew-resistant material is the perfect choice for extremely humid areas. It prevents harmful Ultraviolet (UV) rays, which is responsible for the fading of your furniture to enter the structure.

1. PVC Coated Woven Polyester

Another mildew-resistant option that is easy maintenance, is the PVC coated polyester awning fabric. Although this material has a lot of advantages, it is mostly used for boats and recreational vehicles due to its bright colours and waterproof aspects.

1. Vinyl Coated Polyester

If you want a lightweight and breathable material, then this is the ideal choice for you. However, this option is more designer than functional.

 Irrespective of the fabric material you choose, make sure it has some basic qualities-it should not fade, leak, or stretch. The lighter fabric is a more sought-after choice for window awnings while for the doorways, you should opt for heavier fabric for your retractable awning. Toronto has a few of the finest awning fabrics. All you need to do is just follow these tips to choose the right one for you.