What are awnings?
types, fabrics and limits
An awning is fabric sun protection that you extend and retract again. Here you can read which types there are, what distinguishes an awning from other options, where its limits lie and what matters when buying. The values come from our workshop in Westoverledingen, where we sew made-to-measure rope tension awnings and folding awnings.
What is an awning? An awning is fabric sun protection that can be extended and retracted. The cloth hangs from a frame, in tracks or on cables and gives shade over a patio, pergola, conservatory or balcony. Unlike a fixed, tensioned shade sail, you slide the awning open or retract it fully depending on the position of the sun. The key points in brief:
- Rope tension awning: fabric panels with sewn-in aluminium tubes run on tensioned cables between two fixed points, typically between the rafters of a patio roof or under a pergola.
- Folding awning: the fabric panel hangs with hook-and-loop profiles in two tracks and folds into pleats when slid together.
- You move both by hand with an operating pole, without a motor and without electricity.
- We do not make folding-arm, cassette or vertical awnings, and we only name them here for comparison.
- An awning is not a storm or rain roof: in rain, storms and bad weather you retract it.
- The rope tension awning configurator offers four fabrics: Dralon, Olefin, Polysun and Agora.
Which types of awning there are
Awnings differ in what the cloth hangs from and how it moves. We make the first two types ourselves, and the others are here for comparison.
Rope tension awning
Several fabric panels run with sliders on polyester cables. Aluminium tubes are concealed in the tabs of each panel and hold the fabric across. The awning sits between two fixed points, such as between the rafters, under a pergola or in a conservatory. You slide each panel open or closed individually. More at made-to-measure rope tension awning.
Folding awning
The fabric panel hangs from hook-and-loop profiles by sewn-on velour tapes about every 40 cm. These slide in two aluminium tracks, so the cloth does not sag. Thanks to the hook-and-loop connection you can take the fabric off for washing. More at made-to-measure folding awning.
Folding-arm and cassette awning
The cloth winds onto a roller on the house wall, and folding arms push it out to the front. With a cassette awning, the cloth and arms disappear into a closed housing when retracted. We do not make either type.
Vertical and conservatory awning
The vertical awning lowers the cloth vertically in front of a window or balcony. The conservatory awning lies in guide tracks on or under the glass roof. We do not make these types either.
Awning, shade sail, parasol, pergola
Encyclopaedias often describe the awning as sun, privacy and rain protection. For the types we make, the following applies: they are sun protection, not a storm or rain roof. This is how the awning differs from its neighbours.
Awning or shade sail
A fixed, tensioned shade sail hangs from its corners and stays in position. You extend and retract an awning, and the retracted fabric bundle needs a place under the roof. If there is no roof over the spot, a shade sail often suits better.
Awning or parasol
A parasol stands freely and can be moved, while an awning is permanently fitted and covers a whole area. You can read the comparison at awning or parasol.
Awning and pergola
The pergola or patio roof is the frame, and the awning is the cloth under it or between its parts. A single panel across the whole area is not technically possible: we divide the area into parallel panels of around 150 cm, which move individually.
Other solutions
From the rope tension shade sail to the outdoor curtain: what exists instead of an awning is explained in alternatives to an awning.
Drawbacks and limits of an awning
The rope tension awning and the folding awning are pure sun protection. In rain, strong wind, storms and bad weather you retract them. Our awning fabrics are water-repellent: normal rain beads off, but in persistent or heavy rain water gets through. What that means in everyday use is explained in leaving an awning out in the rain.
When retracted, the rope tension awning pushes together into a bundle. With four panels of 150 cm width, that is about 30 to 35 cm. The bundle parks under a shelter, usually under the roof that the awning hangs from.
Between the rafters there are around 8 drill holes per bay, and under the rafters around 4. For a pergola with 9 bays, that is 72 drill holes between the rafters.
You slide each panel individually with the operating pole. That takes more steps than pressing a button, but there is no motor and no power connection that can fail.
Polysun is solution-dyed polyester and almost reaches the lightfastness of Agora. However, polyester breaks down faster than acrylic under UV radiation, so a polyester fabric does not last as long.
What matters when buying an awning
Four points decide whether an awning suits and lasts a long time: fabric, size, fixing and warranty. The values apply to our rope tension awning unless stated otherwise.
Fabric
Lightfastness according to ISO 105-B02 shows on a scale of 1 to 8 how long the colour lasts. Agora reaches 7-8 out of 8, Polysun 7-8, Olefin over 7, Dralon 4-6. Agora is solution-dyed acrylic, Dralon is conventionally dyed acrylic, both from Spain. Polysun is polyester, Olefin is polypropylene. Which fibre and which shade suit you: awning fabric: acrylic or polyester.
Size
We make to the clear dimension between the two fixing points. A rope tension awning is up to 700 cm long and up to 320 cm wide, and panels of 150 cm width are usual. The folding awning is available up to 150 cm width and up to 600 cm projection.
Fixing
Between the rafters the awning is invisible when retracted, and under the rafters it needs fewer drill holes. You check the structural strength before fitting. What applies under a balcony is explained in awning on a balcony with ceiling mounting.
Warranty
On colour fastness there is a 5-year warranty for Agora and 2 years for Polysun and Olefin. There is no colour warranty for Dralon. Agora costs somewhat more, and the configurator shows the price. The polyester cable of the rope tension awning has a lifetime warranty.
Made-to-measure awnings from Westoverledingen
We sew the rope tension awning and the folding awning to your measurements in our workshop in Westoverledingen. We do the cutting, sewing and final inspection ourselves, and the finished product is Made in Germany. If the cloth of an existing awning is worn out, read re-covering an awning to see what is possible. If you want to sew one yourself, you will find the basics at sewing an awning.
- Complete fitting accessories included
- Rope tension awning in Dralon, Olefin, Polysun or Agora
- Folding awning in Agora Liso or Polysun
- Free fabric samples before you order
Oiling an awning - yes or no?
Can you oil an awning? Not the fabric: on acrylic fabric, oil is a stain, which you remove with a washing-up liquid solution at a ratio of 1:20. At most you can oil the mechanism, and that looks different for each type.
Rope tension awning
No joints, no gearbox, no motor. The panels run with plastic sliders on polyester cables. The cable needs no lubrication and, in normal use, no retensioning.
Folding awning
The hook-and-loop profiles glide with sliders in aluminium tracks. The track system is maintenance-free and needs no oil.
Folding-arm awning
Look after the joints, gearbox and crank according to the instructions from the manufacturer of your awning. If oil drips onto the cloth, remove it with the 1:20 washing-up liquid solution.
Caring for the fabric
The fabric needs water and mild soap instead of oil: cleaning an awning. How to refresh the water repellency is explained in waterproofing an awning, and dark spots are covered in removing mildew spots from an awning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
Last reviewed: 23.10.2026 · Reviewer: Germes-Team
Which awning suits under your roof?
In the configurator you enter the width and length and choose the fabric. Free fabric samples show you the colour and feel before you order.