ᐅ Awning: Width, Length & Recommendations

Hello everyone,

We are slowly approaching move-in time. Since our terrace faces southwest, we definitely need an awning or some kind of sun protection.

- Would you cover the entire width of the terrace with an awning, or leave out large windows where there are external venetian blinds (also called “raffstores”)?
- It’s quite windy where we are... but we don’t want a pergola awning with posts, rather a cassette awning without posts. Does anyone have experience with whether that is problematic in windy conditions?
- Any other things to consider?

Thanks and best regards,
Daniel

We had the same idea of "no posts," but at the same time, it's very windy where we live. We chose a 6x4m (20x13 ft) articulated arm awning, and that was an absolute mistake!
In hot weather combined with wind, we often have to retract the awning partially or completely, leaving us with no shade at all.
For the new house, there will be no awning but a louvered roof instead.

Similar situation here: no awning due to wind and no posts. Now we have a sun sail about 5x5m (16x16 feet) with two thin posts 50mm (2 inches) in diameter, and the sun sail operates electrically on the cable system. It is storm-proof up to level 7, with no bending forces on the house, only tension.

allstar83 schrieb:

Since the terrace faces southwest, we definitely needed an awning/sunshade.

One more point before you consider buying hastily:
Our west-facing terrace is hardly usable in the evening because the sun sits very low. A standard awning would not have helped in this case; only one with a retractable valance would have worked.

Fortunately, during the first few years, we used a simple parasol, and later we opted for an aluminum and glass canopy with an under-roof and vertical awning. This setup has the advantage that in summer, the under-roof awning can stay extended most of the time, significantly reducing the heating of both the terrace paving and the living room behind it.

Wind and large awnings. Absolutely not recommended. Don’t do it. You will have to replace them after just a few years.

As others have already mentioned, if you choose an awning or something similar, definitely go with a valance! We have one too, and from late afternoon it’s priceless—our neighbors without one end up sitting in the sun. Sometimes we leave the awning with the valance extended until late in the evening. Outside of the peak summer heat, it doesn’t get chilly as quickly, allowing you to stay outside longer.