Hello everyone,
we are currently considering shading/covering options for our terrace.
We have a terrace on the south side that is 4 meters (13 feet) deep and just under 8 meters (26 feet) wide.
However, the terrace is arranged in such a way that we do not want or need to cover or shade the entire space, as that would be excessive and unnecessary.
An important factor for us is a depth of about 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet), preferably 4 meters (13 feet). In terms of width, the awning should ideally be around 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet).
Basically, all our terrace furniture is weatherproof, so I generally leave everything in place year-round (whether winter or summer). In winter, everything is made weatherproof accordingly, but in summer, it all stays outside.
Considering the price ratio, as well as the installation difficulty, effort, and space requirements, a proper awning is a reasonable alternative for me.
I don't really see the advantages of a permanent terrace roof.
However, I do have some concerns regarding an awning:
- We experience very strong winds in our new build area. Can an awning with an extended depth of 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) really withstand strong winds? Are awnings generally rainproof enough to allow sitting outside and grilling comfortably even in light rain?
Has anyone gone through similar considerations and can share experiences regarding awnings?
I look forward to any input on this topic!
we are currently considering shading/covering options for our terrace.
We have a terrace on the south side that is 4 meters (13 feet) deep and just under 8 meters (26 feet) wide.
However, the terrace is arranged in such a way that we do not want or need to cover or shade the entire space, as that would be excessive and unnecessary.
An important factor for us is a depth of about 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet), preferably 4 meters (13 feet). In terms of width, the awning should ideally be around 5 to 6 meters (16 to 20 feet).
Basically, all our terrace furniture is weatherproof, so I generally leave everything in place year-round (whether winter or summer). In winter, everything is made weatherproof accordingly, but in summer, it all stays outside.
Considering the price ratio, as well as the installation difficulty, effort, and space requirements, a proper awning is a reasonable alternative for me.
I don't really see the advantages of a permanent terrace roof.
However, I do have some concerns regarding an awning:
- We experience very strong winds in our new build area. Can an awning with an extended depth of 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) really withstand strong winds? Are awnings generally rainproof enough to allow sitting outside and grilling comfortably even in light rain?
Has anyone gone through similar considerations and can share experiences regarding awnings?
I look forward to any input on this topic!
Arauki11 schrieb:
Anything that is permanently exposed to weather and direct sunlight will suffer. I’m more curious why the seating area is located where you wouldn’t cover it anyway, or why you would need a roof somewhere you never actually sit.
Of course, everyone can have a different opinion or come to a different decision. Personally, I have always built solid terrace roofs, either with a glass roof or, as I do now, with a "dark" roof. I find it comfortable that the furniture stays dry (although still exposed to weather and some rain/moisture), and you can always use that area at the house without getting wet.
In the past, we had an awning under the glass roof, equipped with a sun sensor. For me here in BW it was a pointless investment, and we soon stopped using it because no sensor or automation can be adjusted exactly as I would decide manually.
When the awning is out, I am not at home and it has to respond to wind/rain. It’s hard to imagine leaving the awning out all the time, no matter where you live. Currently, we also have a nice patio umbrella in the garden that can withstand quite a bit of wind; still, we tend to close it earlier for safety because the associated noises can be unsettling.
So the basic questions remain: What is your goal, and why are the seating furniture placed outside the area where you want shade?
Shading alone is possible with an awning that you retract when it rains. A 24sqm (258 sq ft) awning, however, would be quite a large setup. The lounge is in that area because it’s a “separate” space. It’s not our main area. Our main seating area would be covered.
Basically, I would get a roof immediately – but the high price compared to an awning is holding me back – so I’m weighing my options…
nordanney schrieb:
Do you really sit outside during storms, or do you usually retract the awning in bad weather (wind sensor helps, too)?
Yes.
Last year, I installed a 4 x 3m (13 x 10 ft) awning at my ex’s place. Good quality. No problems with wind and light rain. Heavy wind and/or rain mean we stay inside anyway. Normal showers are not a problem. That’s exactly how I see it as well. So far, with two "summers" in our new build on the terrace, we have never sat outside in bad weather. For us, the main concern is really just shade.
We chose a compromise between a cassette awning and a full roof, as our terrace is used as a fire department staging area and therefore may not be covered. A frame is installed on both sides, guiding the awning. This solution is very sturdy and resistant to wind. The awning fabric is also waterproof during rain.
Prager91 schrieb:
I see it exactly the same way. So far, in our new build we have had two summers on our terrace and have never sat outside during bad weather. Basically, it's about shade for us.Of course, you can argue and handle it that way. However, if someone wants to stay outside even in drizzling rain or prefers not to worry at all about whether it will drizzle, that is also understandable. Another advantage of a fixed roof is that dew does not settle on the furniture, so in the evening, when you want to stay outside, it’s always dry. I experienced this dew on our glass roof and was glad it stayed dry underneath. Others have their reasons for choosing an awning or a sail, and all of these are reasonable. You just have to find what suits you without assuming that it is inherently the right choice.Jens B. schrieb:
We chose a compromise between a cassette awning and a fixed roof because our terrace is an emergency vehicle staging area and cannot be covered. On the left and right sides, a frame is installed in which the awning slides. This setup is very sturdy and resistant to wind. The awning fabric is also waterproof when it rains.Actually, I would rather lean towards a pergola with an adjustable louvered roof. The advantage of an awning, however, is that it only requires mounting on the wall without support posts.
Arauki11 schrieb:
Of course, you can argue that way and handle it that way.
However, if someone wants to stay seated even in drizzle or not have to worry about whether it will drizzle, that is also understandable.
Another advantage of a fixed roof is that dew does not settle on the furniture, or in the evening when you want to stay outside; it’s always dry underneath. I experienced this with our glass roof and was glad it stayed dry below.
The next person will have arguments for an awning or a sail shade, and all of them are reasonable. You just have to find what suits you without thinking that your choice is the absolute right one.I completely agree with you—it’s totally understandable for me as well. I’m just trying to find the right solution for myself and have my own preference. As I said, I still have some concerns about wind, rain, and the durability of the awning. That’s why experience reports about large awnings with a depth of 3 meters (10 feet) and, for example, a width of 6 meters (20 feet) in wind and rain conditions are very important.
At our old house, we had two awnings from Arabella, which were considered quite decent back then. The larger one was probably about 6 meters wide (20 feet) and 3.5 to 4 meters deep (11.5 to 13 feet). I don’t recall using them very often, but they likely had some kind of roof overhang.
Take a look at a large awning like that fully extended somewhere in person. I have seen those before. With the cheaper ones, I worry they might start squeaking soon, while the expensive ones are, well, expensive. Also, I didn’t like the “box” that remains visible even when it’s retracted.
If you only want it for sun or shade, I would consider buying a high-quality parasol, and there are many different shapes available. For us, the awnings eventually became stained from birds and other factors, and replacing such a large fabric is not easy for several reasons.
But again, that’s just my personal view, which is why I would either build something solid with glass or go for the parasol option.
Take a look at a large awning like that fully extended somewhere in person. I have seen those before. With the cheaper ones, I worry they might start squeaking soon, while the expensive ones are, well, expensive. Also, I didn’t like the “box” that remains visible even when it’s retracted.
If you only want it for sun or shade, I would consider buying a high-quality parasol, and there are many different shapes available. For us, the awnings eventually became stained from birds and other factors, and replacing such a large fabric is not easy for several reasons.
But again, that’s just my personal view, which is why I would either build something solid with glass or go for the parasol option.
Arauki11 schrieb:
At our old house, we had two awnings from Arabella, which was quite good quality at the time. The larger one was probably about 6m (20 feet) wide and 3.5–4m (11.5–13 feet) deep. I don’t remember us using them often, although there was some roof overhang there, too.
Take a look at one of those large awnings fully extended in person. I have been to places with those. With the cheaper ones, I worry they might start squeaking soon, and the expensive ones are just expensive. Plus, I didn’t like that “box” that always stays visible.
If it’s really just about sun or shade, I’d go for a high-quality parasol, and there are all sorts of shapes available. For us, eventually they became stained from birds and other things, and you can’t just replace such a large fabric easily for several reasons.
But again, this is just my personal preference, which is why I would either build something fixed with glass or go with the parasol option. The fixed option is currently too expensive for me, considering what I’d actually get (not really more than with an awning for my needs—assuming, of course, the wind and rain issues are “solved”).
A permanently installed solution will certainly bring challenges for future design changes, too. An awning you just mount on the wall, and that’s it.
We currently have two fairly high-quality parasols concrete-set in place—but honestly, they feel more like a hassle than a benefit. For me, it’s more of a temporary solution. I would like a larger, permanently shaded area without constantly having to reposition both parasols. Still, the parasols would be used for the lounge and the sandbox next to it—so that way I’d be killing two birds with one stone.
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