Many people have awnings installed to provide a shady space to sit in and enjoy the sun. But what happens to your awning when conditions turn bad? Keep an eye on the weather, and you should have no trouble keeping your awning problem-free.

Rain

Rain should not generally pose any problems for an awning, provided it has been properly installed. In general, it should be angled at around fifteen degrees to allow any water to run off without pooling in the middle—otherwise the weight of the water could cause the fabric to tear. It would also be a good idea to wind it in if the rain turns heavy.

If you do wind the awning in during a downpour, you should let it out again on the next sunny day to allow it to dry out. You may also want to check that no leaves or debris have fallen on it.

Wind

It is far more advisable to retract the awning in windy weather. The stronger the wind, the greater the risk that the awning will tear, and the wind can also damage the structure and fixings of the awning. By and large, you should retract the awning if you are finding it too breezy to sit outside and enjoy the sun.

If you have an electric awning, it is also possible to buy a wind sensor which will automatically retract your awning if the wind becomes too strong. You can set the strength at which the sensor should begin to work, giving you peace of mind that your awning will not be damaged.

Snow

Snow can cause damage to an awning by causing extra weight, which can tear the fabric and damage the fittings. Unless you have one designed specifically for use in snow, you should retract it if you know there is a possibility of snowfall. Conditions can change very quickly, so it is worth checking the forecast regularly, and winding the awning in if there is any risk.

If the snow has already started, give the awning a quick scrape to knock off any deposits before retracting it.

In general, if conditions are too bad to sit outside in anyway, wind the awning in. This way you can be rest assured that it will still be intact and functional when the weather gets better, and you will need it once again to protect you from the sun.