Awnings

Oh thank you for that Franbern. I have been looking at awnings, I would love one, but the cost ! We’re in a house the lounge faces south west with a patio door and window. We nearly cooked last year 🤣 there’s nowhere else to sit in the house either as the kitchen is at the front and too small. We have perfect fit pleated blinds that are a godsend, but still need to keep the sun from the windows Going to look at Manomano now, funny enough I’ve just bought a console table from them. Very pleased with it.

We love our electric awnings over the very long row of deep windows on the back side of our home. The summer sun is hot, awnings help.

I wish I could afford electric awnings but the s east side of the house has 2 large french double doors with windows on either side of both plus a half-glass door ie three areas of glass. I managed fine last year by maneuvering two large sail-like structures that are good on patios and balconies. Until the wind came, which it did every mid-day and fortunately when the sun left the back house. I could not take my eye off those sails

The sun took over on the west side, without respite and I followed it by using the window coverings again. I even closed the shutters on the one window north side as the heat was bouncing off my drive and the pale coloured house opposite

I have fragile k rend all over my house so would not get anything that needs drilling into that

Best of all, I have a comfy seat in the shade canopy of some nice small trees that I planted 2-3 years ago. That small area was a godsend last year and the canopy is bigger now. Pruned low down so more shoots grow from about 5+ feet up the trunks. Crabapple and rowans

I shall have to do the cave act again, pull down my perfect fit insulating blinds before the sun hits any side of my house, also close the wooden plantation shutters inside. All in all it worked reasonably

I’ve got an electric awning the full width of the back of the house which has large patio doors and would be unusable without it in summer as it’s south facing. Expensive but worth it for the amenity.

Franbern. Do you know the name of the awning you have ? There’s over 500 on Manomano

Hello Franbern, another here who would be interested in the name if the awning please. Sounds ideal.

ManoMano OutSunny manual retractable patio awning. 2 5 metre showing as £76.99 at present.

When we moved here 25 years ago the first thing we bought was a huge awning. Without any maintenance it lasted until last summer when we had it replaced. We use it all the year round, it also protects us from light rain if we want to sit out and has a wind sensor. It also has lights for warm summer evenings. Money well spent!

Thank you Franbern. I’ve had a look at them but they need securing at the top, so don’t think their suitable for a house. It’s got me looking though they have some that are on a free standing frame that might do. For others looking The Range have some good ideas too.

Katyj, be aware of how much wind you might get, eg gusts when the awning is out.

I can imagine one here and can imagine it tearing off with its fixing to the wall. Hugely powerful forces. Hence me putting up with a few hot weeks in other ways. Depends very much what your wall is made from eg stone or brick or soft stuff like k rend on the exterior. Breeze block inside the k rend here and very soft thermalite on the inside. Having put long screws into the wall, I know how relatively soft breeze block is, for me, it is not worth the risk

The other, expensive, alternative is a permanent shade on pillars concreted into the ground but that would shade even on lovely sunny winter days

Last house was pure eco, built with solar shading ie a verandah on first floor and another on ground floor. They were permanent and lovely and certainly helped but in reality, nothing helps that much when the ambient air temperature is very high

Thank you Karmalady. The wind, yes that’ll have to be a consideration here too. I had one of those clothes dryers fitted on the wall for a while, until the wind bent it and it wouldn’t fold down anymore. I’ll have to have a think .

Thanks for posting the details.
I see it's sold in several places - including B&Qm Robert Dyas and Amazon.