Built-in solutions
This is the serious side of shade solutions. Built-in shades are an innovative addition to the market and there are some clever ideas out there to help you connect to your view without suffffering sunstroke.
The major benefit of awnings and blinds is major savings on energy bills. “Approximately 88 per cent of a home’s heat gain in summer occurs through the windows, and heating and cooling uses 41 per cent of household energy – so there are substantial savings to be had with effective use of awnings,” says Jenny Brown, National Marketing Manager at Luxaflex (luxaflex.com.au). There are plenty of options in this market, but to simplify your starting point, we’ll break it down into two groups: sail shades and awnings. Sail shades are usually the quickest to install, and are generally used to shade areas that aren’t necessarily attached to a structure, as they can be supported by poles. These are great for play areas, pools and garages. The key to longevity for a sail shade is fabric quality – being left out in the weather all year can result in drooping if the fabric isn’t up to scratch. Be sure to ask about colour-fade testing and UV quality. Awnings not only cast shade and protect outdoor furniture from the glare of the sun; they protect furniture indoors by shading the rooms inside the house. Your furniture, fabrics, hard flooring and carpets that would otherwise be exposed are all taken care of.
Choose from pergola, folding arm, straight drop and retractable – there are actually countless variations, but these are the main options. + Pergola awnings can extend quite far as the posts in the front support the weight of the fabric and side tracks, and they can be attached to less structurally strong walls. + Folding-arm awnings need to be installed on a structural wall, but are fantastic for courtyards, patios and verandahs. They can be fitted over doorways and offer a design element to your home. + Straight drop fall from the roof line on a verandah or a balcony and are excellent for increasing privacy and sun protection. + Retractable applies to most of these types of awnings. As the name suggests, they fold in and out. At the top end of the market, motorised retractable awnings allow you to work with the sun through the day.