Patio Awnings, The Complete Buyer's Guide for Cornwall and Devon Homes

Cornwall and Devon are blessed with more sunshine hours than most of the UK. But they're also exposed to Atlantic weather systems that can bring high winds and heavy rain with little warning — particularly in coastal locations from Saltash and Plymouth around to Rock, Padstow, and the full north and south coasts.

A patio awning is one of the most impactful improvements you can make to a south or west-facing outdoor space — extending the time you spend outside by weeks each year and reducing solar heat gain through adjacent glazing significantly. But the wrong awning for the wrong location in the wrong specification can be costly and frustrating. This guide, written from over 114 years of experience fitting awnings across Cornwall and Devon, tells you what you actually need to know.

Types of Awning — Which Is Right for Your Home?

Open-Arm Retractable Awnings

The traditional patio awning — two articulated arms extend to deploy the fabric canopy, and retract to fold the blind back against the wall. Open-arm awnings are the most affordable option and are available in the widest range of fabric choices. When retracted, the fabric is exposed — meaning it needs occasional cleaning and should be retracted in high winds. Best suited to sheltered gardens and inland properties.

Full-Cassette Awnings

Our most popular recommendation for Cornwall and Devon. When retracted, the fabric and arms fold completely into a protective box cassette, shielding everything from weather and UV. Cassette awnings maintain their appearance longer, require less maintenance, and are significantly better suited to coastal and exposed locations. The additional cost over an open-arm awning is typically recovered within two or three seasons of extended outdoor use.

Electric and Motorised Awnings

Electric awnings can be retracted and deployed at the touch of a button — via a remote, wall switch, or smartphone app. When combined with a wind sensor, the awning retracts automatically when wind speed reaches a set threshold — providing peace of mind that it won't be damaged in a sudden squall. For coastal Cornwall and Devon properties, we consider a wind sensor standard specification, not an optional extra.

Pergola and Freestanding Canopy Systems

A freestanding or wall-mounted pergola creates a permanent outdoor room rather than a temporary extension of the covered space. Available with retractable fabric roofs, louvred aluminium roofs, or solid polycarbonate panels, pergola systems are increasingly popular for larger outdoor spaces where a wall-mounted arm awning wouldn't provide enough coverage. Options for integrated LED lighting, heating, and side screens make pergola systems genuinely year-round.

Awning Fabrics — What Matters in a Coastal Climate

Not all awning fabrics are equal, and in Cornwall and Devon's coastal climate the specification of your fabric matters more than almost anywhere else in the UK. The key properties to look for are UV stability, water repellency, mould and mildew resistance, and colour fastness.

Sunbrella and equivalent marine-grade acrylic fabrics are our standard recommendation for all coastal and exposed locations. These fabrics are solution-dyed — meaning the colour goes all the way through the fibre rather than being applied as a surface coating — which gives them exceptional colour fastness even after years of direct UV exposure. They're also inherently mould-resistant and can be cleaned easily with soap and water.

Awning Sizes and Coverage

Standard retractable awnings are available in widths from 2m to 6.5m, with projection (depth) of 1.5m to 4m. For wall-mounted arm awnings, the practical limit for most residential properties is around 5m wide and 3.5m projection — beyond this, multiple awnings or a freestanding system becomes necessary.

As a rough guide, plan for an awning that's at least as wide as your patio door or glazed opening, and projects far enough to shade the primary seating area without being so long that it becomes impractical to open. Our surveyor will advise on the ideal specification for your specific space and aspect during the free home visit.

Awning Maintenance — Keeping Your Investment in Perfect Condition

• Never retract a damp or wet awning — always allow it to dry fully in the extended position first
• Clean the fabric two or three times per year with warm water and mild soap — avoid pressure washers
• Inspect the fabric seams and fixings at the start of each season
• Lubricate the arm joints with a silicone-based lubricant annually
• Retract the awning in winds above approximately 25mph — use a wind sensor to automate this in coastal locations
• During winter, retract and leave retracted unless the forecast is settled