Canopy or Awning | UV Protection | RetractableAwnings.com

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Folding Arm Awnings & Folding Canopies

Folding arm canopies and awnings for homes can reduce your cooling costs while protecting your outdoor furniture from harmful UV rays.
Retractable Pergola Covers & Awnings

Retractable pergola covers are best for residents in areas prone to heavy rain and high wind while also adding beauty and interest to your outdoor space.
Retractable Drop Arm Awnings

Retractable home drop arm awnings provide shelter for windows and doors. They are available in a multitude of color options to complement your personal style.
Retractable Patio Screens and Vertical Drop Awnings

Retractable screens fit nicely in the spaces of gazebos and pergolas to provide your backyard with some extra privacy. Vertical screens can also be installed over windows.
Retractable Window Awnings

Retractable canopies add a little interest to the exterior of your home. They’re a great option if you want to add some UV protection to windows and doors.
Retractable Free Standing Awnings and Canopies

Provide shelter to your patio or deck with retractable free standing awnings and canopies. They are easy to install and the louver roof option can handle snow load.

Retractable Lateral Arm Awnings

Retractable lateral arm awnings are commonly used for commercial decks and patios to provide protection from UV rays and light rain. They are installed to the wall, fascia, beam, roof, or an eave/soffit/overhang.
Retractable Pergola Roof Covers

Retractable pergola roof covers can be free-standing or installed on a building, patio or deck. These durable structures can handle heavy rain, high wind and are chosen for both practical and decorative purposes.
Retractable Side Arm | Drop Arm Awnings

Retractable side arm / drop arm commercial awnings protect windows and doors from the sun, rain, and other weather conditions. They are easily customizable with a large variety of fabric options.
Power Retractable Screens

Retractable vertical drop screens are flexible window awnings that can be retracted and rolled up into a cassette box. For privacy, you can install them inside or outside a rectangular or square opening, such as on the sides of pergolas and gazebos.
Retractable Canopies for Commercial Buildings

Retractable canopies protect areas from sun, UV rays, light rain, and light wind. They are available in a variety of colors for coordinating with your business’s color scheme or logo.

retractable pergola patio deck cover system

residential motorized retractable louver roof

retractable residential patio deck freestanding pergola cover system

retractable-trieste side arm drop arm window multi color striped awning

retractable roof free standing pergola patio cover and deck system

retractable guide wire slide on wire canopy

rotating motorized louver roof vertical guillotine windows

retractable palermo plus folding lateral arm awning

#1 Usage

The first difference between the two is the way they are used. An awning can offer shade to both outdoor and indoor areas. A window awning prevents the harsh sun rays from entering your home or business, keeping it cool and protecting whatever might be closest to the window from sun damage, be it furniture, artwork, or something else.

A canopy, on the other hand, is used to provide shade only for an outdoor area. It is usually bigger than an awning and can be used in different parts of your backyard, even if there's no wall to mount it on, as it can be free-standing. Contrary to an awning that is usually used daily to prevent the house from getting too hot, a canopy is mainly used for occasions such as parties, barbecues, and so on.

What is important to remember is that while an awning makes your house or business cooler, using a free-standing canopy won't influence the temperature inside your home.

#2 Installation

The second thing that differentiates awnings and canopies is the way they look and how they are installed.

An awning is fabric or vinyl, attached to a rigid frame that you install on the exterior of your home - either above a window or a door or overhanging a patio, porch, or walkway. They are permanently attached to your home or business, which means that you cannot just store them somewhere when you're not using them - you can of course is invest in a retractable awning. This way, you'll be able to fold it against the wall so that it will be hidden from the eye and not subject to damage from high wind or heavy rain when not in use.

On the other hand, canopies are made from fabric or vinyl that is stretched over a frame that is supported by posts. They are more flexible than awnings - since in many cases they are not fixed to one place, you can easily change their location throughout the day, depending on the sun’s location. What's more, because they are moveable, you can also store them somewhere during the winter season when you most likely won't use them and bring them back for spring.

#3 Scope

The last thing that differentiates awnings and canopies is the amount of space they can cover.

A typical fixed awning can reach up to 20 feet in width - however, it can only be extended by about 15 feet, which means that if you have a large deck, you might not be able to cover it entirely unless you invest in a slide-wire cable awning, a retractable fabric pergola cover or a louver roof system.

Canopies can be bigger - they can go up to 40 feet in width and extend to as much as 30 feet ore, which means that even if you have an extra-large patio or deck and decide to use a canopy to cover it, you should have no trouble finding one that will do the job. Their size makes them ideal for celebrations and other outdoor events - many businesses use them to display their products during, for example, sporting events.

The Bottom Line

Hopefully, now you have a better understanding of the differences between a canopy and an awning. It's actually very easy to tell which is which - if the sun protection product is attached to a wall, then it is most likely an awning, and if it's free-standing, it's most likely a canopy.

At RetractableAwnings.com, we offer a wide selection of both awnings and canopies so that no matter which one suits your needs better, you will be able to find just what you are looking for. Please remember that if you have any questions, you can get in touch with our team, and someone will get back to you and take care of your queries. And if you have trouble choosing only one product or deciding whether an awning or canopy will better suit your needs, you can always use our 'Find your awning' tool.

Contact our retractable residential and commercial awning, pergola, screen and canopy experts using our contact form, our live help chat or call us in the USA or Canada toll-free at (866) 438-2964 or outside the USA or Canada at (305) 628-2424.