A guide to different commercial awning types

Choosing the right awning for your commercial outdoor space can be confusing. Indeed, if you own a restaurant facility your commercial awning needs might differ from those of a hotel owner, as will the ways that you will make use of the awning. There are various awning styles to choose from and it can often be difficult to decide which type will work best for your business. To help you in your decision making, our commercial awnings experts have provided an overview of the different commercial awning types that we offer.

Retractable Awning

• Best for: Shopfronts, beer gardens, pavement seating
• Why choose it:
  • Instant shade at the push of a button or turn of a handle
  • Clean façade when retracted - no bulky frame on show
  • Ideal for venues that need flexible cover (sun in winter, shade in summer)

Perhaps the most popularly used commercial awning out there. Mounted to the wall or ceiling, the fabric of this awning extends outwards to provide a good area of shelter and shade and retracts when not in use. Ideal for shop fronts and gardens or terraces, the retractable awning is a firm favourite amongst both our commercial and residential customers.  Read our guide on why retractable awnings are best for businsses.

Drop Arm Awning

• Best for: Upper-storey or hard-to-reach windows in cafés, offices, classrooms

• Why choose it:

  • Cuts heat and brightness without sealing off daylight entirely

  • Compact roller bar sits neatly above the frame

  • Great alternative where a full-width retractable unit won’t fit

Drop arm awnings are typically installed above windows which are subject to lots of sun glare and heat. The roller bar sits neatly above the window frame and the fabric awning extends out and downwards to provide optimum shade. These are particularly effective on windows that are too high for a traditional retracting bar awning.  Read our guide on how shop awnings boost high street presence

Freestanding Awning

• Best for: Large terraces, courtyard bars, poolside lounges, playgrounds

• Why choose it:

  • Creates wide, column-free shade on both sides of the beam

  • Works on most surfaces- concrete, decking, even compacted gravel

  • Scalable: add extra bays as your seating area grows

Freestanding awnings feature two awnings mounted onto a single central bar in the centre. The fabric extends out and slightly downwards on either side of the middle bar to provide a large area of shade. This awning can be fixed to the ground on most terrains and flooring, making it extremely versatile and perfect for creating shaded outdoor seating areas.  For inspiration read our restaurant patio cover ideas guide. 

Whether you need a shop front awning to stand out on the high street or to create an outdoor dining space for your restaurant, rest assured that Broadview has an awning style to suit. Book your free, no obligation design consultation today by calling the Broadview team on 01202 679012.