4 Reasons to Invest in an Awning Instead of a Shade Sail

If you want to be able to cover an area just outside your home from the worst of the sun and rain, you might have considered either a retractable awning or a shade sail. Both can let you stay outside regardless of how hard the sun is shining or the rain is falling, but there are several reasons why you'll probably end up happier with an awning, and here are just four.

1. Easier to Adjust

A shade sail is a piece of fabric tensioned between anchor points. They can be unanchored and removed, but this can be a fiddly and unwelcome job, and you can't adjust the position of the sale. A retractable awning is different – as the name suggests, they can be retracted or extended at just the push of a button. If you do want to enjoy the sun as much as possible, you can simply retract the awning. Since shade sails are relatively difficult to demount, they are generally left in place.

2. Superior Cover

The whole reason for investing in either a shade sail or an awning is enjoying coverage from the elements across part of your outside space, so it only makes sense to provide full coverage. The issue with shade sails is that they usually leave a gap between the edge of your property and the sail itself. Water can trickle through, making it hard to get outside on a rainy day. Because awnings are attached to the side of the house instead of simply anchored close by, there's no gap.

3. Neater Appearance

A retractable awning folds up neatly when not in use. When fully extended, they don't take up any space since they hang from the property. Not the case with a shade sail. They need to be anchored by multiple posts or supports. Those posts and supports don't look too bad when the shade sail is up, although they can get in the way, but they'll look ugly if you ever need to take the shade sail down.

4. No Sagging

Shade sails should be held taut, but they tend to sag in the middle as time goes by. Water and debris will then start to collect, which stretches the fabric more and makes the problem worse. That collection of moist leaves, dirt, and other debris isn't just unsightly – it can really start to smell bad, and it could even attract wildlife. Awnings aren't affected by such issues.


Share