Most awnings on Sydney houses are one of four types: folding arm awnings over decks and patios, drop arm awnings over windows, straight drop awnings down the open side of a balcony or patio, and fixed awnings in aluminium or canvas. Which one suits depends on what you are shading, which way it faces and how much wind it has to live with.
Folding arm awnings, for decks and patios
A folding arm awning comes straight out from the wall on two spring loaded arms, with no posts underneath. It shades a space you sit in rather than a window you look out of.
It works best where the sun is fairly high, over a north facing deck or an entertaining area off the back of the house. Late western sun comes in low under the front bar, so a west facing patio often needs something down the side as well.
How the arms, projection and fixing work is covered in folding arm awnings explained, and the ones we fit are on our folding arm awnings page.
Drop arm awnings, for windows
This is the window awning you see over bedroom windows on brick houses right across Sydney. A pair of arms is hinged on the wall either side of the window, and the front bar swings down and out so the fabric sits at an angle in front of the glass.
That angle is the whole idea. Pushed out, it shades the glass while you still see out underneath it, and air still comes in through an open window. Brought down closer to vertical, it deals with low afternoon sun.
You will also hear pivot arm awnings. They work on the same principle, with the arms pivoting from brackets on the wall, and the differences are mostly in how the arms are mounted and how far they swing.
Wind is their weak spot. The fabric sits out in front of the wall like a sail, so these need to be wound up when it blows, and a motor with a wind sensor makes sense on an exposed upstairs window.
Straight drop awnings, for balconies and patio edges
A straight drop awning rolls straight down rather than out. It closes off the open side of a patio, balcony or verandah, and it stops the low western sun that gets under everything else.
Most are held at the sides by channels, wire guides or a zip track, or locked down to fixing points at the bottom. Without something holding the edges, the fabric flaps and wears itself out in the first decent westerly.
Mesh is the usual fabric, because you sit behind it looking out. The awning fabric guide explains how the weave changes the view and the shade.
Straight drop awning or outdoor blind?
The two names overlap, and different suppliers use them for much the same product. Both roll down vertically, both are usually mesh or PVC, and both depend on what holds the sides to survive the wind.
So the label matters less than the details. Look at how the edges are guided, which fabric suits the view you want to keep, and whether it runs on a spring, a crank or a motor.
If the job is closing in a patio or a balcony edge, compare the awning options with our outdoor roller blinds, which we make in our own Sydney factory.
Fixed awnings in aluminium or canvas
A fixed awning stays where it is. Aluminium awnings, solid or louvred, and canvas canopies over a front door, a shopfront or a window are the common ones.
They keep the rain off as well as the sun, and with no moving parts there is very little to go wrong. Over a front door, a fixed awning is often less about shade and more about staying dry while you find your keys.
The trade-off comes in winter. A fixed awning shades the glass all year, including the months when you want the sun in the room, and on a north facing living area that can cost more comfort than it saves.
The four types side by side
| Type | Best suited to | Retracts | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folding arm | Decks, patios, alfresco areas | Yes | Low western sun gets under it |
| Drop arm | Windows, especially west and east | Yes | Catches wind like a sail |
| Straight drop | Balcony and patio edges | Yes | Needs guided or fixed edges |
| Fixed aluminium or canvas | Doors, windows, walkways | No | Shades in winter too |
Picking a type by the way the wall faces
North walls get high sun through the middle of a summer day. A horizontal projection from a folding arm or a fixed awning shades that well, and a retractable one rolls away in winter to let the lower sun in.
West is the hard one. The sun comes in low and flat from mid afternoon, so the shade needs to come down, not just out. Drop arms over windows and straight drops on patios handle a west wall far better than anything horizontal.
East windows get the same low sun early in the morning, which matters most in a bedroom. South facing glass rarely needs an awning at all in Sydney.
Plenty of houses end up with a mix, say a folding arm over the deck, drop arms on the west bedrooms and a straight drop down the end of the patio. The awning range we supply and install covers all four types. Book a free measure and quote and we will look at each wall with you and tell you which type suits it.
Common questions
What type of awning is best for a window?
For most windows, a drop arm awning. It shades the glass at an angle while you can still see out and get air through underneath. A fixed aluminium awning suits a window or door where you want rain cover and nothing to wind in and out.
What is the difference between a drop arm and a folding arm awning?
A folding arm awning projects out from the wall over an outdoor area, with arms that fold back along the wall when it retracts. A drop arm awning sits over a window and swings down and out at an angle in front of the glass.
Are retractable awnings better than fixed awnings?
It depends on the spot. A retractable awning lets winter sun in and can be put away in strong wind, while a fixed one handles rain with no moving parts but shades the glass all year.
Which awning suits a west facing window?
One that can come down close to vertical, because the afternoon sun on a west wall is low and comes in under anything horizontal. A drop arm awning over the window or a straight drop on a patio does that job.
Can awnings be motorised?
Most retractable types can, including folding arm, drop arm and straight drop. A wind sensor can then bring the awning in on its own when it starts to blow. Fixed awnings have nothing to motorise.