"On your request I am writing to inform you that I am very pleased with my awning installed by Nationwide Home Innovations.

Simon and his colleague arrived on time and worked very quickly and tidily. They were very professional in the way they worked and left everywhere tidy as they left."

Mrs Butcher, Peterborough

"I can tell you that the service and finish on the work was excellent. Your two fine lads turned up on the appointed day, were welcomed with a cup of coffee and got straight on with the job. They hardly stopped they just quietly got on with it. They were finished by 2-30 in the afternoon and left the site impeccably tidy."

Mr & Mrs Alexander, Glamorgan

Sun Awnings - Shade For The Summer

Many people who enjoy spending time sitting in their gardens can enjoy the benefit of a Sun Awning. The cooler shaded area is a great haven when the sun gets too hot and the UV resistant fabric gives you the peace of mind that you are protected.

As well as residential properties, Sun Awnings are used in many other applications. Commercial offices and factories are installing Sun Awnings to allow the staff that choose to smoke, to stand outside, under shelter from the sun and light showers to indulge in their habit.

Similarly the smoking ban has caused pubs and restaurants to take similar measures, adding smoking shelters for their customers. Many have expanded the smoking shelter idea and found that whole dining areas can be created under the shelter of a Sun Awning. Using Freestanding Awnings large areas of space can be covered, offering diners and smokers alike, a large area that is protected from the sun.

As Sun Awnings are so versatile in how they can be installed people can choose whether they want an awning for window shade, to protect a patio area or create a large independent area or shade. Often several of these goals can be achieved by simply having one large awning.

The larger the Sun Awning, the more the shade produced. However, the position of the sun must be taken into account when choosing the size of your Sun Awning. At certain times of the day the sun is a lot lower in the sky making the smaller Sun Awnings much less effective at shading. This is also a consideration if you want to use your Sun Awning for shade outside of the summer months when, again, the sun is a lot lower in the sky.

Most Sun Awnings are able to have their pitch raised and lowered. A steeper pitch will offer shade when the sun is lower in the sky but in peak summer, the shaded area is less. Likewise a lesser pitch will offer maximum shade in the summer months in the middle of the day but will be less effective.

Sun Awnings are mounted in several ways. Generally patio Sun Awnings are mounted by two main fixing points at either end of the Sun Awning. Brackets can be used to mount the Awning if perhaps there is a pipe in the way or maybe the Awning needs to be brought out from underneath a soffit to be in line with the guttering.

The Freestanding Sun Awning, as the name suggests, does not need any wall fixings and is totally freestanding. Two posts are sunk into the ground using concrete. The Awning is then mounted two these posts and opens out each side. In effect this is two Sun Awnings, mounted back to back to give the maximum shade possible.