3 Creative Commercial Awning Ideas

Let me set the scene… it’s a gorgeous sunny day, 72° with a slight breeze blowing in from the west. A little past noon, you and your spouse decide to stop for a bite to eat and when the hostess asks if you’d like to sit outside, the answer is a resounding, “Absolutely.” Like us, you love spending more time outdoors and on a day like today, “Al Fresco” dining is the only way to go.

Many of our favorite restaurants and local watering holes have outdoor seating for multiple reasons (not the least of which is to increase seating capacity and therefore profits). Many owners of dining and drinking establishments know that they key to profits is keeping their customers comfortable outdoors – whether that is the use of strategically placed patio heaters for colder days, fans for the dog days of summer, or adding shading to keep their customers cool.

Adding shading comes in one of three forms: using an umbrella, a shade sail, or an awning. Both Umbrellas and shade sails will do the trick but are for smaller areas and have drawbacks that a commercial awning doesn’t. Why pick commercial awnings rather than other shade alternatives?

• Add more usable space: More seats for restaurants and bars means more sales, and who doesn’t like money? Even non-food/drink establishments benefit – sheltered from the harmful effects of constant sunlight and rain, products can be displayed outdoors to lure in additional business.
• UV Protection: Continued exposure to sunlight can damage fabrics, wood, and other parts of your business… while using a retractable awning (motorized or manual) allows you to mediate how much sun your customers experience.
• Safety & Shelter: By sheltering your business from water there are less chances for slip & fall accidents, keeping your patrons safe.
• Increase Visibility: High contrast color options draw the eye, and patrons to your doorstep. Got a theme (like a modern Mexican restaurant based on the “lime” theme)? Match your awning color to your signature color for increased branding.

It’s easy to see that expanding outward (turning unused space into more income) is a no-brainer, but how should you implement your new-found expansion? Luckily, here at Patio Heat and Shade we’ve got the best outdoor comfort experts in the business, and we asked them to put together some ideas you may not have considered. Let’s take a look:

Install retractable awnings over outdoor seating and lounge areas for shade on days when it’s needed, or sunshine when it’s not.

Canvas awnings are a versatile, eye-catching choice for shading outdoor patio dining areas for restaurants.

Create an ultra-contemporary aesthetic with a clear polycarbonate and metal awning.

Types of Commercial Awnings: Which style is best for your business?

Commercial Awning FAQs:

What is the best material for awnings?

What’s the best height for an awning?

What size awning do I need?

Retractable awnings require 10 inches of clearance when hung over openings (doors/windows/walkways), and for planning an awning hung on a wall without an opening we suggest a minimum of 8’ from the ground.

Wrap-Up