What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Retractable Patio Awnings?

As with many shade options, there are both pros and cons to retractable awnings. They can enhance comfort and protect your property, but they are also more prone to damage and breakdowns than traditional, static awning and sun shade solutions.

Here are some examples of both the benefits and the disadvantages of retractable patio awnings.

Pros of Retractable Awnings

There are several great things about retractable sunshades. They can make areas of your Phoenix, Tempe or Scottsdale-area backyard enjoyable for more of the year. A retractable awning can also protect your patio furniture, plus any carpet, flooring or furniture inside your home that is covered by the shade.

Any kind of awning that shades windows or the exterior of home will reduce the amount of heat absorbed into your home’s interior, which may reduce your energy costs and make those parts of your home more comfortable.

Durability and longevity are a bit more complicated. Retractable awnings can be retracted during monsoon storms and high winds, which means as long as you remember to retract it, or it is equipped with a working wind sensor, you can protect your awning investment longer.

Cons of Retractable Awnings

The durability aspect is also maybe the biggest con of retractable awnings. Many people either forget to retract their awnings before storms or simply don’t realize there’s a danger until their awning has already been damaged. Maybe you always retract it prior to high winds, but a storm rolled in at night or while you were at work, and it was just bad luck.

At Arizona Awnings we only install retractable awnings we’ve already thoroughly vetted for strength and flexibility. Our retractable awnings are ASTM tested and fabricated with grade 18-8 or better stainless steel. We also utilize 133 strand double aircraft-grade stainless steel cables and interlocking, no-grease chains tested to 10,000 pounds. We’re proud to say our retractable awnings offer 30 percent greater tension and 200 percent more strength than many of our competitors’ retractable awnings.

We can also install wind sensors on retractable awnings which can automatically retract an awning when dangerously high winds are detected. Different sensors offer various levels of reliability, and some retractable awning manufacturers don’t sell or install wind sensors, which can leave retractable awnings vulnerable.

Some people still underestimate the viciousness of Arizona’s monsoon season. Every long-time resident of the Valley has at some point woken up to streets lined with fallen trees after a particularly nasty storm. No matter how sturdy you make an awning, damage can still happen under the right conditions.

Retractable awnings are also more expensive to repair than regular awnings due to the mechanical nature of the components. They also tend to be more fragile since retractable awnings are essentially fabric stretched over articulating arms as opposed to sturdier, more permanent patio awning solutions.

Any awning that comes with advanced sensors, remote controls and electronic components is going to more expensive than a static, completely analog awning solution. As with most motorized things, they will eventually require maintenance, which can sometimes be pricey.

Are Retractable Awnings Worth It?

Whether retractable awnings are a good investment for you depends on the area you want to shade, what you’re willing to spend and the quality of the retractable awnings available. A high-quality retractable awning with wind sensors and a reputation for excellence and reliability is a great investment. It may last a long time with regularly scheduled maintenance.

Lower-quality retractable awnings may be cheaper, but they also won’t last as long, and you may end up spending more on repairs or replacement in the long run.

Awnings of all types can save you money on your summer cooling costs, which is a big plus. They also make your patios and outdoor spaces comfortable for more of the year. Good shade can be the difference between enjoying your patio for 10 months a year or just 8 months a year.

Deciding on what type of awning or shade solution to get is a personal choice. There are more pros than cons if you’re willing to invest in a reliable, high-quality retractable awning and are willing to take the necessary steps to prevent damage.

Get High-Quality Retractable Awnings in the Phoenix Area

Arizona Awnings is Arizona’s premier installer of all things awnings – including retractable awnings. We have been in the business for many decades, and we’ve encountered all types of retractable awnings in our time. We know what it takes to install a retractable awning that lasts, which is why we’ll only sell and install the most reliable, high-quality awnings.



If you’d like to learn more about the types of retractable awnings we install, give us a call at 602-252-3430 for a free estimate.