Having a shaded area just in front of your home where you can relax with friends and family on comfy furniture sounds just like my type of summer… Owning a retractable awning, either manual or an electric retractable awning will provide fast shade to your relaxation spot, whether it’s a patio, deck, or concrete area.
Retractable Awnings in 2022
Good Quality Manual & Electric Retractable Awnings
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Brand | Primrose | Greenbay | Primrose | Greenhurst |
Size | 2.5m (width) x 2.0m (outward) | 3.0m (width) x 2.5m (outward) | 4.0m (width) x 3.0m (outward) | 2.5m (across) x 2.0m (outward) |
Type | Manual | Manual | Electric | Manual |
Fabric (weight) | 300gsm | 300gsm | 300gsm | 300gsm |
Colour | Stripes/Terracotta | 8 | Green & White | Grey & White |
Uv Protection | 98% | 98% | 98% | 98% |
Weight | 19.0kg | 16.1kg | 30.0kg | 22.0kg |
Release Date | 26 April 2012 | 12 April 2015 | 8 Nov. 2017 | 22 Sept. 2011 |
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My Awning Reviews
Awnings with helpful reviews
[toc]Primrose Manual 2.5m Awning Review
This 2.5m Primrose patio awning is ideal for quick shade as it’s extremely quick and easy to wind in and out with the operating arm. The operating arm is on the left of the awning.
It’s available in 6 colours, including striped and single colours too. The fabric is 300gsm polyester which means every square metre of fabric weighs 300 grams.
| Primrose 2.5m Manual Awning We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. |
It’s completely water-resistant as it has a PU coating applied by the manufacturer and provides UV ray protection and is rot proof too for good measure.
Should you need to clean the fabric you’ll require just a sponge with warm soapy water.
The wall brackets, bolts and frame are all powder coated to help prevent rust and improve longevity.
The canopy can be extended out whilst the elliptical arm enables you to alter the tilt which is ideal if the sun is low or if it begins to rain and helps the rain run-off quicker.
I do advise caution if the wind picks up because even though this awning is strong it can be damaged by strong gusts of wind.
Features
Ease of Use
The Primrose awning installation is a cinch and even the most averagely skilled DIY’er will find it a breeze. Installing the awning takes just a couple of hours.
The awning is secured to the wall using powder-coated brackets that will stand up against the elements and keep your awning where it should be.
What’s more, the product can easily be taken down when you need to store it away by detaching it from the bracket and operating it is as simple as using the winding handle.
Versatile Shade
There are some awnings that have 2 options – fully retracted or completely extended. The Primrose provides the versatility of being able to wind or unwind the product as much as you like.
This is ideal for days where you want partial shade and gives you the freedom to use the product to adapt to your needs. It will not limit you.
Strong And Durable Awning
Fitting an awning to your home is not to be taken lightly, substandard fittings can mean incorrectly installing the awning or could cause structural damage to the brickwork.
For those of you who are concerned the awning may pull on the house – the Primrose has a superbly tough design and is made from materials that aren’t going to buckle.
You may think that being a lightweight metal, aluminium isn’t as durable but this isn’t true as this metal has been proven to withstand whatever is thrown at it.
Protection From Sun Damage
One of the most common reasons for purchasing an awning is to provide protection from the harmful rays of the sun.
Whilst some sun exposure is healthy, it is vital to ensure that your skin is protected, especially in those midday hours when the sun is at its peak.
The 300psg material is durable and water resistant but also offers superior protection from sun damage via UV rays and is able to filter out up to 98% of harmful UV rays.
Greenbay Manual Patio Awning Review
Outdoor space is as important as the decor on the interior of the home and needs an injection of personality. Many awnings offer one design or pattern but that’s where Greenbay differs…
You’re given the option of 8 designs – either striped or block colour so showing off your style has never been easier.
| Greenbay 3 x 2.5m DIY Retractable Awning We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. |
Featuring a tough steel torsion bar and an aluminium roller, you can be confident that this will hold up. The PU-coated awning fabric will remain waterproof and keep you dry.
PU coating is a simple practice that uses a polyurethane coating on one side of the material and delivers exceptional water-resistant protection.
If you’re looking to get a shade over a larger patio or decked space, this is an ideal option thanks to its generous size.
Operating the awning couldn’t be simpler – the steel turning handle makes extending and retracting the awning really easy. You can also change the angle of the awning.
Features
Waterproof
The Greenbay awning is made from super strong 300gsm material that has been treated with a PU coating.
This means that it is completely water-resistant and that, no matter what the weather, you are free to make the most of your outdoor space.
Versatile Design
During different hours of the day, the sun’s light will alter and this demands an awning that can adapt and provide shade no matter what.
The versatile aluminium arms can easily be adjusted from anywhere between 5º and 35º so that you are able to use the product in a variety of ways.
The superior strength of these arms will withstand as much alteration as you see fit so you needn’t be worried that doing so will weaken the overall structure.
Ease Of Use
The steel handle is used as a crank to extend and retract the awning smoothly and effortlessly.
But to further aid the process, you will notice that the product comes with two steel cables that are fitted within the fabric to make winding and unwinding a breeze.
This makes the process easier and provides greater control. These steel cables provide extra support for the awning when fully extended meaning that it won’t sag.
Spacious Shaded Area
This Greenbay awning will easily cover a large area and if you’re looking for something bigger, you are free to select a larger size before buying.
The durable materials and strong fittings that are used to install this awning ensure that its grand size doesn’t mean limited staying power.
What’s more, those steel cables we have already discussed mean superior staying power and durability.
Primrose Electric Awning 4m Review
If you have a big area to shade you’ll need an awning that’s reliable, strong, and whilst pleasing to the eye. It’s not that easy to get everything you want from one product.
The most notable aspect of this product is that it’s operated electrically. This eliminates any strain you would normally encounter if you opted for a manual winding awning.
| Primrose 4.0m Electric Awning - Green and White We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. |
The setup couldn’t be easier with an internal electric control box which can be fitted along with the awning itself in just a couple of hours. It also comes with two remote controls.
Therefore, you never have to leave the comfort of your seat as you can adjust the shade directly from your seat at the press of a button.
However, the product does come with a manual winder too should you wish to operate it yourself – it’s nothing short of one of the most diverse awnings on the market!
You get a decent choice of colours, so you’re easily able to make your garden your own. You also get a superior material that has been PU coated to ensure water resistance.
Features
Easy To Clean
It’ll come as no surprise that keeping anything outside means that dirt, grime, and other nasties will begin to form on it and your new awning is no exception to this rule.
So, being able to clean the awning is super important. You’ll be pleased to know, this Primrose 4-metre awning canopy can be cleaned quickly and properly using soap and water.
Take a sponge or cloth and give the awning a wipe with some soapy water to see the dirt removed and the product looking like it did when it came out of the box.
Electric Extension And Retraction
For some people, particularly those who struggle with strength, winding and unwinding a manual awning can prove to be too much.
With innovative electric controls, operating the awning is effortless. The control box is easily installed and then just use the remotes to extend and retract the awning.
There is also the option to manually control the product if the moment calls for it. Ideal if there is a power cut and you need to retract the product to protect it from the wind.
Secure Wall Brackets
Putting an awning on the side of your home can be an intimidating concept, especially if you aren’t sure whether the brackets will hold the product securely without causing damage to the wall.
That’s where the Primrose is a cut above the rest. The super sturdy wall brackets and bolts that are supplied with this product mean that you can rest assured that once installed, your awning isn’t going to budge.
This is thanks to the powder-coated design which essentially means that the metal has been treated with a special coating that gives it added durability.
On top of this, treating metal in this way means that it will be resistant to rust that would otherwise weaken the structure.
Waterproof
You never know when the heavens are going to open – one minute you are enjoying a drink on a beautiful sunny afternoon and the next, there is a torrential downpour!
Owing to the 300psg fabric which has been specially designed to withstand water, the Primrose awning, provides you with sufficient shelter from even the harshest rainfall.
Rainwater will run off the material and onto the floor leaving you sheltered and safe in the knowledge that no matter how often it rains, the awning will keep you protected.
Greenhurst Patio Awning 2.5m Review
As far as awnings go, this is definitely one of the most aesthetically pleasing. With its sleek grey and white striped design, it will easily fit into any modern or traditional garden.
The Berkeley awning is a small manual winding awning that is ideal for less spacious patios and smaller decked areas but its size doesn’t mean that it isn’t strong.
| Berkeley 2.5m Patio Awning. Easy to Fitting Canopy We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. |
This product boasts superior durability and strength and comes with hard-wearing brackets that are sure to stand the test of time.
Its lightweight design means that installing the awning is a breeze and won’t prove to be back-breaking work in the short amount of time that it takes to put up.
One of the most notable features of this product is that it has a built-in spirit level to ensure that it is fitted exactly on point. Ideal if you’re a DIY newbie…
The fabric is made from 100% polyester which gives you a waterproof shelter allowing you to continue to enjoy the outdoors even when the weather isn’t at its best.
Features
Durable Frame
The frame is made from lightweight aluminium but this metal is also tremendously hard-wearing and ideal for products such as this that are being elevated in a fixed position.
What’s more, the frame has been powder-coated, giving it superior weather resistance.
The awning is going to be exposed to a variety of weather conditions so being able to withstand these is essential in prolonging the life of your awning.
Easy Storage
Taking the awning down is as simple as it is to install so that when winter comes around, you won’t need to be spending hours battling with an awkward product.
Simply detach the awning from the bracket and you’re good to go.
Easy Cleaning
Whilst other products might require a more professional approach, this one can be cleaned using things that you already have around the home.
The water-resistant fabric and treated frame can be cleaned using a damp sponge and household detergent to wipe away dirt or grime from the fabric or metalwork.
Waterproof And Rot Proof
When things are left outside and exposed to water and oxygen and they’re not properly treated, then dampness and mould can occur – leading to rusting or rotting.
Due to the top-notch materials used in manufacturing, you can be sure that this will never be a problem with this awning.
The fabric is made from 300psg polyester which is fully waterproof – the water will simply roll off leaving no lasting damage. This product will never suffer from mould or rot.
Own a large garden? Why not watch the kids play in their very own Climbing frame?
