An awning is a type of shade covering typically used for outside purposes. It is usually installed above windows, doors, or terraces to provide shelter and shade from the rain or the sun. An awning can be dissected into four main parts: the arm, the front bar, the bracket, and the fabric. Retractable awnings also come with an additional awning part called the torsion bar.
Among the awning parts, the fabric is perhaps the central element, as it is the one that gives shade. Canvas is the preferred choice for the fabric because of its durability, thickness, and style possibilities. Canvases made of cotton and yarn can give sufficient shade only from the sun, but acrylic canvases can also be a shelter from the rain. The metal type of fabric, usually made of aluminum, is also a popular choice because it can also serve as a protection even from snow. Metal awnings can also bear more wind load and snow load as compared to the fabric type of awnings and require minimal maintenance and replacement.
The arm and the front bar are the awning parts that constitute the framework. The arm is the awning understructure that lifts up the fabric from the inside. It is positioned in the middle to prevent the awning, especially the canvas type, from overstretching and deformation. This is especially important during rainy and winter seasons when heavy water and snow can collect in the awning and stretch the canvas or even tear it.
The bracket is the rod that affixes the awning to the wall, while the front bar is the outermost pole in which the fabric is stretched out. Dome-shaped or curved awnings, however, need multiple bars in order for them to take shape. The arm, brackets, and the bars can be made from metals such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, or even copper. Other materials such as wood and plastic are also available for use, though both do not have the same strength and malleability as the metals. For these three awning parts, stainless steel is a favorite material because it does not easily rust and is affordable.
The torsion bar is specifically for a retractable awning in order to adjust its angle or fold it altogether when not in use. In the past, awnings were manually adjusted or brought down. Today, retractable awnings have torsion bars attached to their brackets and are remote-controlled, making them more convenient. If there is a need for repair or replacement, specific awning parts are usually available in stores from which the awning is bought.