Choosing Commercial Awnings for Restaurants | Your Complete Guide

Owning a restaurant is a competitive business. Commercial awnings offer protection, privacy and a chance to directly influence your business’s bottom line. When it comes to choosing the right commercial awning for your restaurant, the devil is in the details.  

So, whether you want sun protection or to draw in new customers, here is some helpful information to make sure you’re getting the best for your customer’s and your restaurant.  

Benefits of Commercial Awnings for Restaurants

It all starts with aesthetic appeal. Commercial awnings for restaurants have the potential to enhance the customers’ overall satisfaction and drive up revenue. Whether you offer alfresco dining or a courtyard dining area, installing a commercial awning has its perks. These include:  

More space equals more revenue: A larger functional space equals more patrons and the potential for more profits.  

You’re prepared for the unpredictable: Weather changes and outdoor dining doesn’t always mix, easily turning the customer’s experience from pleasurable to disastrous. Protection against harsh heat, wind or rain offers a convenient solution.  

Add to your existing decor: Commercial awnings not only provide aesthetic appeal, but it’s an opportunity to stand out from your competitors and invite new patrons into the establishment.  

Keep your customers happy: It’s all about the customer experience. Particularly in cases of alfresco dining, commercial awnings optimize a customer’s comfortability whether it’s protection from glare, heat or rain, or ensuring privacy.  

Converting your restaurant’s outdoor dining area is an opportunity to a turn new leaf for your business and make a difference to your business’s bottom line. As a long-term investment, choosing a commercial awning for your restaurant is essential for you and your customers.  

How to Choose the Right Commerical Awning for Your Restaurant

Whether you only want entryway shading or offer protection for alfresco dining areas from the harsh Australian conditions, there is an awning to suit your needs.  

When choosing the right commercial awning for your restaurant, you must think about the design and purpose. You will also need to take into account any lease restrictions and overall functionality. There’s a lot to consider, so let’s break it down:  

Consider Local Laws and Rental Agreements 

Before you begin your search, check your lease agreement and local laws to ensure you are within your rights to install a commercial awning for your restaurant. If you want to ensure you are following compliance measures, best check with your landlord and local council. There may be regulations regarding neighbour disturbances or protrusion onto public walkways that you may need to take into account.  

Also, make sure you double-check that your commercial lease allows for additions to be installed on the facade of the building.  

Fixed vs. Retractable: What Is The Best Commercial Awning?

The most obvious choice is the type of awning you want for your restaurant. Fixed awnings are installed in place without the ability to adjust, retract or manoeuvre. They suit areas that require sturdy protection from the elements and are well-suited to reduce glare through windows or add to the overall style of the restaurant. They can still provide a level of privacy and shade but they are not flexible – what you see is what you get.   

On the other hand, retractable awnings can either be adjusted manually via a crank or come in motorised and automated designs. Best of all, you can extend and retract the awning to cater for different weather conditions (and times of day). They provide a functional shade solution to combat heat, glare, wind and rain in a stylish design.  

Depending on your supplier, retractable awnings can come in a full- or semi-cassette design to help better protect the fabric when not in use.  

Your choice between fixed or retractable awnings may depend on the purpose, budget or space. Either way, you must ensure you take into account how to best utilise your restaurant areas and what will best serve your customers – rain, hail or shine.  

Get Your Awning Fabrics Right  

Awning fabrics are one of the most tricky elements to consider when choosing your commercial awning. It can’t just look good it also needs to be functional. With that being said, ask yourself the following:  

• Do you need water-resistant fabric?  
• What colour/s and patterns will suit the restaurant decor?  
• How much heat and light control do you require?  
• Does it need to be UV-resistant?  
• Is it easy to clean?  

Whatever fabric you choose, it needs to be able to suit the location, climate and aesthetic appeal of your restaurant space. Some reputable suppliers offer over 150 colours and patterns to choose from, each made with durable water and UV resistant materials.  

Choose a Custom Made Awning To Fit Your Building Specifications 

The overall style of your commercial awning must take into account the angle, structure, pitch and size. Whatever is going to highlight and complement the architectural integrity of the building, you want to make sure your awning achieves this. It is, after all, a long term investment.   

Width and projection are also areas in which you need to consider to ensure your awning is serving the purpose you intend it to. Above all, you must consider the overall space you intend to cover. Whether it’s a wall-mounted awning system or a roof system, the design needs to suit the exterior of the building and do the job you intend it to do.  

If you’re unsure, we recommend you reach out to a reputable supplier to discuss your options and concerns with an expert team.  

Choose Australia’s Quality Retractable Awning Supplier

The right commercial awning for your restaurant makes a more comfortable experience for customers and brings life to your building exterior. It’s an investment designed to increase revenue and expand the functionality of your restaurant space.  

It’s important to prioritise a durable and functional retractable awning that will provide a long-lasting shade solution custom made to any commercial outdoor area. Helioscreen is Australia’s leading supplier of retractable awnings for a variety of commercial buildings. Contact us for more information.