Protecting Your Restaurant or Home Outdoor Space Year-Round

Building and decorating your patio is a significant investment. A reliable awning ensures you and your family are able to use your patio regardless of the weather, allowing you to get the biggest recoup on your patio investment.

The potential benefits of an awning are especially important for food service business owners in The Valley. The investment into restaurant patio spaces is significantly steeper compared to the average homeowner’s investment, as it includes more furniture and lighting as well as additional equipment like table settings and heating lamps.

A sturdy shading solution for a restaurant or café patio allows owners to utilize the space year-round, seating more people comfortably and making more money. Moreover, a well-designed awning can also bolster your curbside appeal, making your business more attractive to prospective customers.

Whether you own a restaurant or franchise and are looking to increase seating capacity or you’re a homeowner wanting to maintain a comfortable environment for your patio year-round, a sturdy awning is key to fulfilling your needs.

Which Awning or Shade Structure Materials Are Waterproof and Which Aren’t?

Waterproof Materials

• Acrylic Fabric: Acrylic fabric is highly water-resistant and breathable. It’s also resistant to mold, mildew and UV rays, ensuring its color remains vibrant for longer.

• Vinyl-Coated Polyester: Vinyl-coated polyester is waterproof, easy to clean and resistant to tearing and UV damage, making it a popular option for commercial awnings.

• PVC-Coated Fabric: PVC-coated fabric is waterproof, durable and easy to maintain. It’s particularly beneficial for awnings and shading structures that may have to endure harsh weather conditions.

Semi-Waterproof Materials

• Solution-Dyed Acrylic: Solution-dyed acrylic is water-resistant with good breathability, making it suitable for high-end awnings and marine applications. It’s resistant to fading as well as mold and mildew growth. Although it provides decent water resistance, it’s not completely waterproof.

• Olefin Fabric: Olefin fabric is water-resistant and quick drying, commonly used in patio furniture and some awnings.

Non-Waterproof Materials

• Cotton Canvas: While cotton canvas is naturally breathable, it’s not waterproof. Sealants can be applied to improve its water resistance, but it can still be at risk of mold and mildew growth if not properly maintained.



• Polyester: Polyester is water-resistant but not completely waterproof unless treated.

Can Retractable Awnings Stand Up to Rain and Other Harsh Weather Conditions?

If you forget to retract them in time for a storm, retractable awnings can be vulnerable to damage in high winds. When extended, its arms are more at risk of failure if high winds exert uneven pressure against its mechanical components.

However, retractable awnings that are regularly retracted before bad weather are able to maintain their quality and durability for longer. They offer more flexibility in regards to how homeowners and restaurant owners can shade their properties. Instead of keeping their residential or commercial patio in perpetual shade, retractable awnings allow them the flexibility to retract and extend their awning as needed. Being able to retract the awnings during the winter months and allow the natural light of the Arizona sun to warm the patio seating area as well as the building’s interior can increase customer use and save on energy costs.

Is It Worth Replacing Your Awning With Waterproof Fabric?

Waterproof awnings offer attractive resilience to rain as well as UV damage and fading and can help make your patio usable all year long. That said, it may not be worth replacing your current awning with a waterproof one if it’s still in good condition and customers aren’t complaining about dripping or leaks during our rare rainstorms. Home and restaurant owners can apply a waterproofing treatment to their existing awning to help protect it from water damage and extend its lifespan.

If your awning is deteriorating or showing signs of decay – such as if the frame is rusted or if the fabric has mold or mildew growth stains – then investing in a new, waterproof patio awning can pay dividends in durability, longevity and enhanced patio appeal.

Receive Tailor-Made Shading Solutions From Experts Who’ve Been Doing This Since 1928

The team at Arizona Awnings has spent close to 100 years designing and installing custom-made awnings for residential and commercial properties in the Greater Phoenix area. We will work hard to provide dedicated service, seamless installation and long-lasting results on every project, every time.

Start enjoying a dry patio all year long. Schedule your free, no-obligation consultation for your home or business by calling 602-252-3430 today.