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Extend Your Outdoor Spaces & Enjoy Year-Round Comfort
Australia’s all about the great wide outdoors. We love to live outside, and when you’re surrounded by so much wonderful nature, why wouldn’t we?
Even when we’re home, we love to lounge about on the patio, have a drink on the verandah, swim in the sunshine and organise endless barbecues with friends and family. It’s all about camaraderie and joy.
So it does put a damper on things when a typical Aussie storm charges through. Nobody wants to be enjoying a steak, soaked, or have their wine mixed with rainwater. Or have an all-out battle with them creepy-crawlies. Grilled grasshopper anyone?
Having the right shade protecting you from the sun, rain and insects can not only enhance your living experience, it also adds value to your home. Think like a real estate agent for a moment. When you install a Watson Blinds retractable awning, you’re not just preventing bad weather from ruining gatherings with family and friends. You’re actually creating an extra living space – and adding instant value to your home in the process. It’s a great investment, and one that will stand the test of time.
Whether you’re extending an already existing space like a verandah or are looking to create a new one from scratch, awnings can be a versatile solution. Plus, at Watson, we’ve made them look fantastic too!
Worried you don’t have room? A retractable awning doesn’t have to take up the whole backyard. They can be fitted into just about any space, and here at Watson, we’ve got everything from Pivot Arm Awnings through to Straight Drop Awnings. Trust us – there’s definitely a retractable awning to suit you.
Why Our Awnings?
- Ideal for private and commercial uses
- Trend-setting designs
- High quality fabrics
- Custom-made locally in our own factory
- Full privacy and weather protection
- Lifetime warranty on all products manufactured in-house
- Unmatched pricing for quality produced
- Motorisation and manual operation available
What are the considerations when choosing the right shade system for different weather conditions?
Choosing the right shade system for different weather conditions isn’t just about picking something off the shelf; it’s a thoughtful process that involves weighing a few important considerations.
When you’re looking for that perfect shade solution, you’re going to want to think about how well it stands up to wind, how it protects you from rain, and how effective it is at blocking out the sun. It’s all about knowing what Mother Nature tends to throw your way and finding a shade system that’s cut out for the job.
Whether you’re after a folding arm awning for windy areas, a fixed canopy for rainy spots, or retractable shades for consistent sun protection, we can help. Here’s a snapshot of our range of awnings, which we can customise for manual (crank) or motorised operation:
Product Options
Alpha SRS Outdoor Blinds:
The Alpha SRS provides dependable protection during winter, summer and everywhere in-between.
Custom-make your Alpha SRS awning to fit any space and essentially add an extra room to your home – perfect for enclosing a courtyard, patio or balcony.
Semina Awnings by Weinor:
Simple, straightforward and streamlined, the Semina is great for those ‘quick-fixes’.
This retractable awning suits practically any occassion and stand strong against rough weather conditions.
Cassita II Awnings by Weinor:
Made in Germany, the Cassita II comes with a delightful feature; LED lighting!
Its slim and sleek demeanour means it easily blends in, and its cassette protects the fabric and mechanisms too. All in all, this means longer life.
Plaza Viva Awnings by Weinor:
Self-mounted, German-crafted and operates with just the touch of a button.
If smart awnings are a thing, you’ve found it. This awnings is incredibly self-sufficient and ticks off pretty much all the boxes.
Sintesi Retractable Awnings:
This Italian designed retractable roof incorporates an integrated rain gutter and downpipe system fitted discreetly into an elegant mounting frame.
Did we mention it looks like a dream?
Sundream Awnings:
If you’re looking to bridge the gap between the indoors and outdoors, then look no further.
It’s operating system makes it not only durable, but also maintenance-free.
Zipscreen Awnings:
It’s a party all day, everyday. Stay safe from the sun, win, rain and bothersome insects with this stylish alternative to regular awnings
Window Awnings:
Stop sunlight and heat in its tracks, with our wide range of window awnings designed to protect any size and shape of window. These awnings can be used on both ground floors and multi-storeys.
Folding Arm Awnings:
Folding arm awnings offer effective sun protection across large areas, by utilising retractable fabric supported by durable arms that can extend widely. Stylish componentry combined with contemporary and functional design makes our folding arm awnings stand out from the crowd.
Sporting exceptional strength, high durability and highly developed automation solutions such as the NEO Smart hub, they’re built for spaces both big and small.
To cater to various preferences and practical considerations, they also come with different operational options. These can include standard, Semi-Cassette, or Full Cassette configurations, each offering its unique advantages.
Choose Your Awning
FOLDING ARM
SINTESI RETRACTABLE ROOF
All of the above are custom, modern awnings designed and manufactured locally for your peace of mind.
Why Opt For Awnings?
- Take back control of your outdoor spaces
- Extend your living areas in shady comfort
- Energy efficiency by regulating indoor temperature
- Add value to your lifestyle
- Innovative, all-weather solutions
- Creates a cosy and private ambience
Adding outdoor awnings or shades to spots without any cover brings a host of perks.
These handy structures are your shield against the elements, keeping your patios and front porches cosy under the sun or safe from the rain and wind.
Think of it as setting up your own little haven for chilling, hosting get-togethers, or enjoying meals al fresco. Plus, they stretch your living space outside, letting you make the most of your home and embrace the outdoors, even when the weather’s not playing nice.
In short, decking out your outdoor areas with awnings or shades not only boosts their use and beauty, but also makes hanging out there more comfy and convenient.
Additionally, they protect fixtures such as timber doors and windows. While regular maintenance such as applying a weatherproof sealant, repainting as needed and ensuring proper ventilation helps prolong their lifespan, shielding the door from direct exposure and helping to prevent issues like wood warping, paint fading, and premature wear.
Fabrics
We trust our awning fabrics so much, they come complete with a 10-year warranty.
We know exactly what we’re dealing with when it comes to Aussie weather, so these fabrics have been specifically manufactured to face up to any storm that comes your way. They’re also great for holding their own in the scorching sun, and they look phenomenal doing it all the whole time. Some, like the Folding Arm awnings for instance, even offer custom colour options.
Certain types of fabrics are recommended for specific awnings and this often depends on the type of awning, as it affects how it can withstand the weather.
There are numerous choices of awning fabrics on the market. When selecting your fabric keep the following in mind:
Air flow
Clear PVC is great for unrestricted view and when air flow is not an option. If you’re enclosing a verandah or patio, you might still want to have a nice cool breeze coming through. If this is required, ensure you select an open weave fabric with around 10% openness.
Durability
When a fabric is used outdoors it’s exposed to the elements. Fabrics with DURAGUARD® Fabric Protection keeps odours away, protects against the development of bacteria, resists stains and stops mildew and fungi build-up.
Colour fastness
Ensure the fabric you choose has excellent fade-resistance to the sun. Any fabric with a fade-resistance of 6 or above is advised, and will ensure your fabric remains the colour you selected for many years to come.
Privacy and view through
There are open and closed weave awning fabrics. Consider if you want day or night time privacy. An open weave fabric in a dark colour gives fantastic view-through in the day, but also allows others to see in at night.
MATERIALS
Mesh | Canvas | Clear PVC | Acrylic
When making awnings from natural fabric, wrinkles and bumps can appear because of the way the fabric is stitched together or rolled. Even though these flaws are minimised as much as possible, they’re a normal part of the process and don’t harm the awning’s use or durability.
Tips 'n Tricks
Whether you’re after an awning solution for home or your retail space, it can help to go over a checklist so you can be sure to come up with something that’s best suited to your requirements.
As simple as it can be, when you start getting into the process some questions are bound to come up, and this way you’ll have the answers sooner rather than later.
- Purpose: You might think this a bit silly. After all, you want an awning, you know your purpose! Well because, an awning that’s meant to cover a swimming pool for instance may not suit a storefront. Different spaces have different needs, so knowing exactly what it’s for is half the battle won.
- Space: Now you know what purpose your awning serves, it’s time to look at whether your choices fit into the space. For the most part they do, but sometimes things are a little trickier than they seem. So it can help to take a moment to regroup. Trust us, we can help you find the awning you need.
- Fabric: If you head on up a little, you’ll get the full lowdown on our awning fabrics and the options available. Choosing what you want though will depend once again on your purpose. If you want something you can see through for example, then clear PVC may be the way to go which is different to a retractable canvas awning.
FAQs
While installing an awning on your own is an option, all our awnings are installed by expert professionals and this service is included in your price. This is for the simple reason that safety is of paramount importance, and our team knows exactly how each one of our awnings should be installed. Additionally, should anything go wrong, we are there to assist with after-sales services be they structural or fabric related. Being incredibly heavy, the last thing you want is one of them to collapse on you causing serious injury.
100%. The benefits listed above outweigh the initial cost, making it a valuable long-term investment.
The lifespan of a retractable awning can vary depending on several factors including the quality of materials, frequency of use, exposure to weather elements, and maintenance. Typically, a well-made retractable awning can last anywhere from 10 to 25 years or more. You can also enjoy peace of mind with our product lifetime warranty on specific awning types.
Retractable awnings can be quite reliable when properly installed, maintained, and used. Our team will guide you through how best to use and care for your retractable awning, so you can get the best out of it.
The time it takes to install a retractable awning can vary depending on several factors, including the size of the awning and the complexity of the installation. Generally, a straightforward installation can take anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. However, in the case of severely adverse weather conditions, we will re-schedule to ensure the safety of all involved.
The main function of a rain sensor for motorised awnings is to automate their protection from rain. It does this by retracting the awning when it senses rain, which stops water from gathering on the fabric. Additionally, you can set up the sensor so that the awning extends as soon as it detects rain; helpful for keeping outdoor furniture dry during sudden downpours if the awning is angled correctly.
Motion sensors, along with sun and wind sensors, greatly improve the capabilities of motorised awnings by adding sophisticated automation and features. Motion sensors accurately gauge the effect of wind on the awning from all directions, capturing movements up and down, side-to-side, and forward and backward. They also feature a safety mechanism that automatically pulls the awning in if there’s a sensor malfunction, along with an auto-save function that prevents unintended retraction when changing batteries. These sensors learn from previous conditions to minimise unnecessary ‘yo-yo’ movements during windy conditions. Additionally, the intuitive programming allows users to set sensitivity thresholds easily by shaking the awning.
The sun and wind sensor, which tracks both sunlight and wind intensity, enables fully automated control. This dual-function sensor not only extends the awning when it’s sunny to protect furniture and cut down on cooling costs, but also retracts it to prevent damage when the wind picks up. This results in a highly functional and user-friendly experience, offering protection for both the awning and outdoor furniture.