Do you ever feel for that person who holds a newspaper over his head while dashing through the streets in a rainstorm? In a sense, he has created the world’s cheapest personal awning. Now, take that same man and put an umbrella in his hand—perhaps it’s even donning the logo of his favorite sports team. Not only does the umbrella tremendously outperform the newspaper by effectively blocking the precipitation but it also exudes a more attractive look while providing a sliver of advertising.
Umbrellas are obviously not the focus here, but the presence of another type of larger-scale covering will be addressed. Awnings, specifically those constructed of fabric materials, make for durable and attractive additions to commercial applications.

WHY FABRIC?
“Most of our awnings are made of fabric,” says Bob Helmsing, Vice President, Lawrence Fabric Structures. “We do make some metal and tensioned structures but for awnings we use just about every fabric that’s out there.”

So, what kind of fabric is out there? A number of materials containing elements of cotton, polyester, cotton/poly and more are out on the market (see the resource list on page 30 for awning fabrics providers). Some awning companies such as Ohio Awning & Manufacturing Co. even identify acrylic and vinyl blended materials as fabrics, though the company primarily uses Safety Components’ WeatherMax and Glen Raven’s Sunbrella material when manufacturing and installing awnings.

“Fabrics have a softer look rather than the shinier vinyl material,” says Bryan White, Business Development Manager, Ohio Awning & Manufacturing Co. who notes that the awning’s presentation is important because of its prominent location. “From a commercial standpoint, the most popular applications are over windows and doors.”

Not only do awnings provide overhead protection but in some cases they create a bond with an establishment’s overall theme. For example, Chili’s has a trademark vertical stripe pattern in its awnings. Similarly, TGI Friday’s incorporates red and white colors in its awning scheme. Graphic films and substrates provider Arlon Inc. features a technique called Continuous Striping which applies color to awnings in multiple stripes increasing brand strength for stores such as Panera Bread. The point is, not only do awnings prove to be practical but also provide eye-catching elements that users desire.

“For a lot of businesses the most important feature of an awning is visibility from the clutter followed by functionality,” says Bruce Dickinson, Vice President, Rainier Industries. “For other businesses the practicality and ‘green’ aspects which provide sun control or shade is most important.”

Rainier recently completed a project in Napa, Calif. for the Gaia Hotel in which fabric materials were shaped over metal and wood to create an original awning structure. Such challenging work is made a touch simpler while using versatile fabric materials.Says Dickinson: “Fabric allows you to work with many unusual shapes because of its inherit flexibility.”

GRAPHIC DETAILS
In terms of flexibility, an awning’s fabric material is not the only element that needs to comply. More and more store, restaurant and other building owners are looking to add personalization to awnings through printed graphics. With the correct printer and ink combination that corresponds with fabric materials, any desired look can be attained.

“More people are looking for a more unique structure,” says Helmsing, who uses a Seiko printer and the Sunbrella Graphics System (SGS) to decorate fabrics. “The trend is moving toward more graphics.”

Andy Moon, Product Manager with Baraboo Tent and Awning, who also uses the Sunbrella Graphics System, explains that the SGS process “is much quicker than painting and awnings can sometimes beinstalled the same day.” However, Baraboo is also equipped with an HP 9000s for direct print applications.

Rainier chooses to print on the widest material possible while using its VUTEk 3360 UV printer. Using fabric from Versidag that comes in 10-foot widths has been a popular choice for Rainier, but the company also employs Sunbrella, Ferrari and Neschen products for various projects. Providing such large-format capabilities has allowed Rainier to gain high-profile work such as a “retro” awning located outside of Seattle’s Space Needle.

“We’ve been doing more and more direct printing and we’re constantly trying new materials,” says Dickinson. “We have a good reputation with prominent projects and architects know our capabilities are far-reaching so they can push the envelope more with their design.”

Other companies that do not print directly to fabric materials still find ways to apply attention-getting graphics. Much like Lawrence Fabric Structures and Baraboo, Ohio Awning utilizes the Sunbrella Graphics System but also adds paint in the appropriate circumstances. “We’d rather paint than use vinyl graphics in situations when awnings get beat up by the sun,” says White.

While sun exposure can be an issue, most fabrics are equipped to handle the sun’s rays for an extended period of time. David Conine, WeatherMax Awning & Architectural Market Development at Safety Components, says the WeatherMax product is rated for 1,500 hours of UV exposure which is equivalent to about five years of color retention.

GROWING TRENDS
So often, durability is a critical issue whether it involves a big investment in an automobile or a simple purchase of batteries. Everyone wants and expects their newly acquired commodity to reach or possibly surpass a pre-determined life expectancy. Awnings are no different.

Helmsing says that fabrics are starting to experience long lives. Moon reports that fabrics in awnings usually last anywhere between five to eight years. In that respect, awnings are really becoming a valuable and long-lasting component of a storefront. “You’d be surprised sometimes that some of these applications out there are actually awnings and not permanent structures,” says White.

Also surprising is the cost of awnings made from fabrics. According to Dickinson, fabric awnings can cost about 20 percent less than metal or other hard-surfaced awning structures. Because of obvious longevity and cost advantages, Rainier has begun including its awning technology in other building graphics projects. “At a stadium in Tacoma we did a big job with framed aluminum panels, digitally printed on fabric mesh,” says Dickinson. “This is what we’ve found more and more people are interested in.”

As technology continues to progress, companies are realizing more effective ways to display their fabric awnings. One such innovation is incorporating a lighting functionality into the structure to increase visibility. “Backlighting gives awning and fabrics companies more versatility in design,” says Dickinson. Helmsing contends that backlit applications have been part of the sign industry for years so it makes sense that it would also become part of an awning project. “Awning fabrics perform very well in backlit applications,” says Moon. “But we’ve also seen agrowth in top-lit awnings with goose neck lighting.They are much more aesthetically appealing.”

That appealing aspect along with durability and functionality is really the name of the awning game. And fabrics certainly have helped give awning users a sunny disposition even on a rainy day.