Folding Arm, Drop Arm or Side Channel? Awning Types Explained

Start shopping for an awning and you quickly run into a long list of names: arm awnings, folding arm, drop arm, auto-lock arm, spring operated, side channel, lock down. Many of these describe the same few products in different ways. This guide explains what each term means and which awning CBI Blinds installs for that job around Lake Macquarie.

What are the main types of awnings?

Almost every residential awning falls into one of four groups:

• Folding arm awnings that project out horizontally from a wall over a deck or patio.
• Automatic and pivot arm awnings that angle out from the top of a window.
• Straight drop awnings that roll vertically down the front of a patio, pergola or verandah.
• Zip screens that roll down like a straight drop awning but run inside side channels.

The other names you see are usually a way of describing the arm, the operation or the side fixing on one of these four.

What is a folding arm awning?

A folding arm awning mounts to the wall and extends out on articulated arms that fold at an elbow. It gives shade over a deck, patio or entertaining area without posts, and retracts neatly against the wall when you want the sky and the view back. When people search for arm awnings, this is usually what they mean.

Folding arm awnings can be manual or motorised. They are designed for sun, not storms, so they should be retracted in strong wind. That matters around the lake, where a southerly can arrive quickly on a summer afternoon.

What are drop arm and auto-lock arm awnings?

Drop arm awnings, sometimes called pivot arm awnings, are window awnings. The fabric is held by two arms that pivot out from the wall at the bottom of the window, so the awning angles outward and shades the glass while you can still see out underneath.

Auto-lock arm and automatic awnings work on a similar principle, with arms that lock in position once extended. CBI Blinds installs these as automatic awnings, in auto and pivot arm styles, with manual or motorised operation. They are a strong choice for west facing windows that heat up in the afternoon, because they stop the sun before it reaches the glass.

What is a straight drop awning?

Straight drop awnings roll straight down from the top of an opening, usually the edge of a patio roof, pergola or verandah. They cut heat and glare, add privacy and still let air and filtered light through. They suit spaces where full side tracks are not needed and a lighter, simpler setup will do.

What does spring operated mean?

Spring operated describes how an outdoor blind or awning is raised and lowered, rather than a separate product. A spring mechanism helps you pull the blind down and lets it roll back up with little effort. Straight drop awnings and zip screens can both be spring operated. The alternatives are crank operation, where you wind a handle, and motorised operation, where a remote or wall switch does the work.

Spring suits smaller openings you use often. Crank and motorised suit larger or heavier blinds, and motors make sense for blinds that are hard to reach.

What are side channel and lock down awnings?

These terms describe how the bottom and sides of a vertical outdoor blind are held in place.

• Side channel awnings run inside tracks on each side. The best known version is a zip screen, where the edge of the fabric is locked into the channel the full height.
• Lock down awnings are straight drop blinds held at the bottom with clips, straps or fixing points so they do not blow around.

If you want a blind that stays tight in the wind without strapping it down each time, zip screens are the answer. The side channels hold the fabric taut and close the side gaps, which keeps wind, rain and glare out far better than a blind that hangs free. For straight drop awnings, we talk through fabric and fixing options at the measure.

Which awning is best for a Lake Macquarie home?

It depends on what you want to protect and how exposed the space is:

• Shade over an open deck: a folding arm awning.
• Hot windows: an automatic or pivot arm awning.
• Sun and privacy on a sheltered patio: a straight drop awning.
• Wind, rain and western sun on an alfresco: zip screens in side channels.

Many homes use a mix, such as zip screens on the alfresco and automatic awnings on the bedroom windows. You can see the full range on our outdoor blinds and awnings page.

How do you choose the right one?

The right awning depends on which way the space faces, how much wind it cops and how you use it. CBI Blinds is family and veteran owned and fully mobile, so we come to your home with fabric samples, look at the space and recommend the style that suits it, with a fixed written quote.

We are based in Warners Bay and install right around Lake Macquarie, as well as Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter, and Port Stephens.

Not sure which awning you need? Book a free in-home measure and quote or call 0406 755 878.