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See how others have designed their staircase balustrades, glass balustrades for patios and frameless balustrades for balconies. Find inspiration among modern, classic and discreet solutions – each with a personal touch.
Browse our frequently asked questions and answers, or contact one of our specialists, who are happy to help.
An awning is best when you want larger, more permanent shade over your patio, while a parasol is more flexible and can be moved as needed. Which one is best depends on how you use your patio and how much of the area needs to be shaded. Both provide shade, but in different ways.
A patio awning covers a large area without a pole in the middle of the patio and retracts when not in use, but needs to be mounted on the façade. A parasol needs no fixed installation and costs less to start with, but has to be moved and stored. For a patio that is used often, where you want shade at the touch of a button, an awning is often the practical choice.
The right size is determined by the width along the façade, the projection over the patio and the mounting height. A bigger awning does not automatically give better shade, as the direction and height of the sun decide where the shade falls. Start from the area where you actually need shade. Measure the usable width, allowing for corners, downpipes and other obstacles, and how far out the shade needs to reach.
Make sure there is sufficient clearance at the front edge of the awning. Patio awnings are manufactured in widths up to 500 cm, with a projection of up to 300 cm for Velum Lite and 350 cm for Velum Plus and Velum Pro. On long patios, multiple awnings can be installed side by side.
A patio awning can be wall- or ceiling-mounted, but the brackets must be fixed securely to a suitable load-bearing structure. When extended, the awning places additional loads on the fixings, so they must not rely on a thin external cladding layer alone. Choose the brackets and fixings to suit the awning model and the structural wall or ceiling material.
Mounting beneath the eaves or from a suitable ceiling structure may be an option where wall space is limited. Some patio awnings can be installed by competent DIYers, but their size and weight usually call for at least two people. Seek appropriate professional assistance where the supporting structure is uncertain or electrical work is required.
Yes, on many patio awnings the pitch can be adjusted so that the awning suits the position of the sun, the mounting height and the patio. How the adjustment is made and the range available depend on the model. On some, the pitch is set during installation; on others, it can be changed later.
A steeper angle provides better protection when the sun is low and helps rainwater run off the fabric. A flatter angle provides more clearance under the front edge of the awning. Determine the angle along with the mounting height and projection so that the awning does not end up too low. Follow the instructions for your model to ensure that both arms are adjusted equally.
A motor is a good choice if you want to extend and retract the awning quickly and easily, while a manual crank is a simpler option that doesn’t require a motor or electricity. Both provide the same amount of shade – the difference lies in convenience, ease of use, and price. Our patio awnings are available with both a motor and a manual crank.
The motor is concealed in the roller tube and is controlled by remote, which is convenient for larger awnings and when the awning is adjusted several times a day. The motor also allows for automatic operation using sun and wind sensors. A manual crank is reliable and often has a lower purchase price, making it suitable for a smaller awning that is used occasionally.
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Velum Lite is our compact, stylish patio awning for decking, balconies and patios – with a low, slim profile that blends into most façades. The design is based on a strong folding arm with double encapsulated wires in the arm joint and two spring packs per arm – a combination that gives even fabric tension and a long service life, even when the awning is used often. You choose whether the awning is operated by motor and remote control or manually with a crank.
Velum Lite is ideal if you want a compact patio awning for a balcony, smaller deck or holiday cottage without electrical installation. The crank-operated version does not need a power supply – a popular choice for holiday homes and coastal cottages where an electric awning is not an option.
The awning is made to your measurements and delivered ready to install. The delivery includes the awning frame, fabric, mounting brackets and the control unit of your choice. Please note that Velum Lite is designed as sun shading and should not be extended in rain, strong wind or snow.
The awning is available in three fixed profile colours – white (RAL 9010), grey (RAL 9006) and black (RAL 9005 Sable) – and with a wide choice of fabrics from Sandatex, one of Europe’s leading awning fabric manufacturers. This means you can create a solution where the awning either blends into the façade or becomes a visible design feature. As the width is made exactly to order, the awning fits straight away, without compromising on standard sizes.
Please note that accessories such as roof profiles are selected separately during configuration.
Velum Lite is designed to be mounted on either a wall or a ceiling using dedicated brackets. The installation itself needs no specialist tools, but because of the weight and length of the awning, we always recommend at least two people for the installation.
Please note that if you choose a motorised awning, all electrical installation and connection to the mains must be carried out by a qualified electrical contractor.
To ensure that the awning remains stable and secure, especially during sudden gusts of wind, it is important to use the correct mounting technique for the surface on which the brackets are installed:
Velum Lite is designed to cope with demanding weather conditions over time. The frame is made of extruded, powder-coated aluminium that does not corrode or flake, and the fabrics come from Sandatex in 100% acrylic fibre with Teflon impregnation. This means the fabric keeps its colour year after year and water and dirt run off instead of sticking.
Manufacturing takes place in a controlled environment where each awning undergoes a quality control check before leaving the factory in Sweden. Velum Lite is designed in accordance with EN 13561 (European standard for awnings). We provide a 3-year warranty on the awning’s frame, mechanism, and powder-coated aluminium profiles. The fabric warranty from Sandatex is 3 years, and the Somfy motor comes with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty.
The aluminium profiles need no repainting or surface treatment, and the Teflon impregnation keeps the fabric looking clean and fresh even after several seasons outdoors. Over time (typically after 8–10 seasons), the awning fabric may need re-impregnating to keep its water-repellent properties – using a dedicated awning impregnation product sprayed onto the extended fabric.
At the change of season, we recommend removing the valance (front fabric) and storing it indoors, rolled or flat (do not fold), to maximise its life. The awning itself does not need to be taken down, but it is best retracted in strong wind, heavy rain or snow. Give the awning a simple clean and check 1–2 times a year. When the fabric becomes worn after several years, it can be replaced – contact us for Sandatex fabric of the same quality as your original delivery.
Here you’ll find technical information about our Velum Lite patio awning – including dimensions, compatible projections, fixing data and colour information. Use it as a basis for planning, ordering and installation. All files are available as PDFs.
Planning requirements for patio awnings depend on the property and location. Additional restrictions may apply to listed buildings, conservation areas and flats. Where relevant, check with the local planning authority and obtain any required permission from the building owner, landlord or management company before ordering.
