Have you ever wondered why garden awnings are usually striped? Perhaps it is due to their commercial past or just another one of our British eccentricities.

Although increasingly used domestically, awnings still readily festoon market stalls to protect both vendor and customer alike from rain and sun. They also provide a traditional sight along the high streets of busy British market towns where shopkeepers use them to encourage customers to casually window shop before actually going in to buy. Plus their association with the seaside where any number of brightly coloured awnings decorates sea front and beach huts to protect us from the sun and provide that traditional holiday feel.

Garden awnings for home living are quite sophisticated these days and come in two basic types, manual or motorised with any number of different modifications. The benefit of an awning is that it is considerably cheaper than a sun room or conservatory, is highly functional as added protection against sun and rain during summer meals and barbecues on patios and sun decks and can be retracted after use. They are also useful for the smaller garden where space is limited.

As awnings have no vertical supports, they are susceptible to damage if extended during high wind; therefore can be fitted with wind sensors which will automatically retract them during a storm. Aluminium, fibreglass and corrugated polycarbonates are now popular as materials where they are more durable than the traditional striped fabric awning. These stronger type awnings are also good for shading inside as well as outside and have a long useable life.

The extending and retracting lateral arm awning is the modern equivalent of the old manual crank style. The torsion bar which supports roller bar and arm is fitted into the wall and spreads out the load of the garden awning in this way. The motor for the electric version is placed inside the roller tube and many have receivers built in so that the awning can be operated by remote control. These awnings can be up 30 feet in width and extend out as far as 18 feet so again are ideal for patio and small garden use.

High tech solar screen garden awnings are also available which can provide an element of transparency but also successfully block out the sun's rays. Again these can be motorised or manual with a weighted roller which pulls the fabric downwards guided by rails or wires.

Whether electric or manual, most garden awnings are quite cumbersome and will require specialist installation.