Let’s start at the beginning, because that’s a very good place to start.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Reynolds, Owner and General Manager of Undercover Blinds and Awnings which services – you guessed it – undercover blinds and awnings in Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.

Chris walked us through the four brands of folding arm awnings that Undercover sell:

• • BAT
  • Acmeda
  • Turnils
  • Weinor

What is a folding arm awning?

A folding arm awning is an awning that when it extends from the wall over a window, patio, terrace or balcony, it has metal arms that extend out with it, a bit like a heavy duty, horizontal umbrella. It can be extended either with a manual winding rod, or using a motorised system. You might be asking yourself, aren’t all awnings like that? Well, there are other types of awnings or coverings that run on rails along a structure – like you might see at a cafe or bistro. In those cases, the frame remains in place permanently, often supporting heating or lighting systems, so the awning (often called a “retractable roof”) just glides within or above the structure.

As an aside, there are heaps of other types of awnings at Undercover: canopies, outdoor alfresco blinds, and simple drop-arm awnings to name a few. Ah, those are ringing a bell, aren’t they? Well, we’ll save those options for another time, this series is about folding arm awnings!

What’s the difference between a semi-cassette and full cassette folding arm awning?

Once extended, there’s no visible difference between the two folding arm staples. The real difference is an aesthetic one once the awning is retracted back up against the house. In the case of a full cassette, the awning gets tucked away into a metal box similar to a section of wide guttering. Whereas with a semi-cassette rather than retracting into a self-closing box, the awning is returned to the wall and kept neat under a little ledge. Usually semi-cassettes have a broad front rail, so when it’s retracted, it has quite a finished look, almost like a full cassette.

There is also an “open-style” awning, which typically has a little waving skirt, or “valance,” that hangs down the front and presents as a very traditional awning style. It’s less popular these days, but we know you know what we’re talking about.

But how do you determine what’s the best folding arm awning type for you?

Wise words from Chris regarding whether to splurge for the semi- or full cassette: “In a lot of situations an open style awning is perfectly suitable for a space where you’re not necessarily looking back at the building. You’re not standing in the backyard looking back at the house, instead, you’ve walked out your sliding door and your view is of the garden or backyard, with the house behind you. In such a case having an open style awning is perfectly suitable. You don’t need to go to the expense of a full cassette awning.”

On the flip side, if your awning is regularly in plain view (from the pool, from the street, from the beach….) then you may be looking for something a bit more tidy and stylish like a semi-cassette or a full cassette.

In the next edition of our interview with Undercover’s boss, we’ll explore the differences in the brands of full and semi-cassette folding arm awnings that Undercover Blinds & Awnings have curated for their customers in Melbourne and Mornington.

Tune in next week for our next instalment!

With our extensive knowledge and 40 years of experience, we can help you select the best folding arm awning for your specific needs. Contact us to for a free onsite consultation. During the visit, we can accurately measure your space and recommend an awning or outdoor blind that fits your home’s design and environment.