Even though there is usually only a single frame option on a budget series, the other parts of the awning can have significant selections. Any good retractable awning company can have well over 100 fabric options, and they will provide fabric samples (if requested). The biggest single visible option for an awning is the fabric, and almost every color is available, and available in both solids and stripes. For fabric, look for four things:

o Good selection. Color and, if it fits the style, pattern are key to making an awning a part of both the house and the general landscape. (The manufacturer should charge the same price for a striped fabric as a solid fabric.)

o Solution-dyed acrylic fabric, which imbrues the dye color into the fabric before it's woven, so the color is long-lasting and fade-resistant.

o Pneumatic machine sewing. Pneumatic   retractable awnings   machines sew from the center of the awning fabric out to the edges. This method is much straighter than traditional sewing machines because it can sew the entire length of fabric at once. This is excellent for patterns because it ensures stripes are even on both ends of the awning.

o Tenara® thread, instead of cotton or polyester. Tenara® thread is UV-resistant and tested in the Arizona desert; it doesn't fray or break and is guaranteed for the lifetime of the awning.

The second most visible part of the awning is the valance, the strip of fabric that hangs at the end of the awning. There are a half dozen valance styles, such as straight, scalloped, or squared, which can change the character of the awning look. Straight and angular styles are more modern or work with more minimalist designs while scallops and waves work with gingerbread and flourished styles.

Also, buyers can select their trim colors, usually from a selection of around 20 trim colors. Some manufacturers don't offer any choice on trim colors and preselect valance trims for each fabric, so that fabric A always has trim color B. A better budget awning company lets you select the trim and fabric independently, and that opens up possibilities for interesting custom combinations.

From a functional perspective, accessories like motors and on/off switches make it easier to use the awning. Especially practical are wind sensors with a time delay. This kind of sensor rechecks the wind speed on a schedule (roughly every ten minutes) and will reopen the retractable awning automatically when the wind slows to an acceptable speed.