Are you beginning to despair because summer is over? It’s a familiar feeling, one that people throughout the UK are inevitably feeling as they see the skies getting a little darker and the sun going down a little sooner. In fact, the temperature is beginning to drop as well and it really does look as though the weather is on the turn. Now, if you had an awning patio, a patio that is completely covered and protected by a large, high quality awning, you might indeed feel differently. Your garden would still be accessible to you, even in this kind of autumnal weather, because you’d have more protection.

Consider this: you might even still be able to enjoy your outdoor area for BBQs and parties, so that it actually feels like summer still and you have that summer spirit. When you decide to have a BBQ or a party alter on in the season, there is always the worry that it will be blighted by bad weather and you will end up grilling sausages indoors. Not with the use of an awning. You can use it to protect yourself from the weather, so that you can stay out of doors come rain or shine.

Now is the perfect time of year to have an awning installed. You will probably get more use out of it as the weather gets milder, and there will inevitably be shorter waiting times because people won’t be wanting them installed all the time, like they might be throughout the summer. Even if you find you don’t get much use out of an awning this year, then it will be there ready for summer 2019, without you having to worry about choosing an awning, getting someone out to survey your property, then booking in for the actual installation.

Once your awning is installed, now is the time to invite your friends round for a BBQ. They might be a little bit suspicious at first – why have a BBQ in late September or early October? Make it clear that you have contingencies in place, so you can remain out of doors even in adverse weather. Send a photo of your new awning and start showing it off!

Make sure your awning it fitted appropriately over your patio. If you don’t already have a patio in the right place, you may need to do this first and hold off on the awning installation. The awning will be more limited in where it can go than the patio, because a retractable or freestanding awning will be attached to the side of a building.

Arrange your furniture on your patio, ensuring that there is plenty of seating. You should be very careful to keep the fire of the BBQ away from the awning, so as not to cause any accidents! Make sure there are chairs and tables so people can sit comfortably, chat and relax. They should have plenty of shelter underneath the awning, so that they are protected from the weather and yet can still admire your garden (and food!)