A quality awning does a lot for a local business. It extends a trading space outward, draws the eye of passing customers, protects al fresco seating from unpredictable British weather, and carries branding to everyone who walks past. Done well, it’s one of the most cost-effective investments a business can make in its frontage.
At BASE Direct, we manufacture our commercial awnings right here in the UK. Our range has been developed specifically for the demands of business use: wider spans, higher usage frequency, robust construction, and the flexibility to carry printed signage and branding. This guide covers every model in our commercial range.
Table of Contents
- How do commercial awnings differ from residential awnings?
- Key terms for commercial awnings
- BASE Direct Commercial Awnings
- Arezzo – open-style versatility for sheltered installations
- Calnova – semi-cassetted durability for high-frequency use
- Zenith – the flagship for large commercial installations
- Traditional Shop Blinds – heritage styling with practical impact
- Awning Signage Solutions – making your awning work harder
- Commercial Canopies – permanent covered structures
- Accessories for your commercial awning
- Warranty and supply
How do commercial awnings differ from residential awnings?
Scale
Commercial spaces are often wider than domestic patios. A restaurant terrace might be 8 or 10 metres across; a shopfront might have multiple windows to cover. Our commercial range is built to accommodate spans up to 12 metres, with multi-arm configurations for the larger projections.
Frequency of use
A commercial awning may be extended and retracted multiple times a day by different members of staff. The mechanisms, arms, and motors need to be rated for that level of use. Motorisation with automated sensor control removes the dependency on human intervention entirely.
Branding
Most businesses want their awning to communicate something: a logo, a name, a colour. Fabric printing and hand-painted sign-written valances are available across our commercial range and can be specified at the time of order.
Durability and maintenance
A domestic awning that needs a minor repair is an inconvenience, but a commercial awning that’s out of action costs revenue. The right awning will have appropriate wind ratings, a reliable motor system, and a supplier who holds spare parts in stock just in case of any mishaps.
Regulatory considerations
Installations on commercial premises, particularly on high streets or listed buildings, may require planning permission or landlord consent. It’s worth checking with your local authority before committing.
Key terms for commercial awnings
Cassette type refers to how the mechanism is housed when retracted. Fully cassetted awnings hide the fabric and arms completely for a clean appearance and maximum component protection. Semi-cassetted designs protect the fabric in a housing but leave the arms exposed. Open awnings have no housing at all, leaving the mechanism visible. The right choice depends on your installation environment.
Projection is how far the awning extends outward from the building. For a pavement café, this is what determines how much outdoor seating you can shelter.
A torsion bar is the structural spine the awning is mounted on. The commercial range uses 40x40mm or 50x30mm steel bars depending on the model, which determine how many arms can be positioned along the span and how the load is distributed.
Our tipping system refers to a patented bracket mechanism that allows precise pitch adjustment and guarantees a tight cassette closure when the awning retracts, even at steep angles. This is particularly important on wide commercial installations where any imprecision in closure can allow water ingress or wind to get underneath the fabric.
BASE Direct Commercial Awnings
Arezzo – open-style versatility for sheltered installations
The Arezzo is a compact folding arm awning built on a 40mm square bar, using double cables or stainless steel chain arms. It’s an open-style awning: when retracted, the mechanism remains visible rather than retracting into a cassette. This is not necessarily a drawback. In environments where the awning is mounted beneath an existing overhang, soffit, or canopy structure, the mechanism is already naturally sheltered, and the open design simplifies maintenance and reduces cost.
An extruded aluminium hood is available as an option for installations where some fabric protection is wanted without the full cost of a cassette system. A special bracket for under-roof mounting is also available.
The Arezzo spans from 2.07m up to 12m and covers projection sizes from 1.6m to 4.1m, accommodated across six arm sizes. Multiple brackets are positioned along the torsion bar to distribute the load across wider spans. Optional LED arms are available and the frame comes in White as standard, with custom colours available for volume orders.
Best for: Businesses where the awning will be mounted beneath an existing structure that already offers weather protection. Hospitality venues with covered walkways or recessed entrances, retail units beneath large fascias, and any commercial setting where access for maintenance needs to be straightforward. The bracket flexibility also makes it a practical choice for walls with irregular fixing opportunities.
Calnova – semi-cassetted durability for high-frequency use
The Calnova is BASE Direct’s newest addition to the commercial range and represents a middle ground between the open Arezzo and the fully cassetted Zenith. It’s a semi-cassetted design: the fabric is fully protected within the housing when retracted, but the arms remain partially accessible. This is valuable in high-use environments where regular inspection and maintenance is part of the operational routine.
It’s built on a 40x40mm square torsion bar and features the BAT-patented tipping system, which allows smooth pitch adjustment and guarantees a snug cassette closure even at steep inclinations. A cross-over arm option is available for situations where a larger projection is required on a narrower installation, with a reinforced front bar to accommodate it.
Five projection sizes are available from 1.6m to 3.6m, with cross-over arms extending reach to around 4m. Widths run from 2.1m to 12m. LED arms can also be included, and the frame comes in three colours: White, Textured Anthracite and Jet Black.
Best for: Cafés, restaurants, and commercial properties that need wide coverage, year-round durability, and easy access to the arms for inspection or adjustment. The semi-cassetted design strikes a useful balance between weather protection for the fabric and accessibility for the mechanism.
Zenith – the flagship for large commercial installations
The Zenith is the most technically capable awning in the BASE Direct range. It’s a fully cassetted system built on a 50x30mm rectangular steel torsion bar, which is structurally stronger than the square bars used in the Arezzo and Calnova, and distributes load more effectively across very wide spans.
The patented tipping bracket system is fitted as standard and ensures perfect front bar closure at all inclinations, including maximum pitch. A PVC fabric protection strip runs the full width of the awning along the torsion bar for additional weatherproofing. An optional drop-down valance provides extra shade and wind protection, which is particularly useful for al fresco dining areas exposed to low sun angles or light breeze.
Projection sizes run from 1.6m to 4.35m. Width runs from 2.22m up to 12m. The Zenith is typically installed with Somfy motorisation due to its scale, and supports the full range of Somfy sensors and smart controls. The standard frame for this awning is White.
Best for: Large restaurants, hotel terraces, bars with extended outdoor seating, and any commercial installation where span, projection, and structural reliability are the primary considerations. If you need to cover more than 7m in a single continuous installation, or require a projection beyond 3.6m, the Zenith is the right commercial awning for the job.
Traditional Shop Blinds – heritage styling with practical impact
Traditional Shop Blinds have been a feature of British high streets since the Victorian era, and they remain as relevant today as ever. They combine beautiful looks with practical benefits: protection from sun and rain, enriched storefront character, and strong branding potential through professional sign-writing on the fabric.
Our Traditional Shop Blinds are handcrafted and custom-made to order for a precise fit. The construction uses an aluminium spring roller with a wood box housing, a wood front rail, and 22mm mild steel arms and slides. A variety of shaped arm profiles is available to complement different architectural styles.
Awnings can be supplied retractable or fixed, depending on the application. Retractable units are operated with a cord and cleat as standard. The fabric is a Dickson acrylic as standard with a powder-coated frame.
Best for: Shops, cafés, and restaurants looking to create a heritage-inspired frontage that stands out from modern alternatives. Traditional Shop Blinds are particularly effective on period buildings and high street premises where a contemporary cassette awning might look out of character. With added sign-writing, they offer an efficient combination of shade solution and advertising medium.
Awning Signage Solutions – making your awning work harder
Across our commercial range, awnings can be professionally sign-written to carry branding, business names, logos, and promotional messaging. This transforms the awning from a purely functional shade structure into a visible marketing asset for anyone passing your premises.
BASE Direct offers professional awning sign-writing services across the range, using printed or applied graphics on the valance drop or the fabric face. The result is a clean, durable branded finish that catches the eye and reinforces brand identity.
Best for: Any business that wants the awning to do double duty as signage. This is particularly relevant for retail, hospitality, and food service businesses on busy pedestrian streets where frontage visibility drives footfall. Signage can be specified at the time of order or retrofitted to an existing awning fabric.
Commercial Canopies – permanent covered structures
BASE Direct manufactures commercial canopies in a variety of shapes and sizes, covering a different category of need to retractable awnings. Where an awning is extended and retracted as conditions change, a canopy is a semi-permanent or fixed structure providing consistent covered space regardless of weather.
Canopy shapes range from straight to scalloped valance options, with both retractable and fixed configurations available. Shapes A to G are retractable as standard with cord and cleat operation. Fixed shapes (I, M) are available for maximum coverage, with a maximum width and projection of 5m. Walkway structures (shapes N, O, and P) support wider configurations with additional legs, reaching widths beyond 5m with continuous supporting posts.
Canopies over 5m wide require a centre support. Construction uses a powder-coated frame with PVC or wet-look fabric options as standard, and an anodised frame with Dickson acrylic fabric in the premium specification.
Best for: Businesses that need consistent overhead coverage rather than on-demand shade: entrance canopies for hotels, sheltered walkways for retail parks, permanent covered seating for pubs and restaurants, and event or market structures. If the requirement is for a structure that stays up regardless of conditions rather than one that retracts, a canopy is the more appropriate solution than a retractable awning.
Accessories for your commercial awning
Motorisation is strongly recommended for commercial awnings. BASE Direct uses Somfy motors across the range. Automated retraction in high wind conditions protects the awning and removes the need for staff to monitor conditions.
LED arm lighting allows a terrace or shopfront to remain visually active and inviting into the evening. The adjustable strips are incorporated into the awning arms and dim to 50% brightness, providing a warm ambience without harsh overhead light.
Infrared heating extends the outdoor trading season. The Rio Grande weatherproof infrared heater covers a heat zone of 12 square metres, operates at 1.5kW to 2.0kW, and can be controlled through the Somfy awning remote system or a dedicated touch and presence timer. It heats people and surfaces directly, rather than trying to warm the surrounding air.
Dickson fabrics deliver UV protection, light rain resistance, and resistance to fading, pollution, mould, and staining. Branding and logo printing is available on the fabric and valance.
Brackets and supports become critical on commercial installations, particularly where buildings have irregular walls, existing pipework, low fascia lines, or limited fixing points.
Warranty and supply
All BASE Direct commercial awnings carry a 5-year warranty on structural components. We hold a range of spare parts in stock for next-day delivery. For businesses, that means minimal downtime if a repair is ever needed.
BASE Direct works with trade installers and retailers across the UK, and can support specification, supply, and technical advice at every stage of a project.
Ready to move forward?
A local dealer can help you explore the best option for your needs and ensure your awning is installed to the highest standard. Need help finding one? Contact us here.