There are lots of options available when it comes to buying patio covers. Some people opt for grand permanent structures, like pergolas. However, one of the cheapest and easiest ways to protect your outdoor furniture is to use a fabric patio cover.
These products are used from robust materials that offer multiple benefits when it comes to protection. In this guide, you can find a breakdown of those benefits, as well as our top tips and advice on choosing the best fabric patio covers for your needs.
First, let’s take a look at what a fabric patio cover is.
Key Takeaways On Fabric Patio Covers
Fabric patio covers can be made from polyester, polypropylene, or vinyl.
These material covers have the ability to repel powerful UV rays from the sun, snow and ice-cold weather, heavy rain, and debris stirred up by strong winds.
Fabric covers offer a more affordable, flexible and quicker option when it comes to keeping your outdoor furniture in top condition.
To make sure you buy the right type of fabric patio cover, measure all of your furniture properly, and work out how much protection you need by looking at your local climate.
What Is A Fabric Patio Cover?
As the name suggests, a fabric patio cover is a product made of material that provides coverage and protection to patio furniture, like tables, chairs, BBQ grills and air conditioner units.
The purpose behind using a cover is to safeguard your possessions from the harshest elements which could cause damage. For example, excessive rain can cause dampness and mold to set into wooden furniture, and ice and snow could crack the glass on the likes of outdoor tables.
We look at the benefits of using a fabric patio cover in detail below. In short, they offer effective protection against all elements, which can help you save money in the long term by reducing the need to buy new furniture.
What Fabrics Are Patio Covers Made From?
Patio covers can be made from a wide range of fabrics. Each one has different properties. For example, some types may be more water-resistant or heat-resistant than others. Here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular types of fabric patio cover material:
Polyester - this is arguably the best fabric for patio covers and the material that’s used in all of our premium products. It provides complete protection against even extreme weather conditions.
Polypropylene - some fabric patio covers use non-woven polypropylene, which is a specific type that provides protection against wind, rain, snow and sun.
Vinyl - this is another popular fabric used for patio covers for its durability. Like the other materials above, vinyl is nonflammable, which is ideal for BBQ areas.
The 5 Key Benefits Of Using A Fabric Patio Cover
Using our knowledge and insights and the feedback we've received from customers, we’ve narrowed down the key benefits of using a fabric patio cover to five. Here’s an in-depth look at each one.
1. UV Protection
In some parts of the country, intense and persistent sunlight can cause tremendous damage to your outdoor furniture.
For the likes of tables and chairs that have metal frames, the sun’s ultra violet (UV) rays may heat them up so much you’d suffer a burn if you touched them.
The heat also has the ability to damage the color and designs of patio furniture, especially if they’re not made of durable materials or they’ve used decorative paint. It can cause painted surfaces to flake and colors to fade.
So if you’re living in desert states like Nevada and New Mexico and want to enjoy the glorious sunshine and blue skies, making use of fabric patio covers can help keep your furniture cool enough to use, and it all looking in great shape for when you have guests over.
2. Waterproofing
Some parts of the country suffer deluges of rain throughout the year. Without protection from the persistent damp weather, patio furniture has the potential to suffer damage.
For example, wooden furniture can develop mold and start growing moss. Any wood stain may also wash out and that runoff could damage your patio tiles or plants if it gets into the soil.
Soaked with water, furniture also has the potential to become warped and mis-shapen. This could lead to them developing weaknesses. So when you come to sit on your outdoor chair, for example, it could break and you could get hurt.
Investing in a fabric patio cover can guard against this potential damage and can keep your furniture looking fresh for when those rain clouds shift.
3. Breathability And Heat Resistant
The materials used in fabric patio covers have the ability to keep out potentially harmful rays from the sun. These materials are designed to repel the heat and also to allow any heat that builds up within to escape. This is known as breathability. If materials weren’t designed like this, the furniture they’re covering could still suffer heat damage, with them effectively sitting in a fabric oven.
So if you want to keep your furniture cool and protected from the sun, a fabric patio cover could be your answer.
4. Color And Design Options
If a fabric patio cover was ugly, it would ruin your outdoor seating area. It’s therefore important to check out design options and make sure they fit with your vision.
Most material covers come in a range of different colors. For example, in the Patio Cover store, we sell products in black, beige and gray, which we find work well in our customers’ gardens and outdoor spaces.
5. Cheaper, Lightweight And Easy To Install
One of the biggest benefits of using a fabric patio cover is that it’s cheaper, lightweight and a lot easier to install.
Some people lack the outdoor space to build a permanent cover, like a pergola. Some people may not have the budget for that either. That’s where fabric covers come into play. They’re often no more than a few dollars and you can simply fit them over your furniture, so you don’t even have to move anything around.
With features like straps, clips and drawstrings, you can get a secure fit that keeps out all of the elements. And it takes just a few minutes.
Key Factors To Keep In Mind When Buying A Fabric Patio Cover
Now you know more about the benefits of using fabric patio covers, you may want to invest in your own. Before you do so, we have some important tips to help ensure you get the best product for your needs:
Measure your patio furniture - One of the most important steps you can take before you make a purchase is to measure your patio furniture. Get the height, the depth and the width in millimeters and inches. If you don’t get the right measurements, your outdoor furniture may still get damaged by the elements. Head here to see our measuring guide.
Work out what material would be best - If you know your local climate is rain or snow-intensive, for example in Hawaii or Louisiana, you may wish to invest in a stronger type of fabric. This way, you know your furniture is going to get the protection it needs.
Check the color and design - Some people rush into purchases before having an idea in mind of what their outdoor space is going to look like with their new covers. Spending time researching the best colors and designs can help ensure you get things right the first time.
Buy A Fabric Patio Cover
Armed with our top tips on buying fabric patio covers, you may want to push on and dive into the marketplace. If so, you’re already in the right place.
Here at PatioCover.com, we sell a broad range of products to accommodate nearly every size and shape. You’re also in the right place to find patio covers for more uniquely shaped outdoor furniture, and we offer some of the best prices around too. We also offer lifetime guarantees to ensure your furniture is always protected.
If you have any questions or if you’d like to check with us about something before buying, get in touch with us for free today.
Learn More About Patio Covers
If you'd like to learn more about patio covers and how they can help you, check out these guides below:
Jan Craig
Writer
PatioCover.com
