Full cassette, semi-cassette, open: what is the difference
A retractable — or folding-arm — awning consists of a roller tube with the fabric wound onto it, two or three spring-loaded folding arms and a front bar. What separates the types is how much of the rolled-up fabric and the mechanism is covered when the awning is closed. That determines how long the fabric lasts, how the awning looks on the façade, and what it costs.
- Open — the tube and arms are exposed. The most affordable design for a given width and projection, and it serves perfectly well under a canopy, a roof overhang or a balcony. At Aluprof these are Australia and Jamaica; on Jamaica a hood that covers the rolled fabric from above is available at extra cost.
- Semi-cassette — the housing covers the fabric and the mechanism from above and in front, leaving the arms outside. A compromise between protection and price, and the semi-cassette design allows the largest widths: Palladio and Corsica — up to 7 metres in a single awning.
- Cassette — when closed, the fabric and arms are entirely hidden inside a sealed box. Maximum protection from rain, dust and birds, and a neat bar on the façade. Dakar and Casablanca — up to 6 metres wide.
The vertical and side models are a separate category: Italia and Italia Box are balcony awnings with a vertical drop, for windows and shopfronts (widths up to 5 m), while Bora — a side screen in a cassette housing that pulls out sideways and shields the terrace from wind and from the neighbours.
The Aluprof range: which model suits whom
| Model | Type | Width | Projection | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | open | 1.6–7 m | up to 3.5 m | maximum width for sensible money, a terrace under a canopy |
| Jamaica | open, hood optional | 1.6–7 m | up to 3.5 m | an open terrace; the hood protects the fabric, and Rollo Volant deals with low sun |
| Palladio | semi-cassette · flagship | 1.6–7 m | up to 3.5 m | large terraces, fully specified: LED, valance, sensors |
| Corsica | semi-cassette | 1.6–7 m | up to 3.5 m | wide terraces with LED lighting in the arms |
| Dakar | full cassette | 1.6–6 m | up to 3 m | the classic, with a horizontal projection and a valance |
| Casablanca | full cassette | 1.6–6 m | up to 3 m | a neat enclosed housing on a prominent façade |
| Italia / Italia Box | vertical drop, Box in a cassette | 0.7–1.8 m / up to 1.4 m | vertically up to 5 m | windows, shopfronts, balconies |
| Bora | side screen in a cassette | height 1.1–2 m | sideways up to 4 m | shielding a terrace from wind and prying eyes |
Widths in the price list step up in 50 cm increments (160, 210, 260 … 700), while projections are grouped in bands (up to 290, 291–350, 351–410, 411–470, 471–530, 531–590, 591–650, 651–700 cm). Three arms are fitted instead of two from 591 cm wide, or from 651 cm where the projection is 360 cm.
Width, projection and pitch: how to work out the shade
The width of an awning is the width of the frame across its outermost points; the fabric is narrower by the width of the brackets. The projection is how far the front bar travels out. But the shade you actually get also depends on the pitch (5–40° according to the Aluprof data sheets) and on the mounting height: the steeper the pitch, the lower the front edge drops and the shorter the shadow at midday — but the better the protection from low evening sun and rain. The rule for measuring is simple: make the awning 30–50 cm wider than the area you want to cover; set the projection by the depth of the terrace; and choose a mounting height that leaves the front bar no lower than 2.1–2.2 m above the floor at full extension.
A terrace wider than 7 metres is no obstacle: we fit two awnings side by side, synchronised from one remote. Beyond 3.5 metres of projection a folding-arm awning will not go: if you need to cover 4–6 m, look at pergolas — there the fabric roof runs in guide rails carried on posts.
An awning fixes to the wall or ceiling and takes up no space on the terrace — no posts, no foundations. A pergola stands on its own supports, carries snow and strong wind, and can be glazed. If your terrace is up to 3.5 m deep and you want shade through the season, an awning is cheaper and simpler. If you want a roof all year round, choose a pergola.
Fabric: acrylic, waterproof, and what is included in the price
The acrylic fabric is included in the price of the awning: under the Aluprof price list you pay for a finished product — the frame, the tube, the arms, the drive and the fabric. The standard is acrylic fabric from European mills, in 134 designs: stripes and plains. During manufacture the acrylic is given a Teflon finish against dirt and water, so it will see off a short light shower — but only at a pitch of 30° or more, so the drops run off. At extra cost there is Waterproof: a plain acrylic with enhanced water resistance in 10 colours (it adds 5 % to the awning price). What the fabric does not do is replace a roof. Never leave an awning out in a downpour — water pools in a pocket, overloads the brackets and leaves ripples in the fabric; and if you have had to roll it up wet, extend it again after the rain to dry. Creases and slight rippling at the seams are a normal characteristic of awning fabrics under the manufacturer’s standards, not a defect.
Drive: crank, switch, remote, sensors
- Manual drive — a 150/180/220 cm crank handle, included in the price. For an awning up to 4–5 m over a terrace you use at weekends, that is quite enough.
- Electric drive with a switch — a motor inside the tube and a wall button. The cheapest electric option for the terrace models.
- Electric drive with a radio remote — a 15-channel remote, with a manual override in case of a power cut.
- Somfy RTS / io-homecontrol — genuine Somfy motors: the Situo remote, two-way communication on io versions, integration into TaHoma and the smart home, and routines driven by time and weather.
- Sensors — wind (the awning rolls itself up in gusts) and sun (it extends itself in the heat). On a large awning a wind sensor is not a luxury but insurance for the frame.
LED lighting in the arms (Australia, Jamaica, Palladio, Corsica) works only with a Somfy drive — bear that in mind when choosing the motor.
Options: valance, hood, LED, heating
- Valance — a shaped edge 21 cm deep along the front bar (shapes C / D / E), priced by the linear metre. Decorative, but also useful against low, slanting sun.
- Rollo Volant (Jamaica) — a drop-down vertical screen from the front bar, up to 590 cm wide with a drop of up to 310: it shields you from low evening sun and from the street.
- Hood (Jamaica) — an aluminium profile with supports and side caps over the rolled-up fabric.
- LED in the arms — LED strips in the arms, dimmable from the remote; an evening terrace with no separate light fitting.
- Heaters Heliosa 1500 W for 12 or 20 m² with an io receiver — they stretch the season into October.
- Frame colour — 7 as standard: white RAL 9010, beige RAL 1015, brown RAL 8014, silver RAL 9006, textured graphite, anthracite RAL 7016 and textured black RAL 9005; Palladio and Corsica also offer Clay Brown and Satin beige. Any other colour from the Aluprof palette adds 30 % to the system price and up to 4 weeks to the lead time.
Installation: wall, ceiling, and what about wind
An awning is fixed on wall or ceiling brackets, the number depending on the width. The critical point at the survey is the substrate: a 6 × 3.5 m awning with a valance and a motor exerts serious leverage, so the brackets must land in a structural wall or on an embedded fixing plate, not in the façade insulation. Where the wall is insulated, we use spacer brackets that pass through the insulation layer. Set the height so the cassette neither covers the window nor stops the balcony door opening. Wind: the data sheets rate these awnings for moderate wind when extended, and in strong wind they should be rolled up — a wind sensor does that for you.
What makes up the price
Pricing follows the Aluprof catalogue, includes 21 % VAT and comes in three parts: the awning itself, from the width × projection table — already with acrylic fabric and a manual drive; the drive and options; and delivery from the factory at €200 per order, or free if the order can wait for a full load (a longer lead time). Waterproof fabric adds 5 % to the awning price. As a guide: an open Australia or Jamaica at 1.6 m wide with a projection up to 2.9 m comes to around €705, a semi-cassette Palladio to around €1,000 and a full-cassette Dakar to around €1,280, with the fabric already included in these figures. The calculator on each model page works all of this out for your sizes, and installation is quoted after the survey. The warranty is 2 years.
Frequently asked questions
Which awning is better — full cassette or open?
A full-cassette awning (Dakar, Casablanca) hides the fabric and arms completely inside a sealed box, so the fabric lasts longer and the façade looks tidier. An open awning (Australia, Jamaica) is cheaper at the same width and works well under a canopy or overhang. A semi-cassette (Palladio, Corsica) is the compromise, and it offers the greatest width, up to 7 m.
What sizes do Aluprof awnings come in?
Up to 7 m wide in a single awning (Australia, Jamaica, Palladio, Corsica) and up to 6 m (Dakar, Casablanca), with a projection up to 3.5 m and a pitch of 5–40°. For a wider terrace, two awnings with synchronised control.
Is the fabric included in the price of the awning?
Yes, it is. Under the Aluprof price list the acrylic fabric (134 designs) is part of the price of the awning and is not charged separately by the square metre. There is a surcharge only for Waterproof fabric: +5 % on the awning price (10 plain colours). A finished fabric on its own is sold only as a replacement — around €35/m² for acrylic and €39/m² for waterproof.
Can an awning be left out in rain and wind?
Acrylic fabric with a Teflon finish will cope with a short light shower at a pitch of 30° or more, but in a downpour or strong wind the awning should be rolled up — and if it has been rolled up wet, extend it again afterwards to dry. A wind sensor on the motorised models does this automatically.
How much does delivery of an awning cost?
Delivery from the Aluprof factory is €200 for the whole order, regardless of how many units it contains. If the order can wait for a full load, delivery is free but the lead time is longer.
Do I need foundations or posts?
No. A retractable awning is fixed to the wall or ceiling on brackets and takes up no space on the terrace. Posts and foundations are needed only for pergolas.