Semi cassette awnings explained, and how they compare with open and full cassette

What the word cassette means on an awning

The cassette is the aluminium housing that the fabric rolls into. On a full cassette model the front profile closes up against the housing, so when the awning is in, you see a neat box on the wall and nothing else. A semi cassette keeps the top cover but leaves the bottom open, so the rolled fabric is shielded from rain falling straight down and from bird droppings and leaves, but it is not fully enclosed. An open awning has no housing at all, just the roller bar, the arms and the fabric fixed to a support tube.

How the three types compare in daily use

When the awning is out, the three types look and shade in much the same way, because the arms and fabric do the work. The differences show when the awning is closed, which in a Yorkshire garden is most of the year.

• Fabric protection when closed: open lowest, semi cassette moderate, full cassette highest
• Look on the wall when closed: open shows the roll, semi cassette a hood with the roll visible below, full cassette a clean box
• Where it suits: open under a deep eave or soffit, semi cassette on a partly sheltered wall, full cassette on an exposed wall
• Cleaning: open and semi cassette gather more dust on the roll; full cassette stays cleaner

When a semi cassette is the sensible middle choice

A semi cassette makes most sense on a wall that already has some shelter, for example under a shallow roof overhang, where the hood deals with the top and the building deals with most of the weather. It gives the fabric more protection than an open design without the full enclosure. If your wall faces the prevailing weather with nothing above it, we would usually talk about a full cassette instead, because fabric that stays damp when rolled is the main cause of mildew marks and a shorter life.

When open or full cassette is the better answer

An open awning is the simplest design and suits a spot where the roll is already protected, such as tucked under a deep canopy or inside a recess. A full cassette is the one we point people toward when the awning will be left closed through autumn and winter on an exposed elevation, or when the neat look of a closed box on the wall matters. Our main awnings page shows all three.

Things to check before you choose

The housing type is only one decision. The wall itself, the width and projection you want, the arm type and the motor all affect which model fits. These are the points we look at on the free survey.

• How much shelter sits above the fixing line
• What the wall is built from and where the fixings will go
• Whether you want manual winding or an electric motor with a remote
• Whether sensors or lighting are wanted, which affects the housing size
• How often the awning will be left closed for long spells

Looking after any awning type

Whatever the housing, the same habits keep fabric in good order: let the fabric dry before rolling it in if you can, retract the awning in strong wind, and brush off leaves and droppings before they stain. A full cassette makes the storage part easier, but it does not replace drying the fabric after rain.