Cassette awnings in Malaga protected when you’re not using them

A cassette awning is a retractable awning with an aluminium case around it, so its price is made up of two things: the awning itself and the cassette that protects it. The biggest factors are the width, which sets the length of the case, the tube and the fabric, and the projection, which determines the size and strength of the arms stored inside.

Then there’s motorisation and automation. Most cassettes are installed with a Cherubini motor and remote, and many customers add a wind sensor, depending on the model. The fabric you choose from the Sauleda and Dickson collections and the colour of the case also play a part, especially if your community requires a specific colour that has to be specially ordered.

Installation counts too: a cassette is heavier than an open retractable awning and has to be anchored properly. Fixing it to a concrete wall isn’t the same as fixing it to hollow brick, and fitting it on a ground floor isn’t the same as on a penthouse with no goods lift.

That’s why we don’t give fixed prices online. We’ll measure up for free and give you a written quote, with no obligation and a fixed price, often in under 24 hours. If you’d like to compare with other options, take a look at the retractable awning or book your visit using the form.

On a penthouse the answer is almost always a full cassette, and the reason is what’s above it: nothing. On a middle floor, the balcony above shelters the awning from rain and overhead sun; on a penthouse, the retracted awning takes the full force of the summer sun, the autumn downpours and, if you’re near the sea, the salt air carried on the wind.

A semi-cassette has a top cover that protects the rolled-up fabric from above, but leaves the underside and the arms exposed. It’s a good solution for flats with some cover above. A full cassette, on the other hand, closes the case underneath when the awning retracts: the fabric and arms stay inside, safe from dust, water and birds.

That protection shows over the years. The fabric holds its colour better, the arms suffer less corrosion and the facade looks neater, because all you see is a powder-coated aluminium case in the colour of your choice.

If you’re looking for a cassette awning in Malaga for a penthouse in Rincon de la Victoria or Torre del Mar, or for a seafront home in any town on the coast, a full cassette is the most sensible investment. If privacy or the afternoon sun is a concern, you can add a vertical awning at the side. We’ll look at it together at the free visit, or get in touch through our contact page.

The most common wind sensor on cassette awnings is a vibration or motion sensor. It sits on the front bar, the piece at the outer edge of the fabric, and detects when the awning starts moving more than it should because of the wind. When that happens, it sends a signal to the Cherubini motor and the awning retracts by itself into the cassette.

The clever part is that it works even when you’re not there. If you pop out to the shops with the awning extended and mid-afternoon the levante blows into Torre del Mar or the poniente (the westerly wind) picks up on the Costa del Sol, the awning retracts without you having to do a thing. It’s the most effective way to avoid bent arms, torn fabric or brackets ripped out of the wall. The sensitivity is set during installation, depending on the model, so it doesn’t trigger in a gentle breeze.

Other automation can be added depending on the model, such as a sun sensor that extends the awning when the heat builds up, or a multi-channel remote to control several awnings around the house.

The sensor is a help, not a substitute for common sense: if a storm is forecast, retract the awning. You’ll find all the information in awning motorisation and a practical explanation in how to choose an awning motor.

Manual cassette awnings do exist, opened and closed with a crank handle, but they aren’t the usual choice. When it retracts, the cassette has to close completely, and on medium and large widths that takes considerable effort with a crank. That’s why most of the cassettes we install are motorised, and the manual version is kept for small awnings, depending on the model.

A motorised cassette awning has some clear advantages. You operate it with a remote or a wall switch, the case always closes perfectly because the motor’s limits are programmed, and you can add a wind sensor that retracts it automatically. On the coast, that last point is almost a necessity.

To motorise it we need a power point near the awning. If your terrace doesn’t have one, we’ll tell you at the visit so your electrician can plan for it, or explain in the quote how to sort it out. We work with Cherubini motors, a manufacturer specialising in automation for awnings and shutters.

If you already have a manual awning and want to switch to a motor, in many cases it can be adapted without replacing the whole awning. We explain how in awning motorisation. And if you can’t decide between a cassette and an open awning, compare the two systems on the retractable awning page.

Both are possible, and the choice depends on your facade. The most common installation is on the wall, with brackets fixed above the terrace door or window. When there isn’t enough height on the wall, for example under a slab or an overhang, it can be fixed to the ceiling with special brackets, depending on the model.

What really matters is the material. A cassette awning weighs more than an open retractable awning and, with the fabric extended, its arms put a lot of force on the brackets. Concrete, solid brick, block and hollow brick all need different anchoring. At the visit we check the type of wall and choose the right plugs and stainless fixings for each case.

The usable height matters too. For the awning to give good shade and let the water run off, it needs a minimum pitch, and that requires some distance between the fixing and the railing or the heads of the people sitting underneath. If space is tight, we suggest the solution that best balances shade, headroom and looks.

If the facade can’t take fixings reliably, there are alternatives, such as resting the awning on support legs or opting for a wall-mounted pergola. We’ll assess it at no cost.

Once is fine; making a habit of it causes problems. Inside the cassette the fabric is rolled up with no ventilation, so if you put it away damp and don’t take it out again for several days, the moisture has nowhere to go. The result is mould spots, a damp smell and, over time, a weaker fabric.

The rule is simple: if you’ve had to retract the awning in the rain, or with the dew of a damp spring night on the coast, extend it again as soon as the sun comes out and let it dry completely before closing it. With a motor and a remote it takes seconds, so it costs nothing and greatly extends the life of the fabric.

On the coast there’s another factor: salt air. The salt that settles on the fabric absorbs moisture from the air, so a salty fabric takes longer to dry. Rinsing it now and then with fresh water and mild soap helps a lot. You’ll find the steps in how to clean and maintain an awning.

If your fabric already has stubborn stains or has lost its colour, there’s no need to replace the whole awning. We carry out awning repairs and fabric replacement with Sauleda and Dickson fabrics, including on awnings installed by another company.

Yes, and it’s the most common job once a cassette awning is a few years old. The case, arms and motor usually last much longer than the fabric, which takes the sun and rain every time the awning is extended. When the fabric is faded, torn or stained beyond cleaning, we replace the fabric and the awning looks as good as new.

On a cassette the job takes a bit more work than on an open retractable awning, because we have to reach the roller tube inside the case and then adjust the fabric so the cassette closes perfectly again. If the new fabric is slack or off-centre, the cassette won’t close properly and water and dirt get in. That’s why it’s always done by our own technical team.

We use the visit to check everything else: the arm tension, the condition of the joints, the brackets and, if it has one, the motor. If the awning is manual, it’s a good moment to think about motorising it. And if another company installed it, that’s no problem: our after-sales service also looks after installations by other installers.

You’ll choose the new fabric from the Sauleda and Dickson sample books, in the same colour if your community requires it. You’ll find all the information in awning repairs and fabric replacement, or book a visit through our contact page.

Yes. It’s very common for a community of owners to have approved a fabric colour, a frame colour or even a specific awning model so the facade looks uniform. A cassette awning suits these cases very well because, when retracted, it looks like a neat aluminium case, and the colour of that case can be chosen.

Before ordering, check what the community rules or the owners’ meeting resolutions say, or ask the administrator. If there’s an approved fabric colour, we’ll find a match in the Sauleda and Dickson collections. If it’s a frame colour, we order the corresponding powder-coat finish, depending on the model. There’s more detail in our article on awnings in communities of owners.

If several neighbours are interested, or the community wants matching awnings across the whole building, we can organise it as a joint project: we measure each home, set the same model and colour for everyone, and each owner gets their own quote. We explain how on our awnings for communities of owners page.

And if your case needs any paperwork with the town hall, we’ll tell you at the visit and help you with the documentation. That way you can install your cassette awning without any problems with the neighbours or the regulations, and with the peace of mind that everything is in writing.