Epica Awnings
Shade That Looks
Epica From
Every Angle
The Epica is a fully cassetted folding arm awning — every moving part stored inside a clean aluminium housing when not in use. Widths from 1.9m up to 6m, with optional integrated LED lighting.
How it works
Arms fold out.
Everything else stays hidden.
A folding arm awning projects shade outward from a wall or ceiling without any support posts. Two articulated arms extend under spring tension — push the awning out and they lock in position, holding the front bar and fabric taut. The Epica takes this further by enclosing the entire mechanism inside a sealed aluminium cassette. When retracted, the fabric, arms, and drive components are completely protected from UV, rain, and debris.
The cassette seals everything away
When you retract the Epica, the fabric rolls back, the arms fold in, and the cassette lid closes over the top. Nothing is exposed to the weather — which matters in the North East where we can get full sun one hour and a downpour the next.
Quick to extend, quick to retract
The spring-loaded arms mean it takes seconds to get the awning out or back in. Motorised versions add a wall switch or remote control, so you don't need to leave your seat at all.
Projection without posts
The arms hold the fabric out with no vertical legs to trip over or work around. You keep your full floor area underneath clear — useful on a patio or balcony where space is already at a premium.
Why the Epica
Designed to stand out,
built to last outside
What makes the Epica different from a standard folding arm awning — and worth the investment.
Fully Sealed Cassette
The fabric, arms, and drive system retract into a fully enclosed aluminium housing. Nothing is left exposed between uses, so the fabric keeps its colour and the mechanism stays free of grit and moisture.
Sizes 1.9m – 6m Wide
The Epica scales from a compact 1.9m for a small patio door up to a generous 6m for a wide bifold opening or commercial terrace. Each is made to your exact measurement — no cutting to fit.
Optional LED Arm Lighting
LED strips can be integrated into the front bar or along the arms, extending the usable hours of your outdoor space into the evening. The lighting is wired in during installation — no trailing cables or plug-in strips.
Post-Free Projection
The articulated arms extend the canopy outward from the wall without any floor-standing legs or posts. The space underneath stays completely clear — no obstacles on a terrace, balcony, or commercial seating area.
Residential & Commercial
The 6m maximum width and clean cassette finish make the Epica practical for pub beer gardens, restaurant terraces, and hotel courtyards just as much as private gardens. Homefair fits both residential and light commercial sites.
Measured & Fitted by Homefair
We measure, order, and install every Epica ourselves — no third-party fitters, no handover of a flat-pack to assemble yourself. The price you're quoted at the home survey is the price you pay on the day.
Cassette types explained
Not all awnings protect
what's inside them
Folding arm awnings come in three cassette configurations. The differences affect how well the mechanism is protected and how the awning looks when it's retracted.
- Fully Cassetted EpicaSealed housing
Fully Cassetted
Arms, fabric, and drive mechanism all retract into a sealed aluminium housing. Nothing is exposed to rain, UV, or bird droppings between uses.
Full weather protection when storedCleanest appearance retractedLonger fabric life - Semi-Cassetted
Semi-Cassetted
Part of the mechanism is enclosed, but springs and fixings remain partially visible when retracted. Offers some protection at a lower cost.
Some weather protectionSprings exposed when storedVisible hardware - Open Frame
Open Frame
No housing at all — the fabric folds loosely and the springs and arms remain fully exposed when retracted. Entry-level option but short fabric lifespan outdoors.
No weather protection when storedFabric exposed to UV & rainShorter service life
Worth knowing: Even a fully cassetted awning like the Epica isn't designed to be left extended in high winds. Most awnings — including this one — should be retracted when wind speeds exceed around 40–50 km/h, or whenever you're not at home to monitor conditions. An optional wind sensor can automate this retraction if you want the peace of mind.
Fabric options
Choose your canvas
Epica fabrics are solution-dyed acrylic or polyester — woven to resist fading, water, and mildew. We'll bring fabric samples to your home survey so you can see them in natural light.
- Popular
Plain Weave
A clean, solid-colour fabric in warm neutrals, soft greys, and earthy tones. The most requested finish — works with almost every house style and doesn't date.
- Classic
Woven Stripe
Traditional awning stripe in a range of two-tone combinations. The stripe runs along the width of the canopy and is woven into the fabric — it won't peel or fade.
- Technical
Screen Fabric
An open-weave mesh that blocks UV and reduces glare while maintaining a view through the canopy. Lets more air through than a solid fabric — a good choice for warm, sheltered spots.
- Premium
Solution-Dyed Acrylic
The colour is added to the yarn before weaving, not printed onto the surface, so the fabric keeps its depth of colour for years. Heavier weight and more resistant to rain than standard polyester.
Frame colours
Three RAL colours
as standard
The Epica cassette and arms come in White (RAL 9010), Anthracite (RAL 7016), or Black (RAL 9005). All are powder-coated aluminium — they won't rust or need painting.
- White
RAL 9010 - Anthracite
RAL 7016 - Black
RAL 9005
Where it works
Six situations the Epica handles well
Made-to-measure widths and the post-free arm design make the Epica adaptable — here's where it tends to work best.
- 01
Rear patio with bi-fold doors
The Epica fits across wide bi-fold or sliding door openings without the arms getting in the way of door swing or access. The cassette mounts above the frame on the lintel or soffit and extends directly over the threshold.
- 02
Apartment balcony
No floor posts, no bulk — the compact cassette profile sits against the ceiling or wall fascia and keeps the balcony feeling open even when extended. The fully sealed cassette also makes it suitable for upper-floor exposure.
- 03
Garden dining area
Up to 6m wide means you can cover a long dining table and a few chairs in a single awning run. The optional LED lighting lets you carry on outside after dark without separate garden lights.
- 04
Commercial terrace or beer garden
The Epica's commercial-grade cassette and wide size range make it practical for pubs, restaurants, and hotels. We can quote and fit multiple runs for larger terraces — contact us for commercial enquiries.
- 05
West-facing garden in summer
A west-facing garden gets intense afternoon and evening sun. A 3m or 4m Epica run over a seating area means you can actually use the garden in the hottest part of the day without retreating inside.
- 06
Home extension or conservatory exit
Where a new extension opens directly onto a patio, the Epica bridges the gap between the internal space and the garden without needing a permanent pergola structure or planning permission in most cases.
Awning range
Explore the full awning collection
Epica
Fully enclosed cassette, 1.9–6m wide, optional LED lighting. The flagship.
Armony Plus
Semi-cassette awning with widths up to 12m and motorised as standard.
Base Plus
A reliable folding arm option with partial cassette protection and a wide fabric range.
Base Lite
Compact entry-level awning for smaller patios and balconies on a budget.
Customer reviews
What our customers say
"We went for the Epica in anthracite with the LED option and it genuinely transformed how we use the back of the house. The cassette looks really smart when it's retracted — you'd almost not know it was there. The Homefair team were tidy, quick, and the price matched exactly what they quoted."
"Wanted something that would go all the way across our bi-fold opening — 4.8m. The Epica covered it perfectly in one run with no posts in the way. We've had it a full summer now and it's been used almost every day. The fabric still looks as good as the day it went up."
"I run a small café and needed something that looked professional over the terrace. Went with two Epica awnings side by side in white — they look like they belong there. Homefair were competitive on price and clearly knew what they were doing with the install. Would use again."
Common questions
Epica awning FAQ
Questions we hear regularly at home surveys. If yours isn't here, just ask when we visit — no obligation.
What does "fully cassetted" actually mean?
How wide can the Epica be made?
Can the Epica be motorised?
How does the LED lighting option work?
Can I leave the awning extended overnight or in rain?
What frame colours are available?
Does the awning need planning permission?
What's included in the free home survey?
Ready to get the Epica fitted?
Book a free, no-obligation home survey across North East and North West England. We measure, quote, and fit — all ourselves, no middlemen.
Free survey · No obligation · Fixed price on the day