For retractable awnings Orange County homeowners rely on, the choice comes down to three styles: Square Box, Round Box, and Open Roll. All three give you made-to-order shade for a patio, pool deck, or outdoor living space, and all three are built from Italian-designed aluminum and high-tech fabrics — but they look different, and each one suits a different kind of home. In this guide, we compare the three styles side by side so you can pick the awning that fits your house, your patio, and the way you use it.
The Three Styles at a Glance
All three are retractable awnings from OC Patio Doors, made to order for your home and installed by our team across Orange County. The difference is the cassette — the housing the fabric rolls into when the awning is closed. The Square Box uses a square, low-profile cassette. The Round Box uses a rounded cassette with a bottom cover. The Open Roll has no full cassette at all; the fabric rolls onto an open roller, with an optional hood to protect it. That one difference drives the look, the width, and the extras each style offers.
Square Box Retractable Awnings
The Square Box is our most modern retractable awning. Its square cassette has clean lines and a low profile, so it sits neatly against the house and suits modern homes and architectural designs. The hardware and fasteners are concealed, so nothing sticks out or breaks the clean look, and the awning disappears neatly when retracted. A LED strip is hidden in the retractable arms, giving you illumination over the outdoor space and a soft backlight in the evening — so your patio stays usable after dark. If you want a crisp, contemporary look with evening lighting built in, the Square Box is the style to look at first. Learn more about Square Box retractable awnings.
Round Box Retractable Awnings
The Round Box takes the same idea and gives it a rounded shape. Its full or semi cassette has a bottom cover that protects the fabric when the awning is folded away, and the curved housing suits homes where a softer line looks better than a sharp square edge. Round Box awnings reach up to 36 feet wide, with a maximum projection from 5 feet 3 inches to 13 feet 6 inches, so they cover generous patios and pool decks. They are CE/TUV certified. If you like the protection of a full cassette but prefer a rounded profile, the Round Box is a strong choice. Learn more about Round Box retractable awnings.
Open Roll Retractable Awnings
The Open Roll is the simplest of the three. The fabric rolls onto an open roller, so there is no full cassette — but you can add a hood to protect the roll from the weather. The pitch is adjustable, so you can set the angle of the awning to block the sun at different times of day, and you can choose custom colors to match your home. Open Roll awnings reach up to 36 feet wide. If you want a flexible, easy-to-match awning and like the idea of setting the pitch yourself, the Open Roll is worth a close look. Learn more about Open Roll retractable awnings.
Square Box vs Round Box vs Open Roll: Which One Fits Your Patio?
Each style has a clear strength, so match the awning to your home and the way you use your patio.
Choose the Square Box if you want a modern look and evening light
Pick the Square Box if your home is modern and you want the cleanest look, with LED lighting in the arms for the evening and hardware and fasteners hidden from view.
Choose the Round Box if you want full cassette protection and a rounded profile
Pick the Round Box if you want a full or semi cassette with a bottom cover, a rounded profile, and coverage up to 36 feet wide for a generous patio or pool deck.
Choose the Open Roll if you want pitch adjustment and custom colors
Pick the Open Roll if you want to set the pitch to block the sun at different times of day, an optional hood to protect the roller, and custom colors to match your home — with coverage up to 36 feet wide.
All three styles are made to order from Italian-designed aluminum and high-tech fabrics, and all three use motorized controls, so you can extend and retract them with ease. See all three retractable awning styles and compare them for your patio.
Get a Free Quote
Not sure which style fits your patio? Talk to us. We will help you measure, choose the right width and projection, and pick the cassette style that suits your home. Get a free quote or call us at +1 714-357-9746.
