Bimini Tops

[Escondido]

We have been debating bimini colors, as well as the rest of our colors, and it brought up a question we couldn't answer. Why do the majority of the biminis lean towards the darker colors with black being the most common.

It would seem to soak in the heat and make it hotter sitting under it. We had a dark blue awning on the porch and you could feel the heat radiating under it. It was nice sitting under it in the winter. I would also think the darker biminis would fade quicker than a light color.

Wouldn't a lighter color be better when the thermometer is approaching triple digits.

[Dan]

The darker color bimini will not let as much light through. I have a black one and it works great. I've been under white ones and you really notice the difference. GO DARK!

As long as you go with a high quaility material (Sunbrella, etc) you will not have fading issues. Mine is 8 years old and still looks as good as new.

[ghollow]

I had a bimini custom made. It was actually cheaper than production one from Overton's, etc. Mine is a dark gray. Works great. I can not tell that it is any hotter than my old white one. Definitely use sunbrella or some other proven fabric.

[jsz]

I have white interior and a red top w/ red storage bag. It works fine but the seats are stained red where the bimini rests. I would try and get a bimini storage cover that matches your seats if I were you.

[gman]

Escondido,
Your question relates to heat. Color fabric absorbs light and turns it into thermal eneergy. The more light absorbed the more thermal enrgy produced. Black absorbs all colors of visible light and reflects very little. White will reflect about 80%. That is why a black object appears black. Wavelenghts are absorbed and not reflected. Heat and light are two different forms of energy. When light is absorbed it is converted to heat. Since light is energy, absorbing light makes something hotter. Your observation under the blue cover that you described is correct.

[Boarder_X]

gman is exactly right. To take it one step further, light grey is one of the coolest colors. Because of what energy gets absorbed, and what gets radiated. Black abosorbs, and white reflects. Light grey is in the middle. (tan is very similar)