Choosing Awnings

Awnings are valuable assets to a home. They can provide shade, keep UV light away from sensitive woodwork or paint, and block the elements so that an outdoor space is still usable even in bad weather. Most awnings also increase the value of your home.

Awnings are most frequently placed over a deck/patio or over doors and windows.

Awnings over doors and windows can decrease heating and cooling costs

Awnings that cover windows protect the wooden frame, and help keep it from deteriorating. In this location, they allow you to keep your blinds open or eliminate curtains altogether because the awning keeps out glare, but still lets light into the room. During summer months this very same feature decreases your household cooling costs especially in eastern-western facing windows!

Awnings over doorways make a safe haven when guests or delivery people are waiting in bad weather. (This also decreases the amount of wetness that comes into your home on shoes!). At various times of the year, this covering makes an ideal location for decorations and lights that give the whole house a new, thematic look.

An awning may also add a themed look to your home.

There are two types of awnings, one that’s permanently installed in a fixed position and one that’s retractable. Retractable awnings come in both motorized and manual versions, the motorized ones also sometimes including a remote. The retractable awning offers more versatility to your deck/patio, but will cost more both in materials and electricity if powered. Both of the fixed and retractable styles offer fabric or aluminum as the covering material. If fabric, it’s specially treated to be minimally waterproof and frequently weather-resistant. This gets stretched over a sturdy frame, typically aluminum or steel

Both aluminum and steel frames are very durable, offering many years of enjoyment. Aluminum coverings, however, are noisy when there’s wind or rain. So if quiet is important to you, focus on fabric options. Note that fabric is more cost-effective too!

Since the awning stays in place year-round, you want a fabric that won’t easily fade or mold. If you can find a design that allows removal of the fabric periodically for cleaning and treatment, that vastly improves the longevity of your investment.

Finally, some awnings offer side panels that can be added or taken off as desired. The advantage in these panels is that they literally create a flexible room where you can move your shade area as needed.

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