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Shade and protection for your patio, windows and doors can be provided by awnings. Awnings make outdoor living more enjoyable and protect your house’s exterior. You may be unsure which awning style to choose if you aren’t sure what you want. Continue reading to find out more about outdoor awnings, and tips on choosing the right one.
What is an Awning?
An awning is an additional covering attached to the exterior of a building above a door or window. An awning serves three purposes: it acts as a cover, protects from the sun, rain and snow, and creates a break from strong wind. The awning helps keep your home cooler by blocking the sun’s rays directly from sliding glass doors and windows. Awnings not only save money on air conditioning, but they also protect your furniture, carpets, wallpaper, and other valuables from the sun’s harmful rays. An awning can also increase curb appeal, which will make your home more welcoming and possibly raise your house’s market value.
Different types of awnings
Before you purchase an awning, it is important to decide where it will be installed. This decision will affect the type of awning that you will need.
Patio: Because of their large coverage, patio awnings are often the first choice for homeowners. They attach to your exterior wall and provide shade for your patio. This allows you to enjoy your Sunday brunch or morning coffee without worrying about the harmful UV rays. Patio awnings can be a great investment as they increase the value and comfort of your property. They also extend your living space by allowing you to enjoy the fresh air from your outdoor patio.
Door: An awning is placed above an exterior door. This type of awning protects your front door from the elements and will enhance your property’s appearance. You can choose to have your door awning retractable or fixed. They are also available in many different materials and shapes. This gives you a stylish and simple look.
Window: An awning that is placed above the window’s exterior wall. This awning is ideal for protecting your interior from the sun while still allowing natural light into your home. The top of your windows is protected from the elements by a window awning. This prevents passersby from seeing inside your home. You can either retract it or make it stationary.
Side: Also known as a garden-side or wall-like awning, this awning extends across your garden, patio, or balcony to create an outdoor wall barrier. Side awnings have a large screen that provides privacy and protection from passersby and neighbors. Side awnings come with a frame, which must be attached to either a 10-centimeter thick wall or a sturdy pole. This awning is easy to set up and can be used in a matter of minutes. Side awnings can be manually retractable using strong retractable springs. This allows for easy and long-lasting operation.
Materials for awning
Awning materials collage: glass, plasic Sunbrella fabric, metal, and fabric
The right material can make your awning last longer and save you money over the long-term.
Glass and Plastic: Both plastic and glass awnings can be made from polycarbonate. This thermoplastic material is easy to work, mold, and thermoform. Although transparent, this type of awning provides excellent protection against rain, snow and UV rays, while still allowing for light through. The polycarbonate awning is water-resistant, and has a sleek design that will give your patio, door, or window a new look. Polycarbonate is virtually undetectable and has 250 times the impact resistance than normal glass. Polycarbonate is a great investment because it can expand and contract with temperature changes, without permanent shrinkage or long-term damage.
Sunbrella: Sunbrella acrylic fabric is similar to cotton canvas. It is extremely durable, fade-resistant and repels water well, often lasting for more than a dozen years. Because they are resistant to mildew, UV-damage and can withstand high humidity, Sunbrella awnings work well in humid environments. Sunbrella awnings can block up to 98% sun’s harmful radiations and are tear- and scratch-resistant.
Fabric: The majority of fabric awnings are made from polyester. This is a synthetic fabric that has been manufactured using polyester yarns. Polyester awnings can be installed easily because they are strong, mildew-resistant, and light.
Metal: Most metal awnings are made from aluminum. They have been a popular choice in homes around the globe for many years. They are lightweight but strong and can withstand the most severe elements. Metal can be used for either the whole awning or the frame. You can find metal awnings in many colors. They are often painted with baked enamel paint. These awnings require regular painting because they are stationary.
Awning shapes
Awning shapes collage: slope, convex dome, and concave
The shape of your awning will affect how it shades your space and repels the elements.
Sloped: A sloped, open-sided awning that is installed above a patio. It has a steep gradient and is usually open on both sides. This awning design provides maximum shade protection on sunny days. Rainwater rolls off the awning rather than pooling. Sloped awnings can be adjusted to achieve the best shade angle.
Convex: Convex Awnings can be installed over doors or windows. Convex awnings offer the same protection and more effective in preventing precipitation from accumulating on the awning surface. Convex awnings add a modern look to your home.
Concave: Concave awnings can be installed above doors or windows, in a similar fashion to convex. The concave shape is crescent-shaped and provides protection from rain or sun. While the concave design adds a stylish touch of flair, it slopes in a crescent-like fashion.
Dome and Elongated Dome: Dome Awnings have a round face with convex sides. These effectively block the elements. Dome awnings can be installed over windows and doors for an elegant and practical solution. Dome awnings with extended domes provide more coverage for larger windows and doors.
Buy Elongated Dome Awnings
Bright patio with a green-and white striped awning
Awning Features
Retractability
Retractable mechanisms that roll up the awning can be used to retract some awnings. This protects the awning from severe weather and makes it last longer than other types. You can also use this feature to let the sun shine on your patio.
There are two types awning retraction: motorized and manual.
Manual: A manual-retractable retractable awning uses a pulley system that allows you to manually open and close it. This awning option is the most affordable and does not require electricity.
Motorized: A motorized awning retracts automatically at the touch of a button. This feature, although slightly more costly than a manual system makes it easy to retract your awning at night. Access to electricity is required for motorized awnings. A hand crank is often included to allow manual retracting in the event of a power outage.
Durability
Durability is the last thing to consider when choosing an awning. This will allow you to determine which features provide the best protection for you awning.
Water-Resistant: A majority of awnings can withstand water. Water-resistant barriers allow rain to roll off the fabric instead of soak through it, protecting you from moderate to heavy rain. This is especially useful if you want to take a seat outside on your patio during mild rain.
UV-Resistant: Because awnings are always exposed to the elements, they are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of the sun. This includes color degradation and textile deterioration. This UV resistance stops the radiation from reaching the fabric of your awning. The fabric that is more opaque will block UV rays better and keep you comfortable under the awning.
Powder-Coated Frames: A powder coating is an advanced finish that is created by an electrical charge emitted by an electrostatic painter. This is then cured with heat. Powder coating can be applied to some awning frames to increase their durability and protection against the elements. For extra protection and thickness, you can add layers once the powder has solidified. Powder coatings are excellent for metal awnings as they repel corrosive substances such as chemicals and even water.
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