Home Awnings Provide Energy Neutral Cooling

Awnings are an affordable home accessory that will enhance a beautiful backyard, help to reduce energy cooling costs and provide protection from the sun's damaging rays as well as inclement weather.

Home Awnings

Awnings Cool functionality for your home:

Awnings and canopies create attractive, comfortable outdoor areas for people to gather, protected from the sun. In addition, fabric structures provide cover during inclement weather, and are more economical to build and maintain than comparable masonry and wood structures Fabric Awnings for Homes.

Home Awnings Benefits

Save you money by reducing your home's energy consumption

Offer a long-term outdoor space solution at a lower cost than a home

addition

Create an upscale outdoor living room with shape, dimension and color that

fits your home decor

Provide customized control for when you want the sun and when you don't

Types of Awnings

Retractable awnings:With the push of a button, a retractable awning can create an instantly cool and relaxing haven from the sun's rays. In addition, retractable are extremely user-friendly.

Stationary awnings:Fixed frame awnings are a popular choice for homeowners because they can be custom fit to your home's outdoor space. Ideal for odd shapes, bump outs, and window sizes - custom designed stationary awnings give homeowners great creativity in style, size and shape.

Awning styles a variety of shapes, sizes and styles.CanopyA canopy, unlike an awning, is supported by not less than one stanchion at the outer end, as well as the building to which it is attached. Like an awning, it is made of fabric and can provide the same benefits and aesthetics of an awning.

Traditional The traditional frame is comprised of a down-slanting front panel with or without two side panels or ends. It can be used over smaller areas like windows and entryways, but can also provide protection over large areas like porches, patios and decks.

Dome A dome-shaped awning is typically found over small entryways and windows and can be used in archways. The quarter-sphere shape provides similar protection from the sun and rain from all angles.

Elongated DomeSimilar to the dome-shaped frame, this style works best for long windows or entryways that require a dome awning. The elongated dome can be used on a flat surface or can curve to cover a corner entry or windows.

Quarter Round / Convex The quarter round frame is similar to the traditional awning with flat side panels, but is characterized by a curved front panel, constructed from a series of parallel bows in the shape of a convex curve. It produces a radius shape with flat ends. It is best used over a small entryway or window.

ConcaveMost typically used over a window or door, the concave design is characterized by the inward curvature of the front panel. The side panels can be covered with fabric for a completely shaded enclosure, or left open, leaving the front panel supported by decorative poles.

The Pros and Cons of Retractable Deck Awnings

• Purchasing a retractable deck awning is a big investment. While smaller, less-expensive awnings start at around $500, larger, higher-quality awnings can cost as much as $2,000 or more. Before you make the decision to buy a retractable awning, you should learn as much as possible about their benefits and drawbacks. Here are the top three pros and cons to consider.

Retractable Awnings Can pay for Themselves

• Most homeowners buy these items for the shade they provide over decks, making time spent outdoors more comfortable. Sure, the initial cost to buy and install a retractable awning can be steep. Yet they often end up saving the homeowner money in the long term, in part because of the shade they provide to the interior of the home. Air conditioners don't have to work as hard to cool the home, resulting in lower electric bills. Over time, these can add up to significant savings.

Retractable awnings protect indoor and outdoor furnishings

• Awnings are a great way to protect your outdoor furniture, but you may not realize they can also protect the furniture indoors. Providing shade to certain rooms in your house means the furniture and fabrics normally exposed to the sun are no longer subject to the sun's bleaching effect, or to drying out.

Retractable awnings have longer lives than other types

• While nonretractable awnings are cheaper, they're also more likely to be damaged during bad weather. For example, in a wind storm, the retractable version can be retracted to keep it protected and stable. The nonretractable kind are exposed to the wind and can easily be torn. Over time, exposure to sun can bleach the fabric on awnings, which means that those that can't be retracted will fade much sooner.

Retractable Awnings Cons

Retractable awnings are expensiveThere's no getting around the fact that retractable awnings are expensive. This makes it even more important to be sure they will provide the benefits you're looking for. It's also important to make sure you buy a quality product that will last many years. Some awning dealers provide financing to make this purchase more affordable for their customers.

Replacing the electric sensor

• You'll have two primary types of retractable awnings to choose from: manual or motorized. Motorized awnings are more expensive but also more convenient. Many of them come with remotes that make them very easy to operate, and others also have sensors that cause them to retract when they sense rain. Manual awnings may become difficult to operate over time, and if the motorized version has an electric sensor, it will need to be replaced periodically, adding to the expense. When the electric sensor isn't functioning, you'll need to operate the awning manually.

Cleaning and maintenance

• All awnings, whether retractable or nonretractable, need to be cleaned on at least a seasonal basis. Over time, awnings can collect a great deal of dirt and dust, making them an eyesore rather than an attractive part of your home. In addition, water can collect in some places on fabric awnings, which can lead to unhealthy mold growth. You'll also need to keep the metal parts of the awnings clean and free of debris to keep them functioning properly.