by Joanna B. England
Retractable patio awnings are a great addition to your home and add value to your home's appraised value. In addition, they are beneficial for several key reasons. Retractable patio awnings will:
1. Cut your energy costs by reducing the cost of cooling your home - by up to 25 percent;
2. Protect your patio area and indoor spaces from the effects of the sun like fading and discoloration that can damage carpets and/or furniture and accessories;
3. Make your home cooler and more comfortable - even if you don't have air conditioning;
4. Provide shade for your outdoor living spaces so you can enjoy your patio and yard, sauna, or hot tub area; and
5. Save you money - on both your energy bill and the cost of replacing sun-damaged indoor and outdoor furniture and carpets.
In addition, retractable patio awnings are:
In another year I’ll have enough money saved. Then I’m gonna go back to my hometown in Oregon and I’m gonna build a house for my mother and myself. And join the country club and take up golf. And I’ll meet the proper man with the proper position. And I’ll make a proper wife who can run a proper home and raise proper children. And I’ll be happy, because when you’re proper, you’re safe.
—Daniel Taradash (b. 1913)
1. Attractive (select the design the best complements your home);
2. Easy to install (you can do it yourself without a contractor);
3. Easy to maintain (cleaning is seldom needed); and
4. Available in many sizes, shapes, and colors.
Because they're often referred to "patio" awnings, home is the first place you think of for their use. But actually, patio awnings can be used in multiple other applications just as effectively. You can get all the same great benefits by installing an awning on your:
1. Place of business - over doors and windows;
2. Storefronts;
3. RV, motor home, or travel trailer;
The “female culture” has shifted more rapidly than the “male culture”; the image of the go-get ‘em woman has yet to be fully matched by the image of the let’s take-care-of-the-kids- together man. More important, over the last thirty years, men’s underlying feelings about taking responsibility at home have changed much less than women’s feelings have changed about forging some kind of identity at work.
—Arlie Hochschild (20th century)
4. Cottage or cabin;
5. Garage or shop area;
6. Garden shed or potting shed; and
7. Anywhere else you can think of!
High quality awnings are constructed of powder-coated aluminum in a selection of colors that will not rust, and durable, weather resistant, waterproof fabrics like special acrylic and canvas fabrics that will not fade, mildew, or rot over time. You can select a manual retracting mechanism, motorized retracting system, or even automate the retraction of the awning using a timer, remote control or indoor switch, or sensors that detect wind and sun conditions or rain and motion. Quality retractable patio awning manufacturers include: Sunsetter, RetractableAwnings.com, Shade Tree, and many others. Check to see the warranty offered by each manufacturer.
Popular styles provide awnings suitable for small and large windows, doors or entryways, patios, decks, balconies, outdoor hot tubs, and outdoor saunas, and you can choose from straight or dome styles. Some straight styles project out up to 17 feet while others are petite, just providing enough protection for small windows.
Fabrics are available in hundreds of different styles include solids, stripes, and mesh in every color under the rainbow. By combining the appropriate style awning along with a colored frame and a complementary fabric, you can create beautiful awning options for every home style and every application.