Add some cool with Awnings Did last summer's hot sun turn your deck or patio into an area to look at rather than enjoy? Are you too impatient to wait for those shade trees to grow enough to cast a shadow before you enjoy your investment? You're not alone. Too often, just when the weather starts to be enjoyable, the sun turns many decks, patios and barbeque areas into afternoon ovens. This is especially true in areas with southern or western exposure. The answer might simply be a solution that's been around for decades - awnings; and although awnings may have been around for years, a few new technological developments have pushed them squarely in the 1990's.
Cool Not only do awnings create a colorful and festive living space, but according to the National Association of Air Conditioning Engineers, awnings can reduce the effect of the sun on a sun struck window up to 25%. This translates to temperature reduction of 10-20 degrees on your home or on that back deck. The temperature reduction is usually enough to allow families to enjoy this outdoor space again and offer extend one's home outdoors. People feel like they have a whole new room. Besides, awnings are great places to sip a drink or to entertain under. They create a very social and upscale feeling.
Types of Awnings Deck and patio awnings come in three main types: lateral arm retractable, side arm retractable and traditional patio canopies are the type you might see at a country club - colorful striped fabric over a steel frame with scalloped valance around the perimeter. This type of structure has the advantage of allowing for very customized construction and installation. Additionally, screening can be added to create a reasonably priced bug-resistant porch area. A development which has significantly improved the use of awnings is that cotton canvas in seldom used anymore. Cotton canvas would quickly fade and mildew. We now use high quality acrylics which, although they look identical to canvas, are guaranteed fade and mildew resistant. There are well over 100 colors and patters available
