Garden / Patio Awnings – What Are Your Options?
Thursday, November 18th, 2010Every now and then, we need to get out of the house and take in the scenery outside our home’s four walls. A breath of fresh air can be the perfect remedy for what ails you and clear your senses. A garden/patio awning keeps you out of the elements while taking a break outside and there are several options available to you.
One option from which to choose is the retractable awning. One of these will keep your skin safe from too much sun and keep you out of rain showers. It also provides protection to your deck, patio, and your lawn furniture. Retractable awnings afford you the ability to help control your home’s heat as well. On hot days where your house is bombarded by the scorching sun, extend the awning to provide valuable shade to the house. This significantly lowers your electric bill too. On cooler days, the awning can be retracted so that more sunlight reaches the house, furnishing free heat. A retractable awning can be extended or retracted depending on the situation.
Stand alone awnings are another option that provide similar relief from the weather to retractable awnings, but you don’t need to attach them to an existing structure. This provides the freedom to place them over your car, the garden, or over the kids’ popular play areas. If the landscape changes and different areas require shade, the stand alone awning can be moved accordingly. Remember, though, that a stand alone awning is exposed to the wind more than one attached to a building, so buy one with a strong, reliable metal frame. The extra cost will be well worth it.
You have options regarding the material from which the awning is constructed as well. Wooden frames are the most stylish, adding a rustic and natural accent to whatever they are near. Be sure to keep the frame treated, though, because wood exposed to the weather needs tender loving care. Aluminum frames are common because they are rather easy to attach to homes and other buildings. Be sure, however, to buy aluminum that is of nearly airplane grade to avoid weather damage. Vinyl is the priciest and most difficult to construct, but once the frame is up, you can pretty much forget about it and let it do its job.
Garden/patio awnings provide many options to you. Whatever you want the awning to do, there is sure to be one that satisfies your wishes. Once your awning is up, you can enjoy your time outdoors without too much sun and rain.
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