January 26th 2009

Benefits Of Retractable Awnings

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Retractable awnings are gaining momentum in the home and business markets, but many people are unaware of the advantages they provide. This "CliffNotes" approach to awnings quickly outlines 20 benefits that fall in areas like design aesthetics, utility savings, home resale value and environmental impact.

If you feel excited to read this article, you probably already know at least a little about the advantages of retractable awnings. If this piece looks totally random ("20 Fast Facts About Kibbles Cat Food"), then what you’ll read here will probably surprise you. Here is a shotgun approach to the specifications and benefits of modern awnings to catch you up on why they are attracting a growing consumer base.

a e awnings, awnings   canopiesFirst, a quick disclaimer: As you read, you may wish certain points were explained in more detail. Since this article is a sort of "beach read" of awnings education, you won’t find a ton of background information here. But if you’d like to hear these facts expanded upon, feel free to check my site. And now, here are some quick and dirty facts about retractable awnings.

1. They are, in essence, over-sized swatches of water-proof fabric stretched on a frame and attached to your house. This is what you might call simple brilliance.

2. They need approximately 6 inches of open, lengthwise wall (or roof) space to be installed.

3. These awnings can be unfurled or retracted in less than a minute–either by hand or automatically via a remote control.

4. Recent models have weather sensors that automatically lower the awnings on bright, hot days and store them when a heavy rain storm or gale-force winds could damage them.

5. A phrase all home and business owners love: "No maintenance?"

6. By controlling sunlight, awnings serve a very useful function: they decrease heat and cut UV rays.

7. Awnings serve as an outdoor expansion of your business or residential space–and Do It Yourself-types like to design "outdoor rooms" with awnings that extend the styles and colors of the building interior.

8. If you own a business or manage properties, retractable awnings can expand your seating capacity and raise property values without the services of an architect or general contractor.

9. Next time you’re downtown, look around: there’s an increasing trend to use awnings as commercial signage for businesses.

10. Awnings positively affect the interior of your home. When installed over windows, they cut glare by 94 percent and exterior heat by 77 percent.

11. That means that they bring down inside temperatures by 8 to 15 degrees and reduce air conditioning costs by 25 percent.

12. When it comes to real estate, each dollar saved on utility bills translates into $10 to $15 of resale value. If you do the calculations, you see that awnings can add one to two thousand dollars of resale value to your home. And that’s a conservative estimate.

13. Realtors say that a building’s outside appearance is a huge factor in home sales. Awnings give your home strong curb appeal.

14. They also create unique new atmospheres. Have you ever had coffee and conversation "in the rain?" Ever lounged in a hot tub while snow drifts down around (but not on) you?

15. Retractable awnings let you sun-bathe, eat in the shade, enjoy a sun-warmed autumn deck and watch the stars–all in the same space.

16. They can be "strategically" used to cover unsightly rough patches on your home’s exterior, like that place where the utility man botched the repair job.

17. Awnings add more living area: eat, talk, and entertain.

18. When awnings are installed over windows, they make cooler, more spacious rooms inside the home, because there’s no need to fight harsh sunlight by pulling the blinds.

19. They make the most of patio, deck, balcony, and poolside areas, making them more than stretches of bleached-blond wood and fiery concrete.

20. Retractable awningsare environmentally friendly. They reduce electricity use, comply with EPA guidelines, and are made with sustainable materials.

Now you have a basic idea of why retractable awnings are gaining in popularity. How does it feel to have a higher awnings IQ?

   By AJ Vanderhorst
Published: 8/20/2008

Creating An Outdoor Oasis Under Retractable Awnings
Modern retractable awnings are an uncomplicated and inexpensive method to introduce definition to an outdoor space without the high cost of construction or the high maintenance of complicated landscaping.

Fabric, Tape And Parts For The Repair Of Awnings And Awning Windows
Window awning repair: Retractable window awnings are the perfect solution to prevent unwanted sunlight or rain spilling into a room.

Retractable Awnings Provide Varying Sun Protection
One of the best ways of making the most of those exterior spaces is by using retractable awnings, which can protect these areas and transform them into spaces that are livable year around in many parts of the country.

Why Not Pretty Up Patio Parties With Vibrant Retractable Awnings?
Are you planning to add value to your property with the help of a home equity loan? Why not opt for vibrant, retractable awnings? Among the industry leaders you will find Sunsetter, Sunbrella patio awnings and Sunair deck awnings.

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January 24th 2009

A Guide On Patio Awning

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Patio awnings are an inexpensive way to add a roof to your patio and thus allow you to enjoy the outdoors in a more comfortable way.

Over the past few years there has been a trend in home improvement and design to bring the "great outdoors" inside the house without sacrificing the comforts of living with heat, light, and a strong roof over your head.

canvas patio awning, retractable patio awningsWell, a patio awning is a very inexpensive and easy way to put a roof over your patio, meaning you can enjoy being outdoors, in most types of weather, remain outside and even possibly entertain in the rain or other unfavorable weather conditions that would have usually forced you inside.

An awning also allows you to create extra living space, without having to spend thousands of dollars on construction and then having to wait for months before the attachment was complete. An awning may not provide a solid roof, but essentially uses your patio or other hard surface to create a room without walls, making it perfect for summer barbecues.

When creating an awning, the fabric that is used must be carefully considered. Awnings are outdoors and you cannot remove them and then replace them when it starts to rain. Hence, you need to make sure that the materials are using are durable and can withstand rain and whatever else the weather throws at them.

Often times, the fabrics used in awning are coated in both Teflon and anti-mildew treatments so that they will last. Awnings are also often UV-Stabilized to maintain the rich color as it prevents the color of the fabric from fading.

There are very simple and cheap awnings that are made of just plastic and are usually not the highest of quality. These will often have to be replaced more regularly or used in moderation and, obviously, the price difference between these awnings will vary greatly so it is important that you establish your needs and then take the time to shop around and compare the prices of various different awnings at different retailers.

About the author:
David A. Howarth has been working in the home restoration and improvement business in the UK for over 20 years now, and enjoys writing about home improvement features such as double glazing and conservatories.

By David Howarth
Published: 11/29/2006

Add A Room To Your Home With A Patio Awning

Do you need a patio awning for your lovely patio off of your backyard that only gets half the use it could because of rain or far too bright sun? Installing a patio awning to shade and protect it can be almost as good as adding a room.

Deck and Patio Awnings

Always interested in how things work, we decided to do a little research about this issue and then put our retractable patio awning to the test.

Patio Awnings can make a great …

After the downpours of last summer, this year is predicted to be a lot warmer, which makes patio awnings a great investment for the coming months – whether to shade you from the sun or keep you covered in the chilly evenings.

Why you should get a patio awning

Whilst this gives us opportunity to enjoy more time in the garden and sitting on the patio. it also means we need to take measures to protect against the sun’’s harmful rays. this is where a patio awning comes in.

Three Reasons To Own An Awning

Having a  will eliminate both of these issues and provide you with more enjoyable usage of your patio or deck.

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