Building, Remodeling, and Doing it All Again

An awning over your outdoor space can be a fantastic way to expand the use of a deck or patio and allow you to enjoy the outdoors even when the weather is not ideal. There are some excellent options to consider when looking for awnings, and many companies offer custom awnings that can be made to fit your needs.

Determining Your Awning Needs

When you consider a custom awning for your outdoor space, the best place to start is with an in-home estimate by an awning company. A company representative will come to your home and examine the area you want to cover carefully. 

They will look at the house, the vegetation around the deck or patio, and the trees above the spot you cover. In some situations, trees that regularly drop fruit or nuts are not a good fit over an awning because falling objects can tear the fabric or damage the structure that supports the awning. 

Once the representative looks over the area where you want the awning, they can recommend the best awning to fit your needs. There are often many options, but not all of them will work well for your home. 

Retractable Awnings

Retractable awnings are often a good fit for homes located in areas that see snow and adverse weather throughout the year. A retractable awning stays rolled away in an aluminum housing on the side of the house until you want to use it, so in the event of storms or bad weather coming in, the awning is protected from damage. 

Retractable awnings are available that can extend and retract with an electric motor or that you open and close manually. The motor-driven units are easier to use and typically require a single flip of a switch inside the house to open the awning. When you are down for the day, you can retract it so it is out of the way and protected from damage when not in use.

Retractable awnings often include a safety system that automatically closes the awning if the winds get too high in the area. The sensor reads the wind speed, and when a preset limit is reached, the system will retract the awning even if there is no one home or if the wind comes up overnight while you are sleeping. 

Screens and Awnings

If you want to screen in the patio or deck where your custom awning is installed, talk to your representative about the options. Many awning companies offer screens that attach to the awning so you can sit outside without dealing with summer insects nothing you. 

In some cases, the screens can be made to retract when closing the awning, protecting the screen and the awning simultaneously.