April
2009
A Guide to Patio Awnings1
While a patio is essentially an outside room adjoined to your house the weather can sometimes be unpredictable and spoil your plans to enjoy the outdoors. Patio awnings can be a way to bring predictability back. If it begins to rain or the sun is too strong, an awning can give you the right protection from the elements.
As a patio awning is such a large feature of your home, it is important that you choose a color and style that matches your house. If you buy an awning that clashes with your personal taste then you will simply not enjoy it as much as you should. Besides the looks, there are a number of features that you should also consider.
The awnings functionality is vital and needs to fit in with what you will be using the patio for. If your children will be playing on the patio during hot days then you will need a fabric awning which is high in UV resistance. If you will be cooking on the patio then you will need an awning which is not only fireproof but will also not accumulate cooking smells.
Always choose an awning which is of high quality. You can always find a cheap patio awning but chances are it won’t last for very long. And when you consider that awnings are semi-permanent features the hassle, cost and time of finding and installing a new awning can add up.
The frame of a patio awning will be made from either metal, plastic or wood. Metal such as aluminum is the strongest and most durable. Plastic is usually reserved for the cheaper models. Wood can be robust and strong but it is vital that it is treated to resist the elements.
You can either buy a retractable or fixed patio awning. Retractable awnings can be retracted or extended depending on the weather. Fixed awnings are just that - fixed in place and can be retracted. Retractable awnings are more expensive and require mechanical moving pieces.
When looking for a new awning it is a sensible idea to look through home and garden magazines. You will find photos of many different awnings set up and operational. This will give you a good idea of how an awning will look when attached to your patio.
Another option is to take a look at the many patio awning websites. Typically you will find awnings at a cheaper price online. Make sure that you only buy from a trusted and reputable website. It is usually a sensible idea to call the customer service line first in order to see how professional and responsive they are towards their customers.