Archive for January, 2009
Patio Awning – Your Choices
Choosing a patio awning design is really a personal choice. The first thing you need to concern yourself with is choosing an awning which is easily installed and will last. The various patio awnings that you see around your neighborhood may look good but they might not suit your budget, the style of your home or the space that you want to cover.
Early on, you will need to decide on what you will be using the patio for as the awning your choose needs to be able suit the activities that you will doing under it. For example, are you going to be grilling or barbequing inside your patios so that you need a fireproof canvas patio awning that won’t accumulated food smells? Or is it where your children will be playing often and you will therefore need a covering that has a high UV resistance?
The other thing you need to think about is what your awnings frame will be made from. An aluminum patio awning is lightweight, strong and durable. They are one of the best metal patio awnings you can buy. Another option is to purchase an awning with a wooden frame. Make sure that the wood is treated and won’t deteriorate in heavy rain or the harsh sun.
One of the best places to look for patio awning is in home and garden magazines. You will be able to see photos of various designs and often you will be able to read about their various advantages and disadvantages. When investigating these awnings it is important to consider the décor and shape of the patio, not just the look of your house. You will want a patio awning which compliments both.
You will also need to decide on whether you want a retractable patio awning. These awnings are great as they can be retracted when the sun is not too strong and extended when the sun peeks back out or it begins to rain. This way you can choose to have the cover when you want or need it. Retractable patio awnings come in two types – manual and electric patio awning. Manual ones are extended by hand while motorized awnings can be extended with a push of a button.
Retractable awnings do have their disadvantages. You should leave them up, especially during volatile or windy weather. Otherwise they may get damaged. You should also be careful when retracting or extending the awning that you don’t get fingers or hands caught in the gaps of the moving structure. This means you should supervise children when they are extending the awning.
As you can see, there are a number of things you need to consider when choosing a new awning. By keeping these simple tips in mind you should be able to select the right patio awning for your home quickly and easily.