House Awning Guide

You have likely seen commercial awnings on dozens (perhaps even hundreds) of businesses in your town or city, but you may not have seen as many awnings on houses. However, the trend for outdoor residential awnings is increasing by the day, thanks in large part to their versatility and functionality in a home environment. Whether you want to enhance your deck, porch, patio, or even the front or back entrance of your house, a high-quality awning can make it happen.

That said, you probably still have a lot of questions about how residential awnings work. For example, does your house really need an awning? What kinds of awnings are available for residential properties? What materials are used to make residential awnings? Finally, can awnings actually increase the value of your home? In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more. So, let’s get started!

Why Get An Awning For Your House?

You may have reservations about installing an awning on your home, even if it is one that is easily retractable or removable. However, the truth is that there are various legitimate benefits to adding an awning to your home. Here are just a few of the most common reasons to consider one or more awnings for your residential space:

• Weather Protection – Awnings serve the dual purpose of protecting you from the elements, as well as certain parts of your home. For example, if your home does not have a portion of a roof that extends over your patio, porch, or deck, you will want the ability to be protected from wind, rain, snow, or sun whenever you feel like relaxing outside. Additionally, the added protection of an awning can help lessen the damage caused to decks and patios by the natural elements, reducing your home’s long-term maintenance costs.
• Personalized Decoration – Unlike a built-in roof overhang, an awning can be easily personalized to meet your tastes. Perhaps you want to add a pop of color to your patio or you want to make the front of your house stand out in your neighborhood. Either way, a residential awning gives you the ability to choose the color, design, size, and shape of your awning to have a completely customized outdoor home decoration.
• Low-Cost Renovation – People often don’t think of awnings as renovations, but they are actually one of the most cost-effective ways to significantly improve your home. Rather than having construction workers build an extended roof over the front or back of your home, you can get a customizable awning for a fraction of the cost. Moreover, awnings cost far less to maintain than roofing extensions.
• Outdoor Versatility – In addition to making your home look more unique, an awning also gives you the ability to do more with your outdoor space. With a residential awning, you can host a BBQ, throw a birthday party, or simply have a cup of coffee with friends outside your home without needing to worry about sudden changes in weather. The hot sun or a sudden rainstorm won’t ruin your events anymore with an awning, making your outdoor space far more versatile.

What Are The Different Types Of Home Awnings?

It is important to note that several different types of home awnings exist. You can choose from a wide range of designs and colors, but there are also fundamental differences in the type of awning you choose based on functionality. Below we will go into greater detail concerning the most popular and common types of home awnings:

Fixed Awnings

A fixed awning is exactly what it sounds like. Once installed, the awning is set in its place to cover your porch, deck, or another outdoor area attached to your home. In other words, you cannot quickly retract the awning if you do not want it extended outward. Fixed awnings are generally preferred if you want a solid installation and don’t need retractable additions to your home.

However, just because fixed awnings are not retractable does not mean that they cannot be removed. Fixed home awnings can be uninstalled and put in storage as needed. So, if you only want to have an awning out for certain parts of the year (like spring and summer for sun protection), you can have them installed and uninstalled as needed.

Retractable Awnings

If you want more versatility with your home awning, you can opt for a retractable model. With retractable awnings, you can retract or fold up the fabric extension of the awning in a matter of seconds. This means that you can use the awning when you need or want it and put it away whenever it suits you.

While retractable awnings can also refer to motorized awnings (see below), the term generally refers to awnings that you can fold up by hand or retract using a pulley system. This means that you do not need access to electricity to retract them. You can simply pull the awning into a rolled or folded position until you are ready to use it again.

Motorized Awnings

Finally, motorized awnings are a version of retractable awnings that allow you to extend or retract your awning with the push of a button. These generally cost more than fixed or simpler retractable options, but they also allow you to change your awning with virtually no effort. You just press a button to extend or retract the awning as needed.

This also makes it easier to extend the awning to a set position. For example, you may not want the awning completely extended. With a motorized awning, you can easily extend it halfway or to whichever position best serves your needs. Just remember that a motorized awning will require access to electricity. Fortunately, if you lose power, most motorized awnings still have the ability to be retracted or extended by hand.

Residential Awning Materials

All of the materials used for residential awnings are water-resistant and designed to withstand the elements. Thus, you can have a residential awning installed and have the peace of mind that it will last for years without needing to be repaired or replaced. In any case, the most common materials for residential awnings include:

• Fabric
• Metal
• Aluminum
• Polycarbonate

The material you choose for your residential awning will depend on your personal tastes and the type of awning. For example, fabric is generally best for retractable or motorized awnings, while metal, aluminum, and polycarbonate are usually best for fixed awnings. However, it all comes down to your specific wants and needs.

Does An Awning Add Value To A House?

As previously mentioned, an awning can help protect certain parts of your home (like decks and patios) from the elements. This prevents water damage to wood decks or even sun damage to certain parts of your home. Though these factors do not directly add value, they help prevent the devaluation of your home while also reducing long-term maintenance costs. Additionally, a high-quality awning can make your home more visually appealing to potential buyers, allowing you to have a higher asking price.

Do you want to transform your home and help improve the quality of your property? Are you looking for an affordable solution so that you and your loved ones can be protected from the elements? If so, be sure to reach out to Sign It for the perfect awning for your house today!