But consider the possibilities that outdoor awnings offer in covering and protecting your windows, doorways or entry way!

Aside from keeping your home cool when the weather outdoors is hot, window awnings protect your windows from the harsh UV rays of the sun and can add visual impact and architectural style to your home’s exterior as well.

Cheap and widely available, window awnings are a great exterior addition that will protect your windows and keep your home comfortable during the hot summer months.

Benefits of Window Awnings

While not entirely obvious, there are a few very strong benefits to consider which make window awnings a worthwhile investment:

Window awnings have been used for centuries to shade windows from the hot sun and keep the interior of a home cool during the summer, as well as adding a decorative element to the home exterior.
• Protection From the Elements – Installing window awnings protects your window frames from ice and snow, wind, rain and moisture, as well as sunlight and heat, keeping wood or vinyl window frames from degrading with constant exposure to the degrading effect of the elements.
• Let Fresh Air into Your Home – If you live in an area with summer rains but moderate temperatures, window awnings let you leave windows open so the fresh air can circulate and you can listen to the refreshing sounds of the birds singing and the raindrops falling outside your window.
• Cut Down Unwanted Window Glare – If you watch TV or work at a computer at home during the daytime, window awnings are great for cutting the glare of direct sunlight without need to close window shades, curtains or blinds, giving you the benefit of natural light and unobstructed views outside.
• Keep Your Home Cool Inside – the most highly touted benefit of outdoor window awnings is the effect they will have in keeping the interior of your home cool during hot weather condition; if you live in a climate that is predominately hot for some part of the year, outdoor window awnings can reduce the effects of heat entering your home by as much as 75 percent, cutting your air conditioning expense dramatically and keeping you cool and comfortable throughout the day.

Awning Styles Galore

From an aesthetic point of view, you have many styles from which to choose when purchasing window awnings. Common window awning styles include:

• Box Lot Awning – This traditional British shop-front awning, adapted to residential use, continues to be popular and is simple and easy to install, with a wooden box from which the awning fabric easily extends or retracts.
• Dutch Awning – Also called Dutch Blinds, gives your home’s exterior a traditional continental look with these semi-circular awnings that are easy to install and operated with either a manual or electric pull cord.
• Rigid Metal Awning – Generally a fixed awning but also available in roll up versions, a metal awning (usually aluminum) will be more resilient to the elements than a fabric awning and come in a variety of styles, sizes, colors and finishes.
• Roller or Roll up Awning – Made with a fabric material and lateral arms that allow the awing to be rolled up when not in use, many styles of roller window awnings are available.
• Concave Awning – Typically installed either over a window or door, the concave design curves inward rather than outward as with most styles of awnings; side panels can be left open or enclosed.
• Dome or Elongated Dome Awning – Used above a small entryway, window or archway, a quarter sphere shape characterized the design of a dome awning, providing excellent protection from rain and sun; the dome shape is elongated for use with longer windows or entries and may be curved to wrap around a corner window.

Features to Look for When Considering Window Awnings

With so many options and features available, you’ll want to take time and care when selecting window awnings for your home. A few features to consider include:

• Awning Materials – Traditionally most awnings were made using canvas, but today many used synthetic fabrics specially treated for water resistance and to prevent fading quickly with the constant exposure to direct sunlight. Aluminum is also a good option, requiring no maintenance.
• Awning Size – the size of your window awnings should be to scale with the size of doorways, entries or windows over which you intend to install them, while being large enough to provide the shade and weather protection you need.
• Awning Design and Style – with all the various styles and types of awnings as detailed before, matching awnings to your home’s architectural style and features should be no problem and you might want to choose something that fits in well with the architectural style of your neighborhood.

Modern aluminum window awnings give a unique look to this exterior.

While the style, shape and design of awnings can vary greatly as we have seen, prices are typically quite reasonable for the more basic awnings, typically starting at less than £100 apiece.

You can find awnings in local home and garden centers or through professional installers, but if you are even a little handy with do-it-yourself projects, you can save a bundle by shopping online and installing your own window awnings.

Take your time and consider all the options mentioned in this article to decide on the style, size and design of the window awnings that best meet all of your aesthetic and functional requirements before making your investment!

But you want to be comfortable when cooking out, eating, reading or relaxing to fully enjoy your outdoor living space.

When the sun beats down or a rain shower approaches most people head back indoors, but with a retractable awning you can escape the heat, glare and harmful UV rays and continue enjoying time outside!

And when you want the full benefit of sun on mild days or in the early and later parts of the day when temperatures are mild and direct sun isn’t a problem, then you can simply retract your patio awning.

Easy to install and with no ugly stanchions, your retractable awning provides shelter from sun and rain, allowing you to enjoy more time outdoors!

Why Invest in a Retractable Awning for your Patio?

Unlike a fixed patio roof which negates some of the feeling of being outdoors, you will find far more versatility and better return on your investment if you install a retractable awning.

Some of the many benefits of adding a retractable awning to your patio include:

• Energy Conservation – A retractable awning not only covers your patio or outdoor living area, but also helps keep your home cooler since it can provide shade for a good portion of the exterior side of your home exposed to direct sunlight during the warmest part of the day.
• Protection From the Elements – Adding drop screens and a retractable awning helps protect your outdoor living space from rain, wind and UV rays which fade and weather patio furniture.
• Reduces Allergens – A patio protected by a retractable awning with vertical side panels or drop screens can help reduce allergens in the air as well as keeping away nasty biting bugs and creepy crawly insects.
• Provides Privacy – A retractable awning will make your outdoor spa, hot tub or swimming pool more private.

Advantages of Retractable Awnings vs. a Fixed Patio Awning

Your retractable awning will be perfect for any outdoor living area such as a patio, barbeque or even a seating area in the garden. And while you could install a cheap fixed awning, there are many advantages of a retractable awning:

• Increased Visibility – Most fixed awning entail the use of posts or stanchions that block your view, while a retractable awning, depending on the design, is generally suspended using either guide wires or spring loaded arms which will not inhibit visibility.
• Simpler Installation and Maintenance – The retractable awnings mount easily to your home from the exterior wall or beam and, since the fabric is protected within a cassette when retracted, it requires only minor cleaning and maintenance.
• Enhanced Versatility – You can install a retractable awning in small or special areas like over a sliding glass door or French patio doors when a fixed awning might look out of place.
• Less Visual Distraction – When put away in its protective cassette, your retractable awning won’t detract from the visual impact of your landscaping whereas a fixed awning is always present unless you go to the great trouble of taking it down.
• Longer Useful Life – When not in use, a retractable awning is not exposed to inclement weather conditions whereas a fixed awning is continually subject to the elements, causing it to discolor, fade and deteriorate within a few seasons.

When not in use, a retractable awning is protected by the cassette and barely visible, allowing your outdoor area to look natural and unobstructed as it would be with a fixed awning.

Retractable Awning Options

Depending on your budget, you can purchase a retractable awning that operates manually for as little as £400. Motorised versions can run as much as £4,000, with available options such as rain, motion, heat and wind sensors that provide completely automated operation.

Retractable awnings are available in a variety of colors and styles as well. Your patio awning can be custom-sized to fit the desired width and extension of the patio or other outdoor area you wish to cover, so careful planning and measurement is recommended.

If you are a handy do-it-yourself homeowner, you could save money and install your retractable awning yourself. For those less confident in their home improvement skills, hiring a local professional installer is recommended; this expert can advise you on the correct size, placement and options that will best fit your needs.

Traditionally, most patio awnings are made of a tough canvas-type fabric which is specially waterproofed, typically with a poly urethane (PU) coating to withstand the rigours of outdoor use and most often are selected in a white or cream with colored stripes. The stripes may be in bright colors or something more subdued. A solid navy blue or dark green color may also be selected to coordinate with the architectural style and exterior color or materials such as stone, brick, wood or other siding and trim work.

Other options to consider include the style of your retractable awning and whether you want a scalloped or other pattern or simply flat edges for the valance. You may also want to consider side panels or drop screens that allow you to enclose the outdoor area you are covering with the awning.

Retractable awnings are typically installed on the side of a home most exposed to direct sunlight, where it will provide the most benefit. When extended, your awning may extend completely flat or, in many cases, designed to have a slight pitch, which allows the rain to run off. Consider your local weather conditions and whether you plan to extend your retractable patio awning during rainstorms or not when deciding on the style that best suits your requirements.

Purchasing Your Retractable Awning

Choosing the right manufacturer from which to purchase your retractable awnings will involve price comparison as well as consideration of the options, quality of materials used, warranty offered and finding a company that has a solid reputation in the industry. Visit local home improvement and patio furniture shops to see retractable awnings in person and then shop online to compare prices and make sure that you are getting a good value.

Purchasing a retractable awning will be a worthwhile addition to your home and one that increases the enjoyment and time you spend outdoors. While it may seem a bit of a luxury, adding a retractable awning is a great investment that will shade and protect your patio or other outdoor living area for many years!

People with beachfront property deal with hurricanes, country-dwellers face tornadoes, and the simple fact is that damage from high winds can happen anywhere.

Windows are the most vulnerable components of your home, and the problem is compounded by the fact that windows are growing increasingly larger.

The larger the window, the greater a target it presents for flying debris.

Broken windows and doors present a safety hazard, often leading to greater damage and increased costs. The installation of storm shutters can help to protect your home and your family.

While not as attractive as traditional wood exterior shutters, roll up storm shutters like these provide excellent protection for homes on the beachfront, where high winds pose a serious problem to large windows and glass doors.

Storm shutters, sometimes called hurricane shutters, attach to the outside of your home and can be closed over your windows in the event of inclement weather.

You may be imagining some ugly, industrial-looking window shutters, but the fact is that they come in a variety of styles and even in decorative color choices comparable to other types of exterior shutters.

There’s no need for you to sacrifice curb appeal for safety and peace of mind.

Exterior shutters are also practical for your vacation or summer home, providing added security for a home that is not occupied year round.

Whatever style you select, make certain that it is a certified storm shutter.

Hinged storm shutters like these can more attractive than the roll up type, but may be somewhat less practical.

You’ll need to select the storm shutters that best suit your windows and your specific needs. The most common types are:

• Colonial Shutters or Bahama Shutters – Colonial and Bahama shutters offer a very similar feel to traditional shutters with the added benefit of storm protection, and they come in many attractive colors. Some models can be closed from the inside, but only if you have a window that slides up and down. If your window opens outward, you’ll have to go outside to close the shutters. This can be particularly problematic when you have a two-story house. To close these shutters, you fold them over the windows and lock them into place.
• Roll Shutters – The roll shutter rolls up and down like a garage door. When opened, they are relatively unobtrusive in appearance, and they’re very easy to close. Some models are operated with a crank that can be installed either inside or outside, while others are motorized and work with the flip of a switch. The fanciest roll shutters can also be programmed to close when the wind reaches a certain speed, leaving nothing to chance.
• Accordion Shutters – Accordion shutters offer some of the best protection of all of the hurricane shutter types, but they come at a price. Accordion style is the least attractive and most obtrusive of all of the exterior shutter types. Proper installation can help to make the most of them, but they’ll still be quite obvious. As with Colonial and Bahama shutters, they will need to be secured from the outside if your windows open outward, but the actual process of closing them is very quick. You simply pull the shutter down on its track to cover the window and lock it into place.

This problem is particularly common in older homes with smaller windows, where the front of the home looks flat and without anything to break up the expanse of vinyl siding or brick.

One way to address this problem is to add exterior shutters to break up the space and add a punch of color.

Whether you are looking for decorative window shutters or need storm shutters to protect your home, you have plenty of options to consider.

Consider the following suggestions when adding exterior shutters to your home.

About Exterior Shutters

Exterior window shutters are usually made from vinyl or wood. Vinyl shutters tend to be less expensive and come in many different colors, but they tend to look cheap. Wood shutters are more affordable, but you’ll need to prepare them properly to resist the elements.

Consider purchasing wood shutters made from cedar, which contains oil that makes it naturally moisture resistant. Cedar is also less attractive to bugs than many other woods.

Regardless of what wood you select, you’ll need to treat it to make sure that it can withstand the elements. Application of an oil-based primer and a few layers of paint should do the trick. The more opaque your color, the more light-resistant your window shutters will be.

You can also stain your shutters, but you’ll need to use a finishing product that is specifically designed to be used outdoors.

The process of mounting your shutters is very easy. Obviously, it’s important to measure the space thoroughly to make sure that the windows don’t end up too small or too big. Or, if you have existing shutters and simply want to give them a facelift, measure your existing set. Then, you simply use rust-proof screws to resist the elements (painting over them can also be helpful) and install spacers between the shutter and the house to allow for sufficient ventilation.

If you want your shutters to open and close (or if you need them to in the case of storm shutters), you’ll need to specifically mount them to do that.

Wood shutters like these typical Colonial-style exterior shutters provide protection from wind and intruders; a great feature for vacation homes that may not be occupied year round.

Types of Exterior Shutters

Exterior shutters range from the completely decorative, such as fully mounted wood shutters, to the entirely functional, as in aluminium hurricane shutters.

Here are the basic characteristics of each type to help you choose:

• Decorative Exterior Window Shutters – Generally, these shutters are mounted to the sides of the house and simply serve a decorative purpose. The wood and vinyl shutters noted above are the most common types. Consider installing them with decorative elements like ironwork or select a shutter with a cutout design to make them more visually interesting.
• Storm Shutters – Storm or hurricane shutters must be built to specific requirements. They have to be able to withstand winds up to a certain speed without breaking, and storm shutters that make the grade will be designated by a SBCCI certification. Generally, these shutters are made from fiberglass or aluminum. However, they can still be visually attractive and come in a variety of colors and decorative styles. Note that not every fiberglass or aluminum shutter is a certified storm or hurricane shutter. There are also decorative versions available, so make absolutely sure that you know what you’re purchasing. Generally, because of the high engineering standards, you’ll pay more for these shutters in comparison to decorative models, but the protection afforded your home is well worth the expense.