The shade awnings can improve your home's outdoor spaces drastically by making them enjoyable and attractive. By giving shade, dining spaces or outdoor entertaining such as decks and patios become usable. It doesn’t matter in which weather you are using it. For example, if you are hosting a BBQ party in summer, but your guests want to get protected from the ultraviolet rays, or else you want to enjoy a cup of coffee on a rainy morning, the awnings will help you to protect your guest.
Are you ready to install the shade awnings on your home? But how do you know which one is best for you? Here are some factors that you will have to consider before purchasing a shade awning.
Why Are Shade Awnings Needed?
Business owners, especially those who run restaurants and cafes, can benefit hugely by installing shade awnings to the business. The al-fresco dining is beautiful to the customers, so you can also create small al-fresco dining in your outdoor space. The shade awnings will also protect the outdoor furniture and window frames from adverse weather conditions.
Things That You Must Consider:
1. MATERIAL
Several materials require various maintaining amounts and also suit the inevitable look of homes over others. However, there are primarily two common materials of shade awnings are available, such as aluminum and fabric.
The outdoor fabrics are available in various colors, but it also requires high maintenance than the aluminum shades. On the other hand, the aluminum shades are sturdy, but they generally do not allow customization, and they are available in limited colours and designs. So, you need to choose the best material according to your needs and budget.
2. ANGLE
The angle of the awnings is something people might overlook, but this is very important for overall performance. For the windows facing west or east, the size of the drop must be 70 to 75 percent for optimal performance. For windows that are facing south, the drop can be around 50 to 60 percent. But, again, it depends upon the angle of the sun. In this case, you can hire an expert to install your awnings and they can measure your windows to choose the best awnings.
3. SIDE PANELS
Few people might want some featured side panels that give an architectural look and feel of shade awnings. However, the side panels can be good to provide coverage from different angles. In addition, the panels can be an excellent option to get coverage from various directions if more protection or shade is needed.
4. Free-standing, retractable, or stationary
The type of awning is a very crucial point for consideration. Although the retractable and roll shade awnings allow the user to control awnings, it means that you can get more sunlight in winters, and you can close your awnings in summer to prevent heat.
The retractable shade awnings are perfect for the decks or patios, and it allows you to adjust them when it is not used. Along with the help of switches and motors, retracting will become a breeze. In the advanced models, it has wind and automatic sun sensors. It means you will not have to adjust it every single time.
But it would be best if you kept in mind that the retractable shade awnings are not designed for heavy rains, snow, and high winds. If bad weather comes up, then the retractable awning might get damaged. You need to remove your awnings and store them in your garage when they are not in use.
The free-standing awnings are used chiefly for the terraces, decks, or patios. They provide a space segment, which is perfect if you want to designate separate areas for BBQ. For instance, business owners also love to work with free stand as they can easily install it at their limited outdoor space.