I’m can’t take it anymore. My family lives in Sacramento and every summer we experience incredible heat waves during the summer. I mean 106 degree weather 12 to 16 days in a row. Fortunately it’s dry heat, but it’s still really uncomfortable. And after almost fainting after seeing my energy bills from running the air conditioner day and night, I had to find a low cost solution to solve my problems.
We had one room, our family room, in particular that got incredibly hot during the day. Now, I wouldn’t normally mind if it was a room we never really used, but it was the room we used the most. Our big screen was in there along with all of our DVDs. The family room is at the back of the house and faces the sun for the majority of the day. I really couldn’t think of anything that I could do that could cool the room without breaking the bank. Then it hit me one day while I was watching my son play baseball. A hat is the low cost, and most efficient means to cooling a person and protecting your face from the sun. I needed a hat for the back of my house that was exposed to the sun all day.
So I made my way down to Home Depot to do a little research. I explained what I wanted to do, and the sales associate pointed me towards the patio awnings. This was exactly what I was looking for. I started kicking myself for not thinking of this years ago, but oh well. I was doing it now, and that’s all that mattered.
So What Exactly is Patio Awning
A patio awning works like the bill of your baseball cap for your house. Well, let me get a little more technical. It’s a protective covering projecting from the wall of the house out over your patio. But, like I said, it really acts like a baseball cap from my house. It provides protection from the sun during the day, and even rain and snow during the winter season.
If you have patio furniture, your patio awning isn’t enough to protective. In order to get the most protection for your patio furniture, you’ll need to get patio furniture covers for them. This way, your guaranteed to get the most protection for your furniture.
The Different Types of Awnings
When I walked into the local big box hardware store, I thought all patio awnings were created equal. I mean, how many options could there really be? Well, I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were options that better addressed my problems at a better price than I imagined. There were canvas, wood, and even metal awnings. Plus, there are even awnings that retract so that you don’t have to worry about taking it down and putting it up when you need it.
Advantages
Well, the advantages of using a patio awning are obvious. You have extra shading protection for your rooms, which keep them cooler during the summer time. If you want to use your patio during the spring and summer time, you can enjoy the warm weather without having the sun beating down on your outside.
Disadvantages
The only drawback that I experienced was the cost. Depending on your budget, you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs, but this is a purchase that you do have to budget for. You also have to consider installation and maintenance of the awning to make sure it’s in proper working order.
Selection Tips
If you’re not sure what kind of awning you want, here are a couple of things to keep in mind. Like I pointed out before, there are various types of awnings to choose from. You have choice of material and if you want a retractable or stationary awning. If you plan on using your awning pretty much year round, it’s a good idea to go with a non-retractable, awning. However, if you’re only going to use during one season like me, then save yourself the hassle and with a retractable awning. Or, you can save some cash and go with a non-retractable patio awning and take it down for the nine months out of the year you would not be using it.
When it comes to the material, it really depends on the climate you live in. If it’s warm and dry for the majority of the year, a canvass patio awning is perfect. If you live in an area the snows or rains, an aluminum or metal patio awning would be better suited.
The Cost and Where to Purchase
Now, the cost depends on the type of awning you decide to go with. For a higher quality awning, it will cost you a couple of extra dollars. You’ll also have to pay a little more if you’re going with a larger sized awning. The cool thing is that you can find some really good deals online if you find that the awning you want in the store is a little out of your price range.
No related posts.