Custom Vs. Pre-Manufactured Metal Awnings

Awnings can be made from glass, fabric, metal and other materials.

Awnings attached to buildings provide cover from the elements of nature. Restaurants use them to shield outdoor seating areas, while homeowners employ awnings to shade patios during family events. Metal awnings prove superior to fabric because of their durability, write John Krigger and Chris Dorsi in "The Homeowner's Handbook to Energy Efficiency: A Guide to Big and Small."

Pre-Manufactured Metal Awnings

Online and brick-and-mortar retailers sell pre-manufactured metal awnings as-is, for installation by a professional. Mass-produced and sold in quantity, already-made metal awnings cost less than custom units.

Custom Metal Awnings

Buildings with unique or nonstandard architectural structure typically require custom-made awnings. They also offer the buyer more choices of color and design than pre-fab products.

Considerations

Designing and constructing custom metal awnings can cost double that of pre-manufactured units. Custom awnings can prove essential to a company's branding, however, if business owners believe the building in which the company operates stands as a representative of its corporate identity.

References

• David Manus Chevrolet: Pre-Fabricated Aluminum Canopy
• "The Homeowner's Handbook to Energy Efficiency: A Guide to Big and Small"; John Krigger, Chris Dorsi; 2004
• "Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings": John Krigger, John Krigger & Chris Dorsi; 2008

Resources

• "Traditional Construction Patterns"; Stephen A. Mouzon, Susan M. Henderson; 2005