How to Buy Patio Awnings

Adding an awning to the patio will not only beautify, it will extend your enjoyment of the outdoors and may even lower the cooling bill for your home by blocking heat from the sun. Awnings come in a wide array of styles, materials and colors, so follow these steps to find the one that is just right for your patio.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Look at awning styles and descriptions on the Internet and shop local home improvement and window covering stores to get ideas and prices.
2. Decide how much you want to spend on a patio awning and what features you want. Awnings can be fabric, plastic or aluminum and come insulated for even more protection from the sun. Some are retractable and can be purchased with or without a motorized crank and remote control.
3. Choose awning materials for durability and ease of maintenance. Retractable fabric awnings are susceptible to fading from the sun and don't last as long as aluminum, wood or vinyl. High winds can also be damaging to fabric awnings.
4. Think about how the awning will look on your house and decide on colors.
5. Measure and order the patio awning, or have the local awning professional bring samples to your home and do the measurements and ordering.

Tips & Warnings

• Buying a motorized awning is a good idea if it will be operated by an elderly or disabled person or if it will be retracted often throughout the day to adjust the sun's effect on the home.

Who Can Help:

• Find Awning Services Here. Compare Up to 4 Quotes, Free Service & No Obligation.
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