Once you have taken care of the large majority of landscaping elements of your home, what more can you do to make the outer space more inviting and functional? Often, projects such as outdoor kitchens and in-ground swimming pools are nice and luxurious improvements that are just too darn expensive for most of us. But an addition that can be a real difference maker, both in attractiveness and functionality, is the porch awning.
An awning for the porch can give you protection against harsh weather (independent of the season), help you save on heating and cooling, all while adding an attractive feature to your home. A well-chosen and well-placed awning can make your porch a desired place to gather while offering, in many cases, an all-seas shelter against the elements.
There is no end to the variety of colors and styles of awnings and awning material with which you can dress up the porch. The strongest awnings are built, by and large, with a primarily metal structure. Aluminum seems to be the common metal of choice in most cases. Lightweight and sturdy, the best of them are built to last a lifetime. Take your time doing your awning research and you will be sure to find one that combines well with your home's existing design and color scheme.
One of the things that you should insist on when shopping for a porch awning is some kind of solid guarantee that it will end occasional harsh conditions. Manufactures will take different things into consideration in the construction of an awning, depending on the kind of weather that is typical in any given area of the country. Most companies that are worth consideration will stand behind their work. Do some additional research on any of the companies that you are considering to make sure that they are businesses in good standing. You might even explore with the BBB to verify that no history of complaints exists against the manufacturer that you are considering.
Inquire as to the wind resistance of an awning that you are contemplating buying. What kind of load can the awning support? Do you want something permanent? Would you prefer a retractable awning? The answers to these and many other questions will depend on the kind of weather that is typical of where you live and what kind of budget you have established for just such an expense. A very popular choice and one that can spur on ideas of your one are the Alumawood Awnings. Check out some of the examples on the internet to make proper comparisons.
It is quite possible that you are enamored with the more traditional canvas awning look. Most of the manufacturers of this type of awning have been able to integrate a practically unlimited number of colors and designs for your porch. This makes it very easy to find the perfect match for your home.
You can also choose between retractable and permanent awnings. The more sophisticated retractable versions offer easy-to-use motorized features. There are a host of highly reputable brands from which to choose, but you should certainly consider awnings by Fiamma and Sunbrella to get an idea of some of the variety of very attractive and high-quality designs.
Regardless of whether the awning is for your home patio or for the RV porch, having one will make your outdoor living infinitely more enjoyable. Give your porch a little TLC and extend your living area today.