Awnings: Pros and Cons

Awnings are perfect additions to commercial units and residential buildings. They act as supplemental roofs and you can choose from a wide range of options, depending on your needs. If you are considering installing them, below are their pros and cons.

Pros of Awnings

Some of the advantages of using supplemental roofs include:

More Privacy
Using awnings, especially within closely located apartments, helps to enhance privacy. Most of them are designed with retractable hands which can extend for several meters. So, this means that you can fully open your windows to allow fresh air circulation. At the same time, the interior of your house will still be fully protected.

Help to Improve Aesthetics
Awnings not only enhance privacy but also aesthetics. They are great additions to any type of home or office. It should be noted that they improve the façade detail. As a result, the appearance of any building will improve significantly.

What makes them great aesthetic enhancers is their versatility. Awnings come in numerous variations in terms of colors, shapes, materials, and patterns. So, you can choose a design that matches with your walls, the surrounding environment, etc. The materials also range from PVC, vinyl, metal, and acrylic among others. However, it’s usually important to choose a waterproof material.

They are Protective Barriers
These supplemental roofs help to protect direct sunlight from reaching the interior of a building. In addition to that, they are also good barriers for strong winds. Note that the wind can pick sharp and heavy objects and pummel them to your house or windows. This can result in significant damages and injuries. Besides that, awnings help to keep rainwater out. Generally, they are effective barriers against most elements of weather.

They Make Outdoor Living Fun
You can install a patio or deck awning to create a comfortable space outdoors. Some of them are light and portable. Therefore, you can conveniently transfer them from one space to another. All these features help to ensure that you can comfortably relax in your preferred outdoor space.

High-Tech Awnings
Although manual awnings are the most common, you can also find automated/ motorized awnings. They are simple and easy to operate because you only need to press a button to extend them. Note that there are several high-tech features that you can find in motorized awnings. They include timers, rain sensors, and wind control. This means that you can effectively program your awning so that it can respond according to the type of weather.

Note: you can still motorize a manual awning by incorporating the required functions.

They Help to Reduce Energy Bills
During hot days, awnings can help to reduce energy bills by providing cooling shades. They ensure that the air inside the house doesn’t get so warm. So, you don’t need to use the AC unit frequently. Generally, they help to significantly cut the amount of money you spend on using the aircon. It’s worth noting that they are also more eco-friendly. They don’t use any form of energy to produce a cooling effect. This is a vital feature, especially if you are keen about reducing the carbon footprint.

Cons of Awnings

Although there are versatile and effective for several functions, using awnings comes with some downsides as well.

Quite Expensive
The best types of awnings are not cheap. If you want a durable, waterproof, and long-lasting product, you need to fork out more money. In some instances, you may have to use more than one type of awning and, therefore, you will end up spending more. Note that motorized-retractable awnings are also costly.

They May Look Awkward
Some awnings, especially those that are not properly installed, may end up looking awkward. These supplemental roofs are not usually part of the original housing design. So, in terms of appearance, they may create an unappealing protrusion which may be quite ugly.

Awnings are generally great additions to various exterior spaces. They help to create comfortable living spaces outdoors. They are also versatile enough in terms of functionality, shape, patterns, material, and colors. As a result, you can easily find a product that suits your needs. However, the type of awning you choose and how you install it matters. It’s very easy for the lateral arms or frames to create ugly protrusions, creating an unattractive façade.