20 Fast Facts About Retractable Awnings

If you feel excited to read this article, you probably already know at least a little about the advantages of retractable awnings. If this piece looks totally random ("20 Fast Facts About Kibbles Cat Food"), then what you'll read here will probably surprise you. Here is a shotgun approach to the specifications and benefits of modern awnings to catch you up on why they are attracting a growing consumer base.

First, a quick disclaimer: As you read, you may wish certain points were explained in more detail. Since this article is a sort of "beach read" of awnings education, you won't find a ton of background information here. But if you'd like to hear these facts expanded upon, feel free to check my site. And now, here are some quick and dirty facts about retractable awnings.

1. They are, in essence, over-sized swatches of water-proof fabric stretched on a frame and attached to your house. This is what you might call simple brilliance.

2. They need approximately 6 inches of open, lengthwise wall (or roof) space to be installed.

3. These awnings can be unfurled or retracted in less than a minute--either by hand or automatically via a remote control.

4. Recent models have weather sensors that automatically lower the awnings on bright, hot days and store them when a heavy rain storm or gale-force winds could damage them.

5. A phrase all home and business owners love: "No maintenance?"

6. By controlling sunlight, awnings serve a very useful function: they decrease heat and cut UV rays.

7. Awnings serve as an outdoor expansion of your business or residential space--and Do It Yourself-types like to design "outdoor rooms" with awnings that extend the styles and colors of the building interior.

8. If you own a business or manage properties, retractable awnings can expand your seating capacity and raise property values without the services of an architect or general contractor.

9. Next time you're downtown, look around: there's an increasing trend to use awnings as commercial signage for businesses.

10. Awnings positively affect the interior of your home. When installed over windows, they cut glare by 94 percent and exterior heat by 77 percent.

11. That means that they bring down inside temperatures by 8 to 15 degrees and reduce air conditioning costs by 25 percent.

12. When it comes to real estate, each dollar saved on utility bills translates into $10 to $15 of resale value. If you do the calculations, you see that awnings can add one to two thousand dollars of resale value to your home. And that's a conservative estimate.

13. Realtors say that a building's outside appearance is a huge factor in home sales. Awnings give your home strong curb appeal.

14. They also create unique new atmospheres. Have you ever had coffee and conversation "in the rain?" Ever lounged in a hot tub while snow drifts down around (but not on) you?

15. Retractable awnings let you sun-bathe, eat in the shade, enjoy a sun-warmed autumn deck and watch the stars--all in the same space.

16. They can be "strategically" used to cover unsightly rough patches on your home's exterior, like that place where the utility man botched the repair job.

17. Awnings add more living area: eat, talk, and entertain.

18. When awnings are installed over windows, they make cooler, more spacious rooms inside the home, because there's no need to fight harsh sunlight by pulling the blinds.

19. They make the most of patio, deck, balcony, and poolside areas, making them more than stretches of bleached-blond wood and fiery concrete.

20. Retractable awnings are environmentally friendly. They reduce electricity use, comply with EPA guidelines, and are made with sustainable materials.

Now you have a basic idea of why retractable awnings are gaining in popularity. How does it feel to have a higher awnings IQ?

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