Have you been thinking about installing a permanent awning on your home? If so, you probably have a lot of questions about this type of canopy, including its benefits and potential drawbacks. Before you commit to investing in an awning, you should consider a few factors to ensure you’re making the right decision for your needs.
Anytime you invest in a permanent upgrade for your home or property, it is important to do your research in advance. By making an informed decision, you can increase your chances of complete satisfaction with the final product.
Understand the Differences Between a Permanent Awning and a Pergola
Many homeowners don’t like the amount of sun they receive on their porches, decks or other outdoor areas. If you’re looking for extra outdoor shade, you may wonder whether a permanent awning or a pergola would make a better choice. They are similar types of structures with some notable differences.
Pergolas and awnings are both designed to provide shade from the sun and shelter from the rain. They are both outdoor additions, but an awning is attached to a house while a pergola is a detached structure built with beams, posts and rafters.
Both pergolas and awnings offer a variety of benefits, including aesthetic appeal and protection from all types of weather. The range of available styles in either category is quite extensive, so you can find something that meets your stylistic preferences and looks great on your home or property.
Discover the Benefits of a Permanent Awning
Permanent awnings offer many advantages, including reliability, durability and improved curb appeal. They provide a long-lasting solution to your outdoor shade needs, and these canopies withstand harsh weather conditions such as the high winds, intense rain and significant snowfalls often experienced in Wisconsin and Michigan .
Because the overall design of the awnings is simpler, they’re typically easier to install than pergolas. While a pergola has to stand on its own and therefore needs a strong support system, an awning is designed to attach to your house, which is where it gets most of its support.
Consider These Factors Before Adding a Permanent Awning
Now that you realize some of the benefits an awning provides, it’s time to make sure this improvement is the right solution for your home. Here are five considerations you should keep in mind before you make a purchase.
1. Shade Mobility Needs
If you want shade mobility, an awning often supplies a better solution than a pergola. While a pergola gives permanent shade in a fixed location, an awning can adapt to changing conditions. You can retract it as needed to allow for more light exposure in the mornings or evenings. It is this flexibility that makes the awning such an attractive option for most homeowners.
2. Installation Location
Since a permanent awning is attached directly to your home, it’s essential to select the best location for installation from the beginning. Many homeowners choose to install an awning over the front porch or back deck. You might also decide to attach an awning to the side of your home to provide shade in an exceptionally sunny side yard. Be strategic when choosing the ideal location for your awning before you have it installed.
3. Size Considerations
Awnings come in many different sizes. Depending on your needs, you can select an awning that’s large enough to cover a significant portion of your porch and yard or pick one that’s just large enough to provide comfortable shade for a small seating area on your deck.
4. Cost Considerations
In general, a pergola is considered more expensive than a permanent awning. However, you still need to carefully consider the cost of an awning before you commit to purchasing it. Several factors can determine how much your awning costs:
- Size
- Materials from which it is made
- Overall shape and design
High-quality awnings can be a big investment, but they also provide rich benefits that make them worth the initial outlay. You should also keep in mind that adding an awning to your home can increase its curb appeal and help you get a better return for your home if you choose to sell it.
5. Sun Protection Needs
Before you select an awning, you should consider all your sun protection needs. Permanent awnings placed over a deck or patio can typically provide excellent sun protection for most hours of the day. If you require more sun protection in the early morning or evening hours, you may want to invest in an awning style that tips downward a little more than others.
Analyze your sun protection needs for a few days or weeks prior to ordering your awning. This gives you a good idea of the slope required for your awning so it meets your needs for protection from the sun most effectively.
Choose the Right Awning Style
If you’ve analyzed these considerations and determined a permanent awning is ideal for your needs, here are a few tips for choosing the most appropriate awning style:
- Select a fabric or material that’s durable, waterproof and resistant to UV light.
- Determine the type of awning frame you want, such as retractable, fixed frame or valance.
- Decide whether you want a solid awning fabric or if you prefer different fabric designs.
If you have any questions or doubts about your ability to choose the right awning style for your area and preferences, don’t hesitate to consult with the professionals at Apple Annie Awnings.
Get Expert Advice for Your Permanent Awning
When it comes to installing a permanent awning on your home, you want to make sure you get things right the first time around. At Apple Annie Awnings, we have extensive experience providing world-class awnings that can withstand the harsh seasonal conditions in Wisconsin and Michigan. We’d love to work with you to help you make the ideal awning selection for your budget, stylistic preferences and shade needs. For a complimentary estimate that comes with zero obligations to buy, contact us today.