Retractable awnings are a great idea to make a shady area on a porch, patio, or deck. They have many advantages over other types of awnings, such as fixed awnings, but there can be a few cons to this shade-creating item. Read on to find out all the pros and cons of retractable awnings.
3 Pros of Retractable Awnings
Retractable awnings can be a bit on the expensive side, if you choose to have all the extras with your awnings that are available, such as motorization, sensors for rain and wind, LED lights, fans, and outdoor speakers. However, you will in return, make an area that you can enjoy much more time in because it will be more comfortable all year round. Your awning will end up paying for itself in a short amount of time with the energy savings that you get from the addition of cooling shade.
1. Retractable Awnings Protect Your Furniture
When your retractable awning is open, it gives you a shady area underneath it, and it protects your outdoor furniture from the sun’s UV rays that will eventually fade your furniture and break down the fabric. When this happens, your outdoor furnishings don’t look as nice, and the thinning fabric is more likely to tear easily.
Most retractable awnings are over a patio, porch, or deck that is either attached to your home or next to it. The awning mounts on your home over the windows and doors on that particular side of your home. This also shades all the doors and windows underneath it, so the sun’s harmful UV rays don’t enter your home to protects all your indoor textiles, such as flooring,
furniture, and paintings. In turn, your indoor textiles will last much longer before needing to be replaced, thereby saving you money in this instance as well.
2. Retractable Awnings Are Longer Lasting
Since you can close your awning when it’s not in use, the fabric on it will last much longer than a fixed awning that is open all the time and subjected to rain and sun continuously. When you close a retractable awning, the fabric rolls up neatly into a cassette at the top where it mounts to your home. This keeps the fabric out of the elements to last longer.
When bad weather is approaching with heavy winds and rains, you should close your retractable awning to keep the elements from tearing the fabric top or bending the metal framework. This also gives you a longer-lasting product because you have the option to close it.
3. A Large Variety of Color Choices and Options
Retractable awnings give you the choice of many different colors from which to choose. You may decide on a neutral color, a bright color, or many different striped patterns.
You can also choose to have a manual retractable awing or a motorized version that opens and closes with the simple touch of a button for your convenience.
Wind and rain sensors are a fail-proof method of closing your awning automatically when the wind speed is too high for it to be safely open or the rain is pouring down. If you leave your awning open and go somewhere, when the sensors determine that you should shut your awing to keep it from harm, it will close it for you automatically to keep your retractable awning in tip-top shape.
You can make your outdoor space as comfortable as an indoor space with LED lights for ambiance, outdoor speakers for your favorite tunes, and fans to help cool your area even more in the summer months for more time outside in an enjoyable atmosphere.
2 The Cons of Retractable Awnings
There are a few cons of retractable awnings in New England as well. They can get expensive depending on what options you choose, so you will need to budget for these extras. It’s important to note though, that this is a long-term investment in your home, so choosing a quality fabric will make it last for many years
1. Maintenance on a Retractable Awning
There is a little bit of maintenance required to keep your retractable awning working perfectly for many years, but it’s very minimal. You need to occasionally clean out any dust or debris off the fabric top and on the metal framework, so your metal fasteners don’t rust with moisture under leaves or debris. You only need to do this maybe once a year, and it only takes a few minutes to enable you to have memorable events with your family and friends.
2. Replacing the Awning's Electric Sensors
If you have decided on the motorized version with rain and wind sensors, then at some point in time the sensors will need to be replaced because they are electrical. They check the conditions about once every 12 minutes to determine if your awning should be closed for safety purposes. The sensors do last for many years, but at some point in time, you will likely need to replace them.
Contact the Experts for Retractable Awnings in New England
At IUS Shades, we are considered the experts for retractable awnings in the New England area with over 18 years of experience in providing homes with shading solutions of all types. We carry the highest quality of retractable awnings to be long-lasting and durable for many years to come. Contact us to schedule a FREE in-home consultation to learn more about our luxury retractable awnings!
