Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 235
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 220
- Appliance / Repair — 177
- Interior Design / Decor — 170
- Real Estate / Finance — 159
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 129
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 122
- Improvements / Remodeling — 112
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 107
- Doors / Garages — 105
- Construction / Materials — 100
- Safety / Security — 100
Latest Articles
6 Home Repairs to Leave to an Expert
Being able to repair things around your home is a point of pride. When you can take something that is not working, or doesn’t look great and...
on Jan 27, 2021
6 High Value Renovations to Increase Fix and Flip ROI
So you’ve analyzed the market, purchased a property and now you are ready to renovate? After purchasing an undervalued home for a...
on Jan 26, 2021
7 Top Home Decor Trends for 2021
A lot of us have spent most of 2020 sheltering in place. We have transformed our living rooms into multifunctional spaces that are all about...
on Jan 25, 2021
7 Tips to Increase The Value of Your Property
If you are considering renovating or selling your property, it should be able to add value to space. Several projects that are aimed at increasing...
on Jan 25, 2021
When to Replace Your Heater
Consider the number of damages the heating unit has so that you will know right away if you will need to buy a new one or not. You better replace...
on Jan 16, 2021
Popular Articles
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
60443 Views
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
57789 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
53448 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
35218 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
23069 Views
6 Steps to Choose the Best Retractable Awning for Your Home
by Sally Smith on Dec 23, 2019
Outdoor awnings are an excellent investment primarily because it covers you figuratively and literally. First, if you need a place to rest outside your house, sunshade protects you from the sun, snow, and rain. Secondly, if you're holding a barbeque party, the canopy got you covered as it provides a comfortable room as the house would, for your guest. Thirdly, there are many different designs of retractable awnings which most of them will increase the value of your house.
However, if you have folding arm awnings which means it's retractable, you need to know it might not withstand harsh conditions. You, therefore, have to retract it when there is strong wind or snow.
To benefit from motorised awnings or any other awning, you need to consider various steps or factors.
Steps to Follow When Choosing Ideal Retractable Awning
1. Material
The awning comes in various materials, but the most popular is aluminium and fabric. Aluminium awning has minimal maintenance routine. However, choosing aluminium awning means you'll have limited design and colour. Fabric awning, on the other hand, comes in various colours and design but require regular maintenance.
The other awning materials include canvas, PVC, acrylic, and polyester. It is crucial to consider the factors that would affect your awning and choose the best material against those factors. For instance, when canvas and PVC are exposed to moisture and sunlight, they wear off fast.
2. Size
The second step after choosing the ideal material for the awning is size. The size covers two factors. First, you could install a small awning for decorative purposes. The other factor size of the awning covers is protection against UV rays, rain, or snow. Nonetheless, you could choose a bigger awning that would still serve the purpose of decoration and security based on its design.
Ideally, window awnings are smaller as compared to patio or side panel awnings.
3. Design or Style of the Awning
Notably, every house has a unique design. Shade and blind companies, therefore, manufacture various awning designs to fit different home designs. Some of the most prevalent awning designs include a waterfall, gable walkway, semi-circular entrance, dome-style, closed or open sides, and double bar standard.
4. Choosing Angles
Choosing angles for your awning is a crucial step. Why? The angle at which an awning has been installed determines how much you'll save on energy bills. The correct installation of awning means good coverage during summer, and thus sunlight is limited from getting into your house. It means your AC will not be on throughout the day because, ideally, the awning is serving its purpose correctly.
Ideally, if you're installing an awning on the east or west of your house, it should be 65-75 degrees. If on the south or north, install the awning between 45 and 60 degrees.
5. The Colour
Bright awnings stand out amongst the rest. Moreover, bright colours don't retain heat and thus assures you of a relaxed afternoon during summer. Colourful outdoor awnings reduce with up to 20 degrees from the surrounding temperature. However, you need to choose a colour that matches your existing outdoor colour. Ideally, you should choose a colour that complements your indoor and outdoor styles and colours.
6. Installation
Where are you placing the retractable awning? Is your house wood-framed, cemented, or has stucco? Each awning model works differently with various house model. So, an awning might work on the wood-framed house but won't on a cemented house. Inquire more about this from your supplier.
Take Away
The beautiful thing about retractable awnings is that you can use your arm to adjust it depending on the movement of the sun. However, you need to ensure the awning is in the correct size, and it serves the purpose you intend it to.
Most Recent Articles
- Jan 7, 2021 What Builders and Property Buyers Need to Know About Party Wall by Guest
- Nov 17, 2020 Front Yard Landscaping Ideas by Larry
- Nov 15, 2020 Pros and Cons of Installing a Yard Irrigation System by jeremy rennie
- Nov 7, 2020 The 5 Benefits of a Stamped Concrete Patio by Bonnie Phillips
- Sep 21, 2020 Stamped Concrete: Pros and Cons, Patterns, and Tips by Bonnie Phillips
Articles Archive
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates

Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Sponsored Articles
6 High Value Renovations to Increase Fix and Flip ROI
on Jan 26, 2021
Improvements / Remodeling

So you’ve analyzed the market, purchased a property and now you are ready to renovate? After purchasing an undervalued home for a...
Essential Checklist for When You Want to Buy a Condo in Vancouver
on Feb 20, 2020
General Household
Buying a condo has its pros and cons, but it is a completely different experience from buying a single unit, a family home, or a detached...
The Most Common Repairs of Tiny House Living
on Jul 11, 2019
Cleaning / Maintenance

Tiny house living isn’t always as relaxing and stress-free as it is made out to be. There will undoubtedly be things that break,...
Random Articles
Why is Artificial Grass proving so Popular with Dogs
Artificial grass has been around now for a considerable amount of time in the UK, the popularity of the grass has increased steadily over this...
Is Your Home Energy Star Certified for Energy-Efficiency?
As the demand for good housing rises in the United States, more home builders are seeing the value of building new homes with energy-efficient...
6 Ideas to Make Your Home Look Cool and Different
If you want to make your home look cool and different, then you must look at these innovative interior décor ideas. The improvements that can give...
Tips on How to Restore Your Art Deco Furniture
Having art deco furniture in your home is a great thing but most of us tend to forget that they also wear out and therefore need restoration. In...
First Time Home Buyers Beware of These Hidden Repairs
You want a home, but you don't want to buy a money pit. Unfortunately, it's a constant battle against depreciation with real estate. Roofs leak and...