ARE RETRACTABLE AWNINGS WORTH IT?
Posted on 21 April 2023 by Phil Coleman
When it comes to the question are retractable awnings worth it? You need to ask yourself 4 things.
- Is your garden south-facing?
- Do you enjoy sitting and entertaining in your garden?
- How hot does your home get?
- Are your sofas, carpets or flooring fading?
If the answer to 3 or 4 of these questions then an awning could be worth it.
Let’s answer these questions one by one.
ARE RETRACTABLE AWNINGS WORTH IT? IS YOUR GARDEN SOUTH-FACING?
The direction of the sun in your garden is really important. South-facing gardens are perfect.
Retractable awnings work best when the sun is directly facing them.
The first question I ask when surveying a home for an awning is how does the sun move around the back of your home?
Around 30% of the homes I visit an awning is just not suitable because the sun is on the side of the house for most of the day and would come directly under the side of the awning.
They could get some protection for maybe a couple of hours at the end of the day.
ARE RETRACTABLE AWNINGS WORTH IT? DO YOU ENJOY SITTING AND ENTERTAINING IN YOUR GARDEN?
If you enjoy spending time in your garden then having a shady place to sit in the summer could be well worth it.
If you enjoy your barbecues then an awning is a great addition as it can also be used as a rain cover for light showers meaning you don’t have to move indoors.
ARE RETRACTABLE AWNINGS WORTH IT? HOW HOT DOES YOUR HOME GET?
If you can stop the sun from hitting the glass your rooms will stay so much cooler.
The right internal blinds will do a good job of reducing the heat in your home, but an awning covering your windows will make a huge difference.
ARE RETRACTABLE AWNINGS WORTH IT? ARE YOUR SOFA, CARPET OR FLOORING FADING?
An added benefit of an awning is it will cut out 90% of UV rays.
UV rays are what cause your furniture or flooring to fade.
The other consideration as to whether a retractable awning is worth it is the costs involved. Here is our pricing guide to help you decide on whether an awning is worth it to you https://www.barlowblinds.com/how-much-are-patio-awnings
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the downsides with retractable awnings?
The major downside with retractable awnings is the UK weather. Awnings are designed to protect you and your home or workplace from the effects of the sun. Awnings are not designed to be used in strong winds, heavy rain or snow.
2. Is a patio awning a good idea?
If your home suffers from the effects of the sun... rooms getting too hot, furniture and carpets fading and it's just too hot to sit in your garden on those hot summer days then an awning would be a great solution that solves some or all of those issues.
3. How long does it take to install an awning?
Installing an averaged size awning (between 3 - 5 metres wide) on a flat brick wall would take between 2 - 3 hours. If the awning is larger or the fitting is not straight forward then you could be looking at 4 - 5 hours.
4. How do I know what size awning I need?
We would always recommend having an awning that is wider than the doors or windows it will be covering. Having a wider awning means you will get better protection from the sun for more of the day. With regards to the projection, if you would like to sit under your awning on those hot summer days then a minimum projection of 2.5 metres would be our recommendation.
I hope this information helps and if you live in Leicestershire and would like a home visit please call 0116 2769771 or fill in our contact form and we will call you back https://www.barlowblinds.com/contact.
