As a hobby writer I have always avoided definitions in the first sentence of an article. Treat this piece as an exception to the rule because I will start with defining an ‘Awning’ for you.
Best put, Awning is a fixed structure which serves as a canopy to doors, windows and walkways.
So how do awnings benefit us? In many ways; in fact, if you assumed it had to do only with sunlight protection, mark me when I say that awnings are great against rain and hail too.
Awnings save energy by minimising heat gain and reducing the frequency of hours for which the air conditioners need to operate. This way, they are a blessing for your monthly energy bills.
Awnings are great at controlling climate
Another aspect worth discussing about awnings is their ability to control the climate of a house. Today, retractable (remember the retractable roof systems in place at the Wimbledon tournament ) awnings and those constructed from extremely flexible materials ensure that you use them according to the need of the hour.
In winters, you can push them right into their fastening poles, thus fetching maximum sunrays. During fierce summer afternoons, you can use them as a canopy.
A small lacuna to act as a vent
Usually, builders put a mini gap between the walls (that bear the windows and doors) and the awnings. This is to create an exit route for the trapped hot gases. You can make use of several types of them; the Federation awning, Venetian awning and Canvas awning to name but a few.
Retractable awnings sell like crazy
In the century that has preceded us, awnings were used as a decorative as well as a functional piece and they were very much a part of regalia. Most of the awnings were fixed structures.
Today, there is a wide repertoire of retractable awnings in the market. They come with movable arms, grids and mounting plates and can be controlled either mechanically or via a remote.
Couple of popular awnings
Venetian awnings, for instance, come with movable louvres that can optimise the heat requirement for a particular time of the day (or year).
Canvas awning is another example which is adored for its ability to slide down on the rod (up to the hood) and maximise heat permeation in winter.
Important to finetune windows too
To enhance the functionality of an awning, you can always finetune your windows. Low e-coated films and foam insulation boards are a couple of examples of handy window improvements.
Which type of awning do you use at your home and which geographical direction you foremost seek to cover?