Soaking in the sun may sound great for winters. But when the blazing summer sun hits, you need to think twice before sitting on your yard or patio. This is where a retractable awning comes to your rescue.
It’s a great addition to your home that lets you sit outside without worrying about UV rays damaging your skin. As retractable awnings come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and qualities, it’s essential to know which one would be perfect for your home.
Budget
First, you should consider the budget. You’ll get both cheapest and most expensive options on the market, but it depends on you how much you want to spend on a retractable awning.
Deciding the budget beforehand helps avoid distraction since you’ll only look for products within that range. Do not go for very cheap products as they won’t provide the best quality. Buying a cheap awning may seem better for the moment, but you may need to spend more in the long run for repairing or replacements.
Quality
The next important thing to consider is quality. Obviously, you want a retractable awning that serves its purpose: protecting from sun and rain.
You need to consider the weather conditions of your locality while deciding on the quality. If you live in an area that’s too windy or rains a lot, you need to get a sturdier retractable awning.
Inspect the metal frame and fabric thoroughly and make sure that the fabric is- waterproof, the color does not fade easily, protects from UV rays, and should be easy to clean. Acrylic is the best material for the roof as it does not easily fade, rot or mildew.
For the frame material, aluminum is the best. Aluminum does not rust, and it’s strong and lightweight as well. Wood is another good material that ensures durability and sturdiness. Plus wood looks more visually appealing as well.
Warranty/ Guarantee
Never ignore the warranty or guarantees of the retractable awning. Only reputable companies will offer a good warranty or guarantee period on retractable awnings, so it’s better to buy from a trusted brand.
When you’re spending money on something, you must ensure you get surety, at least for a specific period. You can easily get a replacement for buying a product with a guarantee or warranty period if any damage occurs within the particular period.
Also, enquire whether the dealers provide installation or not. Going for a dealer that offers free installation is the best as it’ll save you some additional costs.
Size
The next important thing to consider while buying a retractable awning is the size. Measure the area where you want to set up your retractable awning and buy one accordingly. Apart from the area, you must consider other factors while deciding on the size.
Things like- family members (in case you all want to sit together outside), if you ever plan to arrange an outside party, how much area of the yard you want to cover, etc. Remember that size will also affect the price of retractable awnings.
Style
As the awning will come in front of your home, it should be visually appealing. You definitely don’t want the retractable awning to ruin the look of your patio or yard. Hence, you should go for something that matches the aesthetics of your house.
Style is another factor that affects the price. A simple design will cost you less, while a more complex or unique design will cost you higher. But as you’ll get the awning for long term use, getting one with nice designs is better.
If you are buying the retractable awning for commercial use, you should consider spending some extra bucks. It will add to the functionality of the space, and it should match the image of your business.
Manual or Motor Operation
This is another crucial thing to consider while getting a retractable awning. Getting the one with the motor operation and setting up the retractable awning is easier than manual models. You can easily operate the motor awning with a remote or wall switch, but you need to do some extra work with the manual awnings.
However, retractable motor awnings are quite expensive compared to the ones with a hand crank. So, it ultimately comes down to your budget. Also, remember that motorized awnings are prone to technical issues so their repairing costs will also be higher.
Smart Awnings with Sensors
Retractable awnings nowadays come with smart weather sensors. These work automatically according to the weather outside. For example, a smart product will automatically extend the awning on very sunny days to provide extra shade. On windy days with heavy rainfall, it will hide the awning under the hood or soffit.
Conclusion
These are the seven most important things to consider before buying a retractable awning. If you want to make the best out of your investment, considering all these factors are crucial. The best thing is to buy it from a renowned dealer and to choose a reputed brand as it is a retractable awning, not something that you would buy every year.
Hopefully, these will help you make up your mind and get home the best retractable awning. If you’ve any further doubts, let us know in the comments!
