Retractable awnings are a simple way to give your home a great new look.

If your home exterior could do with a little lift, but you don’t want the expense and inconvenience of major remodeling, you’ll be surprised at what a difference something simple like adding retractable awnings can make. Awnings come in a wide range of sizes, shapes and designs, and there’s a huge range of fabrics to choose from, in just about every solid color or pattern you could possibly imagine.

Your retractable awning will give you shade from the sun while you enjoy breezy summer days outdoors on the patio or the deck. An awning made from soft woven fabric means that air will circulate easily underneath, keeping you cool and comfortable. And of course, you can roll the awning up in very strong wind, heavy rain or snow, or any time you don’t need it.

Types of awnings.

You’ll probably be surprised at what a wide range of awnings are available. Awnings come in just about any size, covering spans of up to twenty feet, in practically any width, so an awning is a great solution even if you have a very large area to shelter. You can choose from a range of awning types, including folding arm awnings, which don’t require upright posts, the traditional European style canopy awnings, or a simple straight drop awning.

The awning frames come in a range of materials, including natural timber, aluminum or tough, durable vinyl materials. The retraction mechanisms may be manual, or motorized, so you can roll them up and roll them out in seconds. If you are building a deck or patio make sure you think about adding in a retractable awning to your design.