Do Awnings Keep You Cool? (Answered)

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Rachel

It may be obvious that awnings can help when they’re over windows by blocking the sun’s rays from getting into those windows. But did you know they can also be helpful over your outdoor living space?  

Using awnings of any kind to cover your outdoor living space can make the air feel 10°–15° cooler there. Awnings placed against your house can also help cool off the area and protect it from the solar energy that can make your air conditioning work overtime. 

So, what goes into getting an awning for your own house? Will it be worth the investment? Let’s find out. 

Do Retractable Awnings Help Cool an Outdoor Space?

Any sort of awning is an investment in energy efficiency. When your home has an awning on it, it provides shade, keeping your air conditioning from having to work as hard.

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“It’s been proven that awnings can save cooling energy by 33% in hot climate zones and at least 26% in temperate climate zones.”–treehugger.com

For the outdoor living space, awnings that block the sun’s UV rays keep people safe while they enjoy the outdoors. The radiant heat in the air will diminish by 10° to 15° in the area beneath an awning. This comes in handy during those hot summer days. 

Which Awning Material Is Best for Me?

If you want the strongest and longest-lasting material, that would be metal. Companies make permanent awnings out of metal and aluminum. They can act not only as a cover for a patio but also as a carport or an add-on pavilion to a home. They use metal awnings in areas where a lot of snow is normal.  

In places with high winds, like here on the East Coast, we use aluminum for the frame but canvas for the canopy. In areas prone to destructive winds, these will most likely be retractable. You can have frames made of synthetics and wood but have a canopy made of metal. The metal, especially if it’s taken care of and painted, can last for decades.

Canvas or heavy-duty fabric awning canopies are easier to install. You usually just need to tack or tie the material in place on their framing. Metal and aluminum will need to be welded into place or bolted and screwed. And remember, metal is permanent. If you want your awning t to be retractable–it will need to be fabric.  

Metal doesn’t take as much care as fabric, but to be fair, fabric canopies for an awning are not so difficult to clean either. 

Are Retractable Awnings Easy to Install? 

Retractable awnings seem easy to install. However, these things have a lot of moving parts. Be prepared to precision fit your set-up. Whether you have a manual awning system or an automatic retractable awning, complications can occur. One mistake can throw everything off course. 

Awnings can be as long as the customer needs them to be up to 18ft (5.4m). As far as the extension, these awnings will only be a maximum of 14ft (4.3m).

Even stationary awnings will need to be made to measure and installed by a professional. The good news is that most installations only take around 2 hours to accomplish. Always handle everything according to your local building codes. This is another reason for getting a professional. 

Putting on an awning as a DIY project can be done, but it usually takes more than one man (often over 2) and it takes a lot longer than the normal 2–3 hours to handle. Also, the slope of the canopy needs to be taken into consideration. All permits will be your responsibility.

Usually, there should be at least 6 inches (15cm) of clearance above and below the fastening point of a canopy onto a wall. And you also want to be sure there is plenty of clearance at the endpoint of a canopy. Otherwise, people will be constantly hitting their heads on it. 

How Much Do Awnings Cost? 

Awnings can be many prices depending on the materials, or whether the awning is stationary or retractable. There are a lot of options from sun-resistant fabric, fiberglass, or even aluminum or metal. The awning frame likewise comes in several materials. 

Installation can run from $600 to more than $4000 depending on how large the awning is and if it is retractable. On average, the cost is around $2500. Each awning manufacturer will provide its own hardware, brackets, and accessories. So this should not be an extra charge.

If you’re interested in getting an awning to help cool down your outdoor living space, it’s best to get in touch with local distributors and contractors who specialize in installations. Prices can vary significantly from state to state or country to country. 

In Conclusion

I loved having an awning on the front porch. It kept the bright afternoon sun from heating our living room floors during the spring, summer, and what we southern U.S. people refer to as the 2nd summer (early fall). Also, it allowed us to go outside and relax while there was a downpour. It kept us cooler when we wanted to be outside while the heat was nearly unbearable. Should you decide you want an awning, get your estimates from reputable places. If you decide on a DIY project, be very careful and sure that you and your family or friends can handle such a project. If you think this might be a bit much for you to handle, or you feel it is too expensive to pay for a professional installation, maybe an awning isn’t the right plan. You should check out my article on the best ways to keep your outdoor living space cool.

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Rachel

"Growing up a country-girl means you enjoy the outdoors as much as possible, and no matter where you go in life, the outdoors is always part of you. I began doing research on things I wanted to do to make my outdoor space my own, no matter where we moved. And that research led me to write this blog to share with you!"