All About Awnings
Jim Ames
Awnings have a long history and there is evidence that they
were used in ancient Egypt and in Greece. They were used to
give cover to fighting men when they left the battle field and
the Greeks used awnings in many of their open air theaters.
Nowadays, awnings are visible in the public arena on shops and
hotels. Hotels may have an awning that stretches right from the
hotel door to the curbside so that guests can leave their car
and enter the hotel without getting wet on a rainy day. Many
shops have awnings to protect their windows and their
merchandise from the hot sun. Increasingly shop and hotel
awnings will have the name of the business or the owner
inscribed on them.
An awning can be free standing but is more usually a structure
that is attached to a wall. A frame, generally made from
aluminum, but sometime from wood or steel is covered with
canvas (which now days would be waterproofed and treated to
reduce fading) and sometimes with aluminum or thatched wood.
Some awnings are a permanent structure while others are
retractable. Now days, they are most often seen on patios or in
gardens, people may also take an awning when they go camping as
it adds extra space to their caravan or tent.
You can buy ready made awnings that are available in different
sizes and materials and fit them yourself to an outer wall of
your house. You can also have custom made awnings so that you
know they will fit exactly where you want them to go and be
constructed of materials of your choosing.
Many people will have them on their patios if they do not have
a porch because it will protect them from the rain and the sun
on days when they may want to eat outside. Some awnings are
professionally installed, a lot depends on what you want and
how much you are prepared to pay for an awning.
There are plain awnings and there are more ornate awnings where
the structure might be made of filigreed iron or other fancy
metal work. If you have an awning on the side or the back of
your house then your house will stay cooler during the summer
months because it will be protected from the sun.
Many home buyers regard an awning as a plus when they are
looking for a house because it means they can enjoy more time
on their patio or garden. Now days, there are plenty to choose
from and it pays to shop around before buying as prices can
vary quite considerably.
For more information about awnings, visit
http://www.awninghelp.com
About The Author: For more information and a free newsletter,
visit our blog at http://myhomeimprovementtips.com and for
additional tips and resources on awnings, head to
http://www.awninghelp.com
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