Retractable Awnings Give You Choices

Do you have a well-furnished patio or deck? Do you like to barbeque and have dinner parties outside during the summer? You've made an investment in your exterior living space, so why not be able to use whenever you want. Don't let the weather disrupt your life. Retractable awnings are a great way to protect you and your outdoor possessions, yet still be able to enjoy the sun whenever you desire.

The Best of Both Worlds
When you install a canopy of any kind you're also acquiring a new addition to your house: an outdoor room. If you still want to grill up some burgers while it rains outside or enjoy the sun without getting sunburn, these temporary roofs can offer you a shield against harmful UV rays and light rain-showers while still opening up your porch, deck, or balcony to fresh air and cool breezes. They are made of water-resistant, fabric materials that are durable enough to defend against the elements yet won't fade in the sunshine. But the unique selling point of retractable awnings is that whenever you want to sunbathe or feel the rain on your face, all you have to do is "put the top down." What it comes down to is that these distinctive products offer you choice, something that permanent sunshades cannot provide.

Personal Preference
Do you want your want to protect an entire decking system or hot tub? Do you simply need to keep the sunshine out of your upper story windows? These adjustable shades come in all types of shapes and sizes. They can be small enough to fit outside above a window or they can be so large that they protect an entire patio.

Think of retractable awnings as window treatments that fit on the outside of your home, but are also able to guard bigger areas as well. Plus, they also protect your possessions. Rain will no longer penetrate lawn furniture. Your indoor furniture and carpet will no longer fade in the sun. In fact, the may even save on your energy bills: by acting as a sun visor to large portions of your house, these units can better cool off the interior of your home by several degrees. Patio awnings work even better than interior shades simply because they don't allow the glass of a window or the aluminum on your door to heat up. Plus, while outside, you will no longer be burned by sizzling door handles, hot concrete steps, or blistering wood planks.

More Options
Unlike stationary canopies, these adjustable patio awnings can be closed whenever desired. On a cool night, you may want to look at the stars. No problem, just roll it up and you have your sky back. If there are high winds, large hail, accumulated snow, or heavy rains, a stationary unit could rip, bend, or be too weighed down, producing unnecessary damage to the very thing that's trying to protect you. But if you want the sun to shine in your house in the mornings or evenings, what better way to let the light in than to completely remove any barrier by removing the shade completely.

Design
These products come in all different types of patterns and colors to match your own personal tastes and to harmonize with the rest of your home's exterior. Plus, you can have the canopy lay out perfectly perpendicular with your home or have it be pitched down to cast an even steeper shadow for increased protection and even more privacy from the neighbors. Not to mention that they are easy to operate. Though you may want a professional to help choose the right design for you and your home, once a patio awning is properly installed its fairly user-friendly.

In fact, you can even choose a manual or a motorized system, depending on how state-of-the-art you want to get. Don't worry: if a malfunction occurs there is always a manual override so your sunshade is not trapped out in the rain. And speaking of rain, some models come with remote controls and indoor switches so that during inclement weather you don't even have to leave the house to roll it up. As a matter of fact, newer brands can come with rain and wind sensors that detect the weather outside and automatically roll up without any human interference. You don't even have to be home for these particular shelters to work for you.