Styles of Aluminum Awnings

Retractable Aluminum Awnings

• Patios and decks are places to relax, and enjoy friends and family. Open patios or decks may provide a clear view of neighboring scenery but is unusable during rainy days or seasonal changes. An aluminum awning can add further value to a deck or patio and even help save on energy costs by preventing direct sunlight from entering the home. Aluminum awning styles include both static and retractable awnings for homes and recreational vehicles.

Stationary Aluminum Awnings

• Retractable awnings open and close as needed. The awning is a combination of aluminum frame, and canvas or fabric covering. When open, the aluminum framework supports the fabric covering holding it open over a patio, door or window. Retracting the aluminum awning occurs through an automatic or hand-cranked process. Retracting rolls the fabric over an aluminum tube pulling the tube back toward the building and into a protective aluminum box. Electronic retractable awnings usually come with a parts warranty.

Window and Door Awnings

• Stationary or static aluminum awnings do not retract. The awning stays open, which allows for the use of an aluminum panel or fabric covering and a variety of awning profiles. Static styles include a fixed aluminum frame system with corner posts and a fixed aluminum frame without posts. Fixed aluminum post awning systems allow for covering odd-shaped patio and deck areas. Posts are placed at corner points providing further structure and support for the fabric or aluminum cover, and require permanent anchoring in the ground preventing damage from high winds or other factors. Some static aluminum awning manufacturers provide a gutter system for collecting and diverting water from the patio or deck.

RV Aluminum Awnings

• Aluminum door and window awnings are permanent solutions for shade and weather issues and can have a fabric, or solid or slatted aluminum covering. Specifying a door or window awning requires three dimensions: width, projection and drop. Projection is the awning arm’s depth from the window outward, drop is measured from the top of the window down and width is the overall length of the awning from side to side. The aluminum door awning’s depth should cover and protect the person opening the door. The projection should not interfere with the door or window's movement. According to the author's of “The Homeowner's Handbook to Energy Efficiency,” awnings on the north or south face of a home should have a drop equal to 45 to 60 percent of the height of the window to keep harmful solar rays out. East- and west-facing windows require a 60 to 75 percent drop.