I have to admit that I am very frugal, but I have to be with my large family. When heating and air-conditioning bills were just becoming too much to bear, I finally caved in and bought new windows that I was told were more energy-efficient. They weren't as expensive as I thought they would be, which was great news. I had them installed just before winter began, and I received the lowest heating bill for the month of November that I had received in years! I was so happy that I had those windows installed, especially after being so hesitant to spend the cash on them. I created this blog to help other frugal people like me realize that sometimes spending money on home improvements really does pay off in the long run! I am now looking into new home insulation to save even more cash!
Patio awnings can give you and your home protection from the elements such as sun and light rain. Once storm season hits, you need to protect your awnings, which may not withstand extreme weather. The type of environment your home is located will dictate which awnings you should install, as well as associated maintenance needed during extreme weather. Here are three types of weather that can cause major damage and how to protecting your awnings.
Windy Weather
If wind gets a hold of your awnings, they can end up with damage or even be pulled off of your home. Windy weather or high winds associated with storms are intermittent and can make taking down and putting back up awnings a pain. If you live somewhere where extreme winter weather can include wind, having retractable window awnings is the best bet so that you can retract when needed, and not have to take down completely before every storm.
Snow Pile-Up
If you live in a location with heavy snow, this can pile on window awnings causing awnings to sag, rip, or even pull or detach from the house. Damage from awning snow pileup to your exterior walls and window frames can be avoided. Metal awnings are the way to go if you live in an area with winter snow, which will be sturdy enough to withstand snow and are designed to discourage snow from settling. Checking awnings should be part of your routine after a snowstorm.
Prolonged Rain and Fog
If you live in an area that is soggy for most of winter, awnings might not seem be in immediate danger of damage like they would be in wind or snow. Wet weather can lead to other problems, and over time the damage to awnings can be just as bad. Damp weather that hangs in the air can cause deterioration of canvas awnings while mold and mildew accumulates over the season. You may want to consider taking down for the season, but if awnings are serving the purpose of rain protection, installing awnings made of synthetic fabric that are mold-resistant will help.
Awnings can be extremely sturdy and might be able to hold up to most storms, but if there is any way that you can lessen damage you might as well take the precautions. Securing awnings or maintaining them through the winter months will give you peace of mind and keep awnings sturdy and ready for the summer months. For replacement awnings, be sure to contact professionals, such as those from Lehman Awning Co.
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