With spring and summer right around the corner, our thoughts turn to those warm sunny days in our backyards. What better way to lull the hours away than under the comfort and shade of a retractable awning.

You can comfortably enjoy time on your patio during the warm summer months because an awning can provide maximum protection from the heat of the scorching sun. Adding an awning to your exterior space is a very inexpensive way to extend your outdoor living area.

Awnings offer both protection and beauty to any patio while helping to reduce energy costs. They can add charm and personality to your home and transform a plain façade into something special. Awnings can increase the value of your home because they set your home apart from the rest.

In addition to their attractiveness, awnings keep your home cooler during the summer months. They help reduce air conditioning costs by decreasing the amount of heat that infiltrates the inside of your home by as much as 77%. Awnings protect the interior furnishings from bleaching out by the sun’s rays and reduce sunlight glare through your windows by 94%.

Even with these advances in technology and material, extreme weather including sun, rain and wind can wreak havoc with your awning’s longevity, so caring for your awning canopy is important. Here are a few tips to help you along the way.

Cleaning the Awning

You want to make sure that the fabric is cleaned, looking fresh and dry before retracting the awning. With a gentle spray from the hose, or a broom, remove any leftover loose debris on the awning and begin cleaning the awning from the bottom up. Wash all parts of the awning before tackling the cleaning of the fabric.

If there is dirt on the awning, use warm water and a soft bristled brush along with a mild soap, like Ivory Flakes, but be certain that the water is just warm, not hot, and no more than 37 degrees Celsius. Stay away from any harsh detergents because this can damage the fabric of the awning.

Once the cleaning is completed, rinse thoroughly to remove any residue on the fabric since leftover soap will leave marks and a chalky appearance. You will also see any missed spots once it’s dried. Always allow the awning to dry out naturally and completely before retracting it.

Cleaning the Frame

To prolong the life of the frame, you first want to wipe it down with a soft cloth after washing it down and before retracting. Be sure to check that the bolts and nuts are not loose in any way from their use during the summer months. By checking the mechanics, you will have an awning ready to properly extend the following spring.

Since the gear operation (aluminum components) has a durable finish and the joints are self-lubricating, there is no requirement to lubricate; however, lubricating the moving parts yearly with a silicone lubricant is a good idea for maintaining a quiet operation. The common spot for lubrication is at the end of the roller tube and opposite of the motor.

Since the valance has the ability to flap around during windy, inclement winter weather conditions and tear over time, some homeowners tie down the valance to prevent this from happening. There is also the option to purchase an accessory called The Sunboot.  As its name implies, it is a cover that encloses the entire retracted awning. The cover protects the awning from nasty weather conditions, keeping it clean and dry until you’re ready to use it again.

Final Word

An awning can last for many years if properly cleaned, lubricated and protected. They are designed for durability so that you can enjoy their beauty and protection from the sun’s harsh summer rays.  With a little time and maintenance care at the end of each season, your awning will perform flawlessly and to your highest expectations.

The decision to buy your home might have been largely influenced by the size and functionality of the backyard it comes with, but what you might now have realized was that space isn’t always accessible due to the overhead sun or any of the other elements you might face in your city.

Having a large space outside your home can provide you with a lot of extra living space when it’s used well and designed in a way that allows you to use it almost all year round. Adding an awning to your home can provide you with this extra living space, for a few reasons, so that you can enjoy the outdoors as much as you want almost any time you want.

Here are some tips, information, and reasons why adding an awning over your existing patio will provide both function and style to your home.

Patio Awnings Provide a Polished Look

Having a patio outside your home is great – it gives you a designated space to have outdoor furniture and host parties and BBQs at your home. Adding an awning, though, can bring your outdoor space together for you. Awnings are available in multiple colours and styles, so you can find one that either matches or compliments the outside colour of your home. This will make your backyard look like it’s styled and polished, plus it gives shade from the sun or protection from a summer rain.

Awnings are Not Necessarily a Permanent Fixture

With awnings, you can select to either have a permanent one (if you want), or a retractable one. Sometimes you might want to sit in the sun and take in the rays, other days it might be too hot, and you just want some shade while enjoying the warm weather. A retractable awning allows you to have the option. Retractable awnings are available in manual and power – so you can either have a switch to move it in and out or use a lever-type system to roll it out. When you make this purchase, you can decide what’s right for you.

Patio Awnings can Work with Existing Features

If you already have a gazebo or pergola, you can buy an awning to work with what you have. You don’t have to get rid of the structure already on your patio – especially if you love it – in order to create shade and a cool place to spend time during those hot days. You can purchase retractable awnings that will attach to or cover existing patio features like these, so don’t worry – you don’t have to choose!

Protection from the Elements

Awnings – whether fixed or retractable – will provide protection from the sun during those hot summer months. This means you and your family can enjoy the outside without being constantly exposed to UV rays, but it will also protect your furniture from being exposed and prevent fading.

Whether you want to add a fixed or retractable awning to your home, you can do so without compromising the look of your outdoor space. Even if you previously weren’t able to use your backyard because it’s too hot and the sun is just beating down on you, then an awning extends your living space by creating a cool, functional and gorgeous space to enjoy the warm weather without being exposed to damaging UV rays.

Awnings provide both function and style to any outdoor space, and since they come in a large variety of size, patterns and colours. To have an awning installed in your Burlington, Oakville or Hamilton home, contact Jans Awning Products today.

With the sunny days of summer behind you, you will no doubt be counting the days until the next warm season arrives. You may miss the warmth summer can bring, but for many of us, the summer heat can also put a damper on warm weather festivities. This is where shade comes in. If your choice of shade is an awning, you’re probably wondering if yours is an all season awning or if it needs to be stored away for the winter.

While your awning provides protection in the sun and often from a light rain, the weather will sometimes force you to retract your favourite shade structure. Is closing your awning in the offseason good enough or will you need to remove it all together when the cold sets in the white stuff begin to fly? The short answer is no.

Protecting your awning in the winter doesn’t necessarily mean removing it all together. It is important to retract your awning when not in use during the winter. An unexpected snowfall can leave your fabric awning screaming from the weight if it is not retracted.

When retracting your all season awning, ensure that all fabric is tucked into the housing so that nothing is left to the elements. Invest in a good winter cover for your all-season awning. Keeping it covered and out of reach of snow, wind, and ice will help to prolong the life of your awning for many years to come.

There are a couple of instances when removing your awning for winter is your best choice. If your awning has seen better days and is in need of repair, the extra strain that the cold, or snow and ice can put on your awning should be avoided. A cracked housing, for instance, will let snow and ice into the mechanism.

If your fabric awning does not retract, it’s not an all season awning and will need to come down for the winter. With the nasty weather winter can bring, your awning will thank you if you take the time to tuck it away until the warmer months are once again upon us. If you are removing your awning, be sure to clean and fully dry it before putting it away. Do not store in plastic as this can trap moisture and encourage mold and mildew.

Your awning protects you from the heat and sun that the summer can bring. Take a little care in the winter with your all-season awning so that it can continue to provide that comfort for years to come. If you live in the Burlington, Hamilton, or Ancaster region of Ontario, Jans Awning Products can help!

If an awning has made all the difference in your outdoor space, you know the value a great shade option can add to your summer months. Your awning allows you to enjoy more time outside but how long will your awning continue to provide you this essential protection and can you ever live without an awning again?

An awning is a great addition to any home. Whether an awning is installed to keep the sun and heat off the house or to keep the sun and heat from you and your loved ones, an awning pairs well with decks, patios, and windows. If you’ve invested in an awning for your property, you likely spent plenty of time researching style, colour, model, size, and location. Once the purchase is made and the awning is installed you soon start to enjoy the protection that awnings provide. You don’t ever want to do without it again but how long will that awning last? You will need to consider many factors when trying to determine how long you will have with your precious shade giving structure.

Awning Frame

If you’ve purchased your awning from a reputable company, then quality won’t be an issue and you can expect to enjoy your awning for many years. Wind and rain can be your awnings worst enemy but a sturdy metal construction should withstand both for many years to come. Awning frames are made of aluminum and will often last a lifetime. Their moving parts and any motor will be the first to age. Many awnings come with ten plus year warranties providing a little assurance along with that shade. Ensure your awning is safely tucked away during storms to avoid any damage. If properly maintained, your awning frame will not fail you.

Awning Fabric

The fabric is another thing altogether. If you’ve invested in an awning, you have already likely been through several umbrellas. Fabric that is not quality and isn’t intended for the intense heat of the summer will literally disintegrate. Fabrics that are used for awnings are fabrics that are outdoor fabrics. They are thicker and more durable. They are fade and stain resistant and will hold up to all the heat the sun has to offer. With proper cleaning and care your awning fabric will generally last 5 to 15 years and many will come with a warranty.

The life span of your awning will depend greatly on how it is treated. Once a month, inspect and likely clean your awning. This will go a long way in ensuring it stays in good repair for a long time, keeping you cool for years to come.

When we talk about awnings for shops, restaurants, retail outlets, or other commercial buildings, we usually imagine an awning on the front of the building. Traditionally they were built to take the reflection of the sun off the window to allow people to see what is inside the shop, as well as to shelter people (and the building and windows) from the rain and other weather extremes.

That is why some might think it a bit odd to have awnings on the interior of the building – where there are no sun or weather extremes, but times have changed. Decorative indoor awnings can actually be very useful in commercial buildings to, for example, highlight a particular area inside your commercial space.

Specific Areas

Imagine that you have a shop with a special promotion, a restaurant with a Champagne bar, a coat check-in, or a special tasting area. How will you make them stand out for all to see? By using an indoor awning, you can attract people’s attention right away, effectively signalling ‘a shop within a shop’. You can attract attention and isolate a particular part of your area – usually one which is set for a particular purpose. With an indoor awning, you can separate a ‘special’ part of your commercial area away from the rest and highlight it.

Creating ‘looks’

Decorative indoor awnings are especially useful if you are wanting to create an ‘olde worlde’ look –  a sweet shop straight out of a Dickens novel, as they were typical of this era, or perhaps a village greengrocers, but you can also customize your awning to make it more rustic looking, more ‘premiere’, or something in between.

In other words, you can make of it what you want. An indoor awning gives you the flexibility to enhance the branding or style that you are already using within the commercial space and giving you the perfect tool to get a specific area noticed by your customers. Maybe you want an old-style lemonade tasting area – in which case you might want a traditional pink, stripy awning, or are giving away high-quality promotion items, in which case you might go for a minimal black and gold awning. Specialty awnings can be made and designed to suit any need.

Another benefit to having an area separated using indoor awnings is that the designs can be changed easily and swapped to suit promotions, branding changes, or style changes, giving owners more flexibility.

Any business which is looking to specifically highlight and attract people to a certain part of a shop, restaurant, or other commercial areas should consider using decorative indoor awnings to achieve this. By choosing the right style and colour scheme you will attract attention and your business’s unique branding.

If you think that indoor awnings could help to boost your business and are looking to find out more about it, why not get in touch with us today? Our team of experts at Jans Awning Products will help you create the right indoor awning for your business. We service Burlington and Oakville.

Winter is here, but in these cold months we can’t help but think of those summer months and how you’ll be spending them, and how to extend your living space outdoors.

Today’s homeowners have expanded their vision of extending their living space by taking advantage of the many options that are now available to them. Whether you’re adding more dimensions to your home with a patio, porch, sunroom or deck, you can enhance your home and property while increasing its value.

The options are almost endless to transform your ho-hum backyard into a retreat of solace or tranquility. You can make it an entertainment area with a full-scale outdoor kitchen, complete with everything you need to make a gourmet meal and a dining area to accompany it. If you are lucky enough to have a sunroom already, you can extend the interior of your home to a three season location with even a fireplace for those cooler autumn nights.

With a little effort and the right planning, your exterior space will not only be expanded, but it will change your home and surroundings into a thing of practicality and beauty. You don’t have to settle anymore for a simple patio or deck because, today, you can build an outdoor living space that will inspire you to enjoy the great outdoors all season long.

Planning

Before you plan out your outdoor space, you’ll want to think about the architectural style, décor and colour scheme of your home because you may want to use a complementary style in your new outdoor living space. By doing so, this will make your outdoor area feel like a true extension of your home. During the summertime, you’ll want to add a splash of colour by using plants, furniture and other accessories to add more vibrant colours to your design. There are dozens of choices for flooring, lighting, appliances, furniture and decorations ranging from gardens to ponds and fountains that can provide atmosphere.

Your Property

The layout of your property is just as important as your home’s style. You want to take into consideration the lay of the land, like steep hills, gentle slopes, and any trees or other large plants. Planning your property ahead of time will help you to design your outdoor living area, such as noting where the sun will be at certain times of the day.

Porch & Sunrooms

Enclosed porches/sunrooms have become a popular home improvement because they are cost effective, versatile and enhance the look and curb appeal of your home. When a sunroom fits your home’s design and lifestyle, it can add a touch of luxury to your environment. Besides adding additional space to your home, sunrooms have a completely different look and feel from traditional room additions because of the amount of glass installed. Homeowners who decide to invest in a sunroom say it’s their favourite room in the house.

Fire Up the Grill

Homeowners have so many choices today designing a completely outfitted outdoor kitchen. You can go with a simple, portable fire pit to a permanent patio area with a completed fireplace with a hearth. An outdoor kitchen has become increasingly popular and comfortable place for friends and family to gather during the summer season.

Finishing Touches

Lighting and plants can give your space an almost magical atmosphere. Explore different lighting options such as placing lights in trees or along pathways that can give your space an enchanting appearance. Plants can help accentuate your space and give it colour. Building the perfect outdoor space can take time and hard work, but in the end, you will create a WOW factor, bringing you hours of outdoor enjoyment with friends and family and increase the value of your home.

Jans Awnings can help you with a wide variety of home improvements. If you’re interested to hear more then check out our Contact Us page, or just give us a call at 905.335.3733. We Service Burlington and Oakville.

You’ve decided to add an awning over your patio or deck to extend your living area and provide you with some much needed shade from the summer sun’s heat beating down on you. In making this great decision to install this practical and attractive addition to your existing home structure, you may be wondering if you need permission for installing an awning.

For those folks living in townhouses, condos or business owners with a storefront, the same question might be popping into your mind. Here are some simple rules and clarification on the issue so that you can feel comfortable taking the right course of action.

General Practice

Generally speaking, awnings installed on residential homes do not need permits, unless of course there is going to be a major overhang on your neighbour’s property.  You should inquire about the bylaws in your community.  Commercial properties usually require a permit because they extend over public areas. There could be safety issues which must be addressed ahead of time.

Residential Awnings

Planning regulations usually stipulate that if you aren’t creating a usable space then you don’t need permission. Even though the awning is offering you more useable space because it provides protection from the beating sun, the attachment to the existing building is a cover for an already built deck or patio area. The only exception to this rule for a residential awning is that the awning extends over or encroaches on your neighbour’s boundary. This could also include any rain that might potentially run off into your neighbour’s property.

Commercial Awnings

Most often, a commercial business will require a permit to install an awning. They will need full planning permission to erect an awning on their property. The permit is required for high street buildings like shops or cafés where the awning would extend over the pavement and pedestrians. Each municipality will have varying regulations regarding the health and safety when members of the public use the property.

If your existing awning needs replacement due to weather age or damage, you do not need a new permit provided the replacement is like-for-like; otherwise, a new permit is required.

Many commercial properties will feature branding and logos on their awnings. Since the canopy is conveying an advertisement message and viewed by the public, there may be guidelines that usually fall under advertising regulation by the relevant authority.

Condo & Townhouse Awnings

Owners of a condo, or townhouse that connects to other townhouses, will need board approval for an awning. The rationale for this requirement is that the awning may detract from the appearance of the condo, plus there is the cost, maintenance or replacement of the awning that becomes a common expense shared by all owners. Some associations will allow you to install an awning at your own expense provided that it does not detract from the appearance of the condo/townhouse.

Before any owner considers making an addition, alteration or improvement to their condo they must refer to Section 98 of the Condominium Act of Ontario. A letter should be written to the board of directors outlining the size, colour and material of the awning you have in mind, including a photo, name of the insured company and company completing the installation.

Once you’ve gotten your permit, or if you decided to install an awning and don’t need a permit, next step is to choose a great quality awning that’s durable and have it installed by experts. At Jans Awning Products we pride ourselves on the quality of products we carry, as well as the service and craftsmanship our experts provide. Contact us today and our team will help you get started on your new awning project. We service Oakville, Hamilton and Burlington for Awnings.