Although we still get the odd warm day, those frigid winter days are definitely on their way. Winter will be here before you know it, so before the season arrives, it’s time to prepare your homes and businesses for what’s ahead.

If you have an awning, properly storing it for winter can keep it in excellent condition for years to come. Here’s what to keep in mind when it comes to awning storage.

Do I Need to Take My Awning Down?

If you have an awning, the first question you might be asking yourself is whether or not you need to store it for the winter.

The majority of our awnings are sold based on ease of use, which includes being left outside for the winter months.  It is always good to make sure that it is clean before the winter, but it isn’t as important as ensuring the rolled-up fabric is dry.  The reason is that dirt and debris on the awning fabric can cause mildew if it is wet.  If the awning is dry, generally, there will not be an issue with any surface debris causing serious issues.  We have a section on our website for how to clean your awning, and it is recommended that it be done periodically.

Awnings with front fabric valances may be removed for winter, but this is optional and at the awning owner’s discretion.

Awning Location

We recommend that an open roll retractable awning be used under a soffit to gain protection for the awning.  We advise our clients to use a semi cassette or a full cassette awning if the awning is exposed to elements such as on a two-story wall.  This is especially important when there is a motor in the awning.

Retractable Awnings in Winter

Retractable awnings are the best choice of shade. They are straightforward to use and low to zero maintenance for winter.  They have gained in popularity for those who want to invest wisely in their home comfort with a quality awning from Jans Awnings.

Contact Jans Awning Products Today

Jans Awning Products specializes in retractable awnings, specialized awnings, commercial awnings, door and window awnings, and so much more. We serve the Burlington, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton, Ancaster, Brantford, Grimsby, Niagara, and Milton areas.

Contact us if you have any questions about winter awning storage.

Awnings are an excellent solution for any Burlington homeowner or business owner who wants to create extra shade or shelter from the elements. Especially as we try to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, more people prefer to dine and entertain outdoors.

But having an awning that is attached to your home or business is not ideal for everyone. If you find yourself relating to this, then free-standing awnings might be the answer you have been looking for.

Unlike tents, free-standing awnings are sturdy and secure. And unlike more permanent structures, free-standing awnings are easy to move around and position right where you want them.

About our free-standing awnings

Our free-standing awnings measure almost 20 feet from end to end, and they can extend to nearly 20 feet. This means you have almost 400 square feet of shade. For more coverage – such as for restaurant patios and other larger areas – it is easy to use several in tandem.

Not only are these awnings extremely functional, but they are beautiful as well, and you can customize yours to suit your personal preferences or your company brand. Frames are available in black, white, and sand – and there are hundreds of fabrics that you can choose from.

Free-standing awnings for your deck or patio at home

If you would like to add shade to your deck or patio at home, there are several advantages to choosing a free-standing awning, including:

• Shade and protection from the elements.
• Covers a large area – ideal for covering outdoor dining tables or socially distanced patio furniture.
• It does not need to be attached to your home – this is good if you have a patio that isn’t immediately adjacent to your home.
• It can be moved to different locations if needed.
• Water and wind-resistant.
• Choose from multiple fabrics.

Free-standing awnings for outdoor space at your business

With many Burlington restaurants and other businesses increasing their patio space to comply with social distancing regulations, free-standing awnings make a good investment for business owners.

Benefits include:

• Provide a large area of shade or protection from rain – especially when more than one awning is used.
• Easy to set up, take down, or move around.
• Convenient motorized extension.
• Extremely durable, water and wind-resistant – ideal if you are keeping your patio open into the fall.
• Appearance is more elegant than that of a tent.
• With hundreds of different fabrics to choose from, you can find one that will suit your company brand.

Contact Jans Awnings today.

Are you a Burlington home or business owner who thinks that a free-standing awning may be the right product for you? If so, we would love to help. Contact us today, and a member of our Burlington Awnings team would be happy to speak with you.

If you are looking to add a little shade or weather protection to your deck or patio, but still want to have a sleek and modern design, then you may consider some of the pergola awnings that we offer in our Burlington showroom.

Not only do these awnings protect you from harmful UV rays and light to moderate rain, but they will also give your outdoor space a Mediterranean vibe and help to create the ideal atmosphere for you to relax or entertain friends and family.

Introducing the Pergolino

For creating shade over very large areas, one of the most popular products that we carry is the Pergolino by Stobag. This pergola awning is ideal for homes with large outdoor areas or even for commercial patios for bars and restaurants. It is even possible to put two or three awnings together as well as additional side and front panels to increase the coverage and provide even more flexible shading options.

The support beams and guide rails give the Pergolino a high degree of stability allowing it to withstand high winds and inclement weather. The system is easy to assemble and uses gas-filled cylinders to ensure the fabric stays taut.

The system is made even more convenient as it utilizes an electric drive system for effortless extension and retraction of your awning.

Frame Colours

No matter the style or colours of your home or commercial building, the Pergolino’s frame colours can be chosen to match. The frame is powder-coated allowing it to resist corrosion during all types of weather and remain looking pristine for years to come.

Pergola Awning Fabrics

When purchasing a Pergolino, you will have a wide option of fabric colours to choose from. The Pergolino fabrics are all treated to ensure they offer UV protection and protection against rain. They are made to be easily washable and not to fade in the sun over time.

The huge assortment of available colours helps to ensure that that you can find an awning that is perfectly suited to your home or business. Go with a timeless neutral shade or a vibrant colour that matches your company brand – the choice is yours.

Pergolino Motorization

It has never been easier to get a little more – or a little less – shade from your awning. With a simple touch of a button on your remote control, you can extend or retract the Pergolino’s fabric to ensure that you always have exactly the right amount of shade.

But what if you are not home? What if your awning is out and a day’s outing took longer than expected and a potentially damaging weather system is rolling in? The Pergolino has a solution for that too. Sensors on your awning will detect the wind and roll up your awning in time to keep it protected from the coming storm.

Contact Jans Awnings today

If you would like to learn more about the Pergolino and whether it is the right solution for your Burlington home or business, contact us today. A member of our team would be happy to speak with you.

For some residents of Burlington, the decision to purchase a retractable awning is an easy one. They imagine themselves enjoying their backyard with a few friends and their favourite beverages, all while being perfectly comfortable since their awning shades them from the hot sun or gentle rain. But once you’ve decided to purchase a retractable awning, there are some essential factors that you will need to consider.

Where and when will you need shade?

If you want to get the greatest amount of comfort from your awning, you will need to place it where it is going to give you the ideal shade for lounging or dining. The position of the sun is going to vary depending on the time of year.

Therefore, if you are purchasing your awning in the winter or spring, you can’t necessarily go by the current position of the sun if you are thinking that you will get the most use out of your awning in the summer. You need to think about where the sun is going to be when you are using your awning the most.

Height, width, projection, and pitch

Other factors that you need to consider when ordering and installing your new awning for your Burlington home are its height, width, projection and, pitch.

Your awning should be high enough for everyone in your household to be able to stand up underneath it comfortably, but it should not be so high that it becomes ineffective at providing shade.

How wide along the structure or home will you want to utilize? Consider how many people you would like to seat. A 15’ wide awning provides a good amount of shade for six people.

And how far would you like your awning to extend? Do you want it to cover your entire deck or patio, or do you want to leave a section uncovered so that sun-lovers and shade-lovers can socialize together in the same general area?

And then there is the pitch or slope of the awning. The pitch should be steep enough so that rainwater does not pool on top of the fabric. The steeper the pitch, the more your awning will protect you from the elements, but the darker it will feel when you are sitting underneath the awning. You will need to find the ideal pitch for you that still allows water to drain off the top. Our qualified installers at Jans Awnings will set the pitch internally to the ideal slope, which we determine after consulting with you.

Bells and whistles

Finally, you will need to think about what bells and whistles you would like to include when you order your awning. It used to be that retractable awnings had to be extended and retracted by hand – usually with a hand crank. Today, however, motorization has made the use of awnings considerably easier. Today’s retractable awnings can be opened or closed using a switch on the wall, a remote control, or even via an app on your cell phone. Selecting these types of options can be a little costlier upfront, but they will also increase the value and usefulness of your awning.

If you would like to order and install a retractable awning for your Burlington home, the team at Jans Awnings is ready to help. We can provide you with useful advice on style, placement, height, pitch, bells, and whistles and with any other question about your awning you may have. Contact us today or visit our showroom.