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.

Being outside in the summertime makes people feel naturally good. Whether you’re playing outdoor sports, gardening, swimming, lounging by the pool or entertaining on the patio, fresh air and sunshine is certainly better for your health than being a coach potato. However, whenever you participate in any outdoor activity, you still need to protect yourself from the sun’s damaging effects while enjoying yourself outside.

Vitamin D

Many people have been taught that sunlight is needed for your body to make vitamin D for boosting the immune system because vitamin D is not found naturally in most foods. For most light skin, ten to fifteen minutes exposure on the face, forearms and hands is plenty of time to maintain vitamin D levels.

People with darker or heavily pigmented skins may benefit from more moderate sun exposure to ensure maintenance of adequate vitamin D levels. However, the thought that only sunlight can produce this vitamin must be revisited since many foods today are fortified with vitamin D during the manufacturing process. This process makes sun exposure less important for the body’s vitamin D supply.

The Dangers of Sun Exposure

The obvious, immediate danger of spending too much time in the sun is sunburn. If you were to look at sunburned skin under a microscope, you would see that the sun’s strong rays have caused the cells and blood vessels to become damaged. When you have repeated sun damage, the skin starts to look dry, wrinkled, discolored, leathery and weakened, causing it to bruise more easily. It contributes to premature aging of the skin and it is the major cause of skin cancer, which is now the most common type of all cancers. However, the dangers of sun exposure that leads to most skin cancers can be avoided by following a few simple steps that help to protect you.

Protection from Sun Damage

There are many options available for avoiding the harmful effects of the sun. The most common sense solution is to stay out of the sun. This is the best way to avoid sun damage, but most of us go outdoors regularly during the warm summer months. If simply staying out of the sun is not an option, then take these precautions.

• Always apply sunscreen on your skin before venturing out in the sun.
• Avoid being out in the sun at its highest point of the day because the ultraviolet rays that lead to sunburn are strongest during this time, which is from about 10 am to 3 pm.
• When you do go outdoors wear protective clothing that consist of long sleeves, slacks and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Purchase a pair of sunglass that filter UV light and wear them regularly outdoors in the sunshine.
• Wear sunglasses that filter UV light.

Awnings for Shade & Protection

Another option for keeping you in the shade and away from the sun’s harmful rays is to install a retractable awning over your patio area. Not only will an awning offer maximum protection from the sun, but it will enhance the look of your home with the beauty of its appearance.

Retractable awnings are a great investment for your home by contributing to your outdoor living space. Not only does a retractable awning add aesthetic appeal to your home, but it also provides lasting benefits for you to enjoy, such as allowing you to enjoy the sun or shade at any time. It allows you to personalize your deck or patio for optimal comfort and maximum protection from the blazing summer sun. A retractable awning provides a dramatic effect to the outside of your house while offering the benefits of additional privacy.

This summer season protect yourself from the harmful damage caused by sun exposure. Take a look at our Awning Products and see the beautiful selection of stylish awnings that can provide you with shade and protection during the sizzling hot summer patio season. We service Burlington, Ancaster, and Oakville.

Retractable awnings are a great investment for your home by contributing to your outdoor living space. Not only does a retractable awning add aesthetic appeal to your home, but it also provides lasting benefits for you to enjoy, such as allowing you to enjoy the sun or shade at your leisure. It allows you to personalize your deck or patio for optimal comfort and maximum protection from the blazing summer sun. A retractable awning provides a dramatic effect to the outside of your house and offers the impression of a major renovation. It can also provide some privacy from your potentially bothersome neighbours.

Energy Savings

When an awning is strategically placed on your home, you create sustainable savings from the merciless summer heat through lowering cooling costs. These savings occur by blocking and/or reducing the amount of solar heat and UV radiation that traditionally gets absorbed by your house; thereby, reducing the amount of energy it takes to cool your interior space. Your return on investment accrues over time because you have an attractive and controllable way to manage your home’s cooling expenses.

You have the option of a hand crank or motorized awnings, but there are significant benefits to installing a motorized retractable awning. Here are some of the top reasons why many homeowners end up deciding on a motorized system instead of a manual method.

Convenience

The convenience and ease of operating a motorized patio awning can’t be matched since it comes with a remote control that’s a snap to operate. With the push of a button, you can unroll or roll up your patio awning to the desired level instead of constantly cranking a lever to set the awning to the desired position.

With a remote in your hand, you can adjust your patio awning as the sun changes and never even have to get up to set the position, unlike a manual, which requires more time, more up and down motion from your chair and increased manual labor. You get to continue relaxing while the motor does the work for you.

Motorized retractable awnings are particularly advantageous when a bad rain storm whips up. Would you rather stand outside in a downpour with violent winds while physically cranking a shaft to roll in your patio awning or a touch of a button from the comfort and safety of inside your home?

Design

If you look at the design of manual and motorized retractable patio awnings, you’ll notice some significant differences between them. The first thing that you notice with a manual awning is the “less than attractive” vertical supports or standing frames that can get in the way of your view from underneath, whereas motorized retractable awnings are more aesthetically pleasing.

The supports and frames from the manual style not only obstruct your view, but limit your space as well, which in turn restricts your outdoor living area. A motorized retractable awning allows you to have the most outdoor space, which is probably your goal anyway.

Personalization

The benefits of motorized patio awnings go beyond being able to retract them automatically. They come with features and accessories that you can individualize, such as synchronizing your awning to sense rain, sunlight or wind. These advanced automated settings not only increase the ease and convenience of managing your patio awning, but makes sure that the awning will stay safe during poor weather conditions. These features allow you the freedom from worrying when to roll in your patio awning during inclement weather.

Advanced Technology

Over the years, advanced technology has increased the durability and longevity of the materials that are used to make retractable awnings. Materials like the Sunbrella line of textiles are both incredibly stylish and durable. They offer superior fade and stain resistance and clean quickly.

Companies like Jans Awning Products take great care to fully back their products and they’re renowned within the industry through a proven record of excellence. If you’re looking at installing an awning for your home, contact us today and our team of experts will be ready to help.

Awnings can provide you with additional outdoor space and protect you from the harsh rays of the sun or inclement weather. There is nothing more enjoyable than going out to your patio and deck with a good book or drink in hand and enjoy the scenery that surrounds you, under the protection of an awning.

 

However, with all of the benefits that an awning provides, you’ve created a space that has significantly increased your amount of shade. The benefits of protection can also be problematic for a homeowner who wants to be surrounded by a lush garden, but not all is lost because there is a solution that gives you the benefit of both.

Beautify Your Awning Area

Many properties have shaded areas that homeowners might struggle with when selecting plants that do well in such conditions, and awnings are no different. In this case, you just have to spend a bit of time researching to determine your best course of action for creating a seasonal environment of beauty. You may decide to plant a container garden in the shade or you may want to go the route of shade loving annuals, perennials or a combination of all three.

Here are 25 container plants that will do well in shadier container gardens and here are some tips about planting on a shady patio, deck or balcony “Tips for 4 Types of Shady Balcony Sites”.

Vines like Jacob’s ladder and English ivy can make great fillers for your pots as well as some ornamental grass that will tolerate low levels of sunshine. There are also many varieties of Hostas that you can choose among at your local nursery that will fit your awning space nicely. You might want to consider a Lily such as the flax, peace and bush lilies that tolerate shade well and are low maintenance. Many of the perennials that will love your awning shade are foliage greens like ferns. They require little sunlight and spread each year filling in the spaces in your gardens.

If none of the above appeals to your senses, here is a list of the top 25 shade plants that will add enjoyment and beauty to your awning area.

Shade Plants:

1. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
2. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum floribundum)
3. Bush lily (Clivia miniata)
4. Spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum ‘Variegatum’)
5. Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
6. Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)
7. Meadowsweet (Astilbe spp.)
8. Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica)
9. Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
10. Foxglove (Digitalis spp.)
11. Flax lily (Dionella spp.)
12. English ivy (Hedera helix)
13. Coleus (Solenostemon spp.)
14. Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
15. Impatiens species
16. Variegated ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea ‘Variegata’)
17. Variegated lily turf (Liriope muscari)
18. Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis, formerly classified as Dicentra spectabilis)
19. Hosta (Hosta plantaginea)
20. Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
21. Jumpseed (Persicaria virginata)
22. Japanese anemone (Anemone hybrida)
23. Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
24. Leopard plant (Ligularia spp.)
25. Many types of ferns

Whatever plants you decide upon for beautifying your outdoor space in, around or under your awning, a little ingenuity and a bit of creativity will provide you with the space that you desire.

If your home is lacking an Awning and you’re interested in installing one for your home, contact us today and our team of experts will be ready to help.

The hot sun is no match for your awning and it can turn an otherwise uncomfortable space, into one of enjoyment, comfort, and relaxation. When the weather turns ugly, what’s protecting your awning?

 

Awnings have come a long way in the department of durability. Structures are stronger and fabrics are more resilient. Despite these advancements, extreme weather can wreck havoc on our outdoor spaces. Everything from patio furniture to pools and fire pits. Your awning is no exception and despite their durability, they are at risk, along with the rest of your outdoor space, during inclement weather.

Awnings vs. weather is a fight that will be determined by both you and the quality of your awning.

While there are simple things that can be done to ensure damage does not occur to your awning during a storm, simplest amongst these are to retract your awning. An awning that hugs closely to the house will not be vulnerable to sun, rain and wind. During the winter, this is a no-brainer but during an otherwise pleasant season, it can be harder to remember to take in the patio furniture and retract that awning.

Rain

A good retractable awning can hold water but isn’t designed to double as a pool. Most awnings are not water proof but water resistant and aside from a light rain, it is recommended to keep your awning down during inclement weather. Keeping the weight of a big rainstorm off your awning is your safest bet. How much rain your retractable awning can safely take will depend on its pitch.

Sun

Sun shouldn’t be a problem for any quality retractable awning. After all, retractable awnings are designed, primarily to protect us and our homes from the effects of the hot sun. Good fabrics will last up to 20 years and are designed to resist fading. They are manufactured and treated so that they will not deteriorate under the constant heat of the sun.

Wind

Heavy winds can cause damage to the most stable elements of your home. The retractable awning is no different. All retractable awnings should be retracted during moderate to heavy winds. Wind can damage any number of components of your awning if it’s left to its own defences. Given a strong enough wind, a retractable awning that is left up could actually do damage to your home. Wind is unpredictable and shouldn’t be trusted.

Keeping your awning in good repair all year long will be your awnings best defense. Inspecting and cleaning the mechanisms and fabrics will alert you to any weaknesses in its makeup. Problems and repairs can be made before the bad weather hits. Take care of your awning and it will take care of you. Protect your awning and it will protect you.

Your awning might have lost the battle against weather and have been damaged, or it might be your first time looking at awnings for your home. Regardless of which column you fall into, our team of experts at Jans Awning Products are ready to help. Contact us today and we’ll find the right awning for you and your home.

Retractable awnings are a great investment for your home by contributing to your outdoor living space. Not only does a retractable awning add aesthetic appeal to your home, but it also provides lasting benefits for you to enjoy, such as allowing you to enjoy the sun or shade at any time. Also, a retractable awning helps to personalize your deck or patio for optimal comfort, but which type should you choose, manual or motorized?

 

Both types will do the job, but there are significant benefits to installing a motorized retractable patio awning. Here are some of the top reasons why many homeowners end up deciding on a motorized system instead of a manual method.

Convenience of Motorized Awnings

The convenience and ease of operating a motorized patio awning can’t be matched since it comes with a remote control that’s a snap to operate. With the push of a button, you can unroll or roll up your patio awning to the desired level instead of constantly cranking a lever to set the awning to the desired position.

With a remote in your hand, you can adjust your patio awning as the sun changes and never even have to get up to set the position, unlike a manual, which requires more time, more up and down motion from you chair and increased manual labor. You get to continue relaxing while the motor does the work for you.

Motorized retractable awnings are particularly advantageous when a bad rain storm whips up. Would you rather stand outside in a downpour with violent winds while physically cranking a shaft to roll in your patio awning or touch a button from the comfort and safety inside?

Finally, seniors, people with arthritis, or those with wrist problems, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, may find manual cranking hard on their joints. Automatic motorized awnings can make a difficult process much easier.

Personalization:

The benefits of motorized patio awnings go beyond being able to retract them automatically. They come with features and accessories that you can individualize, such as synchronizing your awning to sense rain, sunlight or wind. These advanced automated settings not only increase the ease and convenience of managing your patio awning but makes sure that the awning will stay safe during poor weather conditions. These features allow you the freedom from worrying when to roll in your patio awning during inclement weather if it knows when to do so itself.

Final Thoughts on Motorized Awnings:

To some, the benefits of motorized retractable patio awnings far outweigh those of manual ones. With a motorized patio awning, you can have the most modern outdoor living space designed for supreme convenience. If you’re in the market for a new patio awning, you can contact Jans Awning Products in Burlington Ontario to learn more about the benefits of motorized retractable patio awnings.

Awnings are a great way to create outdoor living space perfect for entertaining and enjoying fresh air. Whether shielding from sun, rain, wind or snow, an awning can make many types of weather conditions enjoyable. However, awnings call for particular safety attention, depending on what types of activities are going on in your outdoor space.

 

Barbecues and outdoor cooking:

It is important to consider proximity to barbecues and other outdoor cooking devices such as chimneys or fire pits. In Burlington, residents are allowed to have small, confined cooking fires if they are supervised at all times and used to cooking food on a grill. Outdoor fire pits, chimneys and other portable devices that are intended for backyard bonfires are not permitted without an open air burn permit.

That being said, even small cooking fires require special attention if they are in close proximity to an outdoor awning. Retractable awnings are a higher risk awning because they are made with a waterproof fabric. Suitable for both windows and doors, this type of awning is seen most commonly in backyards. Luckily, the retractable feature makes it easy to tuck away if you plan to BBQ or cook over a small fire. Fixed aluminum awnings are not at risk of catching fire from an unattended open flame. However, they can melt when exposed to extremely hot temperatures.

Prevention is key:

Preventing any accidents are top priority when it comes to fire safety. With this in mind, there are a couple of factors to consider before you choose to barbecue over an open flame.

1. If your awning is retractable, tuck it away before any fire or barbecue is lit.

2. Observe the premises. Are there bushes or trees that easily connect your fire or barbecue back to your awning or home. Make sure that the area is clear above and around your designated area.

3. Weather conditions are important. High winds make an open flame extremely risky, as well as extreme dryness, so try to avoid open air burning in these instances.

4. Smoke is dangerous too. Any fire in an enclosed space can create an uncomfortable environment, and breathing can become a real challenge. Ensure that smoke is not being captured under or around your awning to avoid the dangers of excessive smoke.

We don’t recommend barbecuing under an awning for one main reason and that is carbon monoxide poisoning.  Carbon monoxide is an invisible and scentless gas that can become trapped under an awning.  While you may think the open air would send the carbon monoxide into the atmosphere, it could be funneling it into your home through an open window.  This is how several people died around Burlington during the ice storm of December 2013.  People barbecued or ran generators in their garage, which ended up sending gas into the house’s crawlspaces, and eventually into bedrooms where people died in their sleep.

We at Jans Awning Products want you to have decades of enjoyment under your awnings.  Contact us today to have us install an awning you can enjoy while you watch your food barbecue from a safe distance away.