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.

Before you can benefit from the energy savings, weather protection and aesthetic appeal that awnings can provide, the right fabric must be chosen.

Here are five key factors to keep in mind when choosing an awning fabric for your Burlington, Ontario property:

 

The Weather

Here in Burlington, our summers are hot, and our springs are wet. Your awning should protect you from the weather elements without discolouring or ripping prematurely.

Darker coloured awnings absorb more heat and can make your outdoor living space warmer. Instead, choose a light coloured fabric that will reflect the harmful, hot UV rays. Although an awning should be stored in inclement weather, there may be times that it is left extended. Durable, water-resistant, lightweight and humidity-friendly acrylic fabrics can help prevent damage from happening.

Although great for commercial terraces due to their ability to completely prevent water penetration, vinyl awning fabrics trap heat and provide less air circulation.

The Property

It can be tempting to get overly creative with your fabric choice. But before you settle on a pattern, consider your awning’s size and the building it will be attached to.

Fabric stripes and blocks should be matched to the building size; if you have a smaller structure, check out patterns that feature small stripes or blocks and vice versa for larger structures. Lots of angles in your roofline? Keep the awning colour solid versus choosing a pattern.

The architectural style of the building also plays a factor. Contemporary styles benefit from scalloped edges and wave patterns, whereas traditional styles will look best with a fabric with clean lines.

Try your best to choose a pattern that complements your existing deck or patio furniture design.

The Moisture

Anything that gets constantly wet is at risk of developing mould and mildew. Awning fabric is no different! Once mould and mildew develop, fabric damage is not far behind.

To provide resistance to this unsightly damage and to prevent potential health hazards, install an awning fabric that is mould and mildew resistant. Acrylic is a great option!

The Maintenance

There’s already a lot of maintenance that you need to complete outside. Why add a high maintenance awning to your to-do list?

Vinyl-based awnings are known for their easy maintenance and ability to shed water. Whatever residue is left behind can be easily sprayed with water.

Similarly, acrylic cloth awnings are easy to care for, too. Lukewarm water and soft soap can quickly combat any dirt buildup.

To keep your awning in the best condition and to prevent dirt from becoming embedded, hose off the fabric with clean water once per month.

Natural materials such as cotton are the most labour intensive to maintain and keep in great condition.

Ready to reap the many benefits of having an installed awning at your Burlington home or business? The team at Jans Awning Products would love to show you the many fabric options in person. Contact our showroom today to learn more!

Smart technology in homes was once the domain of sci-fi movies or at least it was something that was reserved for only the very wealthy. But as technology improves and the price point comes down, we can expect smart home technology to become both more accessible and more common. Today we are seeing smart technology in everything from TVs to home security and climate control – and yes, even window treatments. And if you have never looked into (or perhaps even heard of Somfy sensors), you might want to consider them as they provide homeowners with several benefits.

 

While motorized controls for window treatments are not exactly new Somfy sensors, offer a whole host of other benefits:

 

1. Remote Controlled

Whether you are sitting across the room or you are out with friends, and you suddenly realize that you forgot to close your blinds, Somfy offers the convenience of being able to control your window treatments with your smartphone or tablet.

And windows that may be hard to reach? No problem, as long as you have your device opening and closing window treatments is easy.

2. Timed Controlled

Would you rather wake up to natural sunlight gently flooding your room or would you rather wake up to the screeching of an alarm clock? With the use of a programmable app, you can have your window treatments open in the morning and close in the evening.

You can even have them do this while you are away on vacation to help give the illusion that someone is home.

3. Weather Controlled

Did you know that Somfy sensors can even be programmed to react to the weather itself? If the day goes from being overcast to suddenly sunny, the shades can automatically lower in response to the change in weather. This ensures that your home stays climate controlled and even protects furniture and other items which might fade over time from exposure to UV rays.

4. Increased Privacy

Ever come out of the shower and realize that you left the window treatments of a street-facing (or neighbour facing) window open? Somfy sensors allow you to discreetly close the blinds without having to belly crawl across the room!

5. A Green Choice

Of course, there are times when you want ample sunlight in your home, but sunlight, when you don’t need it, can cost you big on your utility bills. Somfy lets you control how much sunlight your house gets, and as a result, there can be less strain on your HVAC system.

6. Increase Your Home’s Value

As smart technology and green features become more popular, homebuyers are going to look for these things in prospective homes increasingly. Somfy sensors will save you money on your utility bills and could even help you sell your home for a higher price when the time comes.

7. No Dangerous Cords

Cords on window treatments can pose safety risks for young children and pets. With motorized window treatment controls, these cords become obsolete.

Would you like to learn more about Somfy Sensors and get an estimate for your home or business? If so, contact Jans Awnings today.

During the summer months, rooftop patios and decks are the place to be. And while they offer expansive, beautiful views as far as the eye can see, they can quickly lead to discomfort without the proper shade protection. Avoid that from happening by installing one of the amazing shade options listed below.

Louvered Roofs

A louvered roof is a convenient, safe and highly stable shade option that uses integrated technology to enjoy the outdoors. From spring to fall, louvered roofs provide reliable and safe weather protection while incorporating natural light.

Known for their stability in wind and low maintenance requirements, louvered roofs are fully customizable. The hardtop option uses variably inclining aluminum lamellas to provide natural air circulation whereas the soft-top roof system features integrated folding awnings. Various colours, mounting variants and additional options including LED lighting, sliding glazing system and aluminum floor system are available.

Acrylic Patio Roofs

Acrylic patio roofs are a great shade solution that allows natural light in while stopping harmful UV rays and harsh weather. Constructed of durable acrylic sheets strong enough to support fans, lights and plants, quality acrylic patio roofs have warranties to protect against yellowing.

Compared to other shade options, acrylic patio roofs allow the highest light transmission, while being strong enough to support heavy snow loads. Energy savings, heat control and an even light distribution can also be experienced.

Retractable and Specialized Awnings

Awnings have been used for years to easily add shade to rooftop decks and patios.

Retractable awnings are available with manual or automated operation systems and lack poles that hinder your view. Available in numerous opening styles including semi-cassette, full cassette and narrow, retractable awnings are a dependable shade source that also offers style, function and durability.

Due to their large space capacity, terrace awnings are a great solution for providing both shade and rain protection to rooftop patios and decks. Terrace awnings offer excellent UV protection and are available in a range of top-quality, long-lasting textiles. Additional fabric options are available that feature water and dirt-resistant coatings.

Mobile awnings provide a freestanding shading source that can be used in countless domestic and commercial settings. Using jointed arm technology and either a crank or motor, mobile awnings cover large areas of up to 40 metres squared with complete UV protection. Lacking middle posts, your view is not hindered in any way. Many different support options, fixing systems, fabric options and colour combinations are available to create a secure, fashionable shading solution that fits your space.

 

When it comes to choosing the best shade for your deck or patio, we can help! With our wide selection of awnings, patio roofs and more, you’ll be able to comfortably enjoy your rooftop patio or deck in no time at all. To learn more about our awning products, contact us today.

Sitting outside in the summertime under the shade of your awning and watching the birds can be a beautiful thing. But when you have an awning, watching the birds is something you want to do from a distance. After all, the last thing you want is messy bird droppings on and around your awning. These can be corrosive and cause permanent marks. And you really want to avoid having birds build a nest in your retractable awning as they are not only messy, but the birds will start to become aggressive with people once their chicks hatch.

 

So, what can you do to ensure that you can enjoy your awning while also enjoying the birds from a safe distance? Here are our top five tips for protecting your awning from birds.

1. Use bird spikes.

Bird spikes are painted metal or plastic spikes. Attach them to your awning, and they will act as a deterrent to keep birds from landing. While it might sound a bit mean, bird spikes are widely considered to be a humane deterrent for birds. The tips of the spikes are blunted to help avoid any actual injury.

2. Apply a non-drying repellent.

If you don’t like the idea of attaching spikes to your awning, there are non-toxic repellents that can be applied to your awning. These repellents do not fully dry and take on a sticky texture that birds do not like. The main drawback to this method is that you will have to spend a little extra time cleaning your awning before you bring it in for the winter.

3. Use a scare device.

Another tactic to help keep birds away from your awning is to use a scare device such as a plastic owl or rubber snake.  If you use this strategy, you should be sure to move the device every once in a while, to keep birds from becoming accustomed to its presence. And if plastic animals are not your thing, a moving wind device or something that catches the light may also be effective.

4. Use bird netting.

Placing bird netting over your awning will make it difficult for birds to land and help to keep them away from your awning. If you do choose netting however, it is very important to make sure that it is properly installed so as not to trap birds and make the situation worse.

5. Use a motion activated sprinkler.

Another idea is to purchase a motion activated sprinkler from your local hardware or garden store. These sprinklers can detect the presence of a bird and send out a short burst of water which should scare them away. Just be sure to place the sprinkler in a location where birds will activate it, but people won’t!

Remember, by taking good care of your awning you will be helping to ensure that it brings you and your family enjoyment for years to come. And taking care of your awning includes protecting it from birds.

For quality awnings in Burlington, Contact Jans Awning Products today!

From UV protection to home cooling, you’ve come to enjoy the many benefits that your retractable awning offers. But over the last couple of years, your awning has started to look its age. Whether it’s started to rip or fade, you’re beginning to wonder whether an awning replacement is in the near future or not.

Before you rush out to purchase a new one, it’s worth looking into whether a repair can be made. Here’s how to best determine if you should be recovering or replacing your fabric awning.

How to Make the Decision to Replace or Recover Your Awning

There comes a time when recovering an awning is no longer a feasible option. Although an awning’s aluminum frame is typically very durable, external pressure or heavy weather can sometimes create damage. If your awning’s metal frame becomes bent or damaged, you’re most likely looking at having to replace the entire awning.

But if your metal frame is still in like-new condition, then you should be able to recover your awning. Although you could always choose to recover it in the same fabric as it was originally, this could also be a good opportunity to choose something new.

Choose from Hundreds of Colours and Patterns for Your Awning Recover

The sky’s the limit when it comes to choosing a fabric for recovering your awning!

At Jans Awnings, our wide variety of quality fabrics can withstand the fluctuating weather conditions in the Burlington area. By partnering with only the best fabric suppliers, we can confidently offer you the best acrylic and solution-dyed fabrics available. Following the right care, your newly recovered awning will last for many years to come!

The acrylic fabrics we use are known for their ability to remain bright, even after hours in the sun. Choose from our selection of hundreds of colours and patterns of these superior acrylic fabrics.

Solution-dyed fabric is another popular option to use when recovering your fabric awning. During its manufacturing process, colour and fibre become one so that a long-lasting colour fabric is created.

Located in Burlington, Jans Awnings is the area’s leading company for awnings and shade products. Be sure to contact us at Jans Awnings for all your awning repair services. If you already have an awning frame in great condition, we can easily replace the fabric using our awning recover services. Contact us today for more information!

Awnings offer homeowners both style and beauty while bringing valuable shade to your home. Awnings protect your family from harmful UV rays as much as 94%. They extend the living space of your home, so it’s like adding a low-cost room extension. They can add charm and personality to your home and transform a plain façade into something special. Awnings can set your home apart from the rest.

 

 

Fabric & Colours

There are numerous sleek, innovative fabric designs known for their durability. Sunbrella® and Dickson manufacture the fabric used in most high-quality awnings. Their materials are recognized for their superior fade and stain resistance plus it’s easy to clean and maintain.

Along with the many benefits of installing a residential awning that protects your living space from the blazing sun, your awning will also contribute towards making your home more stylish by choosing an awning colour that blends with the exterior colour and décor of your home. By picking an awning colour that complements the usage of the covered area, you will add a touch of panache to the exterior.

Shade Coverage for Outdoor Kitchens

If you love cooking and entertaining outdoors while surrounded by the sounds of nature, then a functional, custom-built outdoor kitchen is the ideal renovation. It will improve your outdoor living space, create a stylish atmosphere of relaxation, enhance your outdoor experience and increase the property value of your home.

By adding an awning over the built-in-kitchen, not only will you get much-needed shade from the hot sun while preparing meals, you will be adding a breathtaking splash of colour to enhance the cooking, dining and entertaining area. You can add planters of flowers with matching colour tones for a spectacular visual appearance that will delight everyone.

Window Coverings

You can transform your backyard to be a breathtaking visual location by adding awnings to your windows in addition to your deck or patio.

Custom awnings can be designed to fit any window sizes. Window awnings are great additions to residential properties because the custom awnings are available in a variety of awning fabric colours and fabric weaves to enhance the visual appeal of your residential property and provide better value for your home. You can choose the same fabric for the windows or mix it up with contrasting colours for your windows and patio awning.

With your retractable awnings or fixed awnings, you’ll have better control over window shades and level of glare protection. You’ll have the opportunity to protect your home and furniture from damaging ultraviolet rays. Awnings function better than interior blinds when it comes to window shades and ultraviolet ray’s protection as they protect your home before the sun reaches it.

Make Your Backyard Your Visual Paradise

Awnings offer you so many options for making your backyard come to life with a breathtaking visual effect that is stunning. Whether it is a patio awning or an awning covering your windows and doors, your backyard will become a showplace for you, your friends and family to enjoy.

Looking for an awning for your backyard? Contact us at Jans Awning Products at 905-335-3733

Awnings offer homeowners both style and beauty while bringing valuable shade to your home. Awnings protect your family from harmful UV rays as much as 94%. They extend the living space of your home, so it’s like adding a low-cost room extension. They can add charm and personality to your home and transform a plain façade into something special. Awnings can set your home apart from the rest.

 

Awnings have proven to substantially lower air conditioning bills plus protect your furnishings and carpet from fading. In addition to their attractiveness, awnings keep your home much cooler during the heat of 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%.

In addition to all of these attractive features and benefits to the interior and exterior of your home, awnings offer another valuable advantage for improving your health and lifestyle.

Protects your skin from damaging UV rays

If you’re protective about your health, it can be tempting to stay indoors when the sun’s rays are known to be at their strongest. However, by installing a retractable awning, there is no reason not to take full advantage of the summer weather.

Awnings are a beautiful and unique shading product that aids in the prevention of sun-induced damage to the skin. Sunbrella^® fabrics have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation. This seal means the fabric meets specific criteria, making them a safe and effective product for sun protection. Awnings will reduce your risk of skin cancer and keep you looking younger longer.

Creates a relaxing place to unwind

With the hustle and bustle of today, where many of us are stressed out, awnings can help to reverse the stress that affects everyone.

Awnings can create a cool, comfortable space that is stress-free for relaxing and enjoying your backyard. Your deck or patio will turn into a refuge of calm relaxation and a serene place to escape when life becomes too hectic.

Defines an outdoor area for socialization

Awnings allow you to extend your usable outdoor space and make it the perfect gathering spot for family and friends. Spending time with family and friends leads to a more fulfilled life. Awnings create a comfortable place to gather outdoors to talk and laugh with family and friends.

Summertime is the most opportune time to have barbeques, outdoor lunches and dinners with family and friends. Awnings provide a comfortable, shaded area where everyone is comfortably protected from the heat of the sizzling summer days. Because sunset takes longer to occur during the summer months, awnings provide a greater amount of valuable time outdoors, so spend time with family and friends and enjoy.

Let’s you enjoy the fresh air

When you get out in the fresh air, you are getting away from the pollutants and germs that might be lurking inside your home. Breathing in fresh air from the outdoors is not only healthier, but it also increases happiness and reduces stress, improving the quality of your life.

According to one source, installation of an awning can also reduce the temperature of shaded exterior areas by nearly 20 degrees as compared to those areas directly in the sun’s rays. This makes retractable awnings an energy-efficient investment for many years to come.

Enjoy the benefits of better health

Whether it’s the protection from the harsh summer rays, a protected outdoor area for family and friends to gather, a respite for calm and serenity or all that fresh air that makes being outside worthwhile, the health benefits to installing an awning are tremendous.

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.