Extend Outside Enjoyment with Retractable Awnings

Extend Outside Enjoyment with Retractable Awnings

(ARA) - Everyone wants to enjoy the beautiful weather that summer brings. But the warm sun and damaging rays sometimes force us to retreat inside, where we crank the costly air conditioning to stay cool. Consumers are looking for new ways to create an outdoor oasis so they can fully and safely enjoy the season.

One hot trend right now for homeowners who want to add to their house without the costs of building an entire new addition is to install a retractable awning. Awnings expand homes by turning decks and patios into added living space, combining the comfort of the indoors with the enjoyment of the outdoors.

"Creating an outdoor room is a great way to expand your home's living space without the cost of an addition," says Larry Bedosky, director of marketing for Durasol Awnings and an expert on outdoor design. "Today's consumers are no longer satisfied with a set of aluminum patio furniture and a potted plant or two on their decks or patios. Homeowners are demanding outdoor design elements that really echo the personality of their home."

In a world where we constantly hear how damaging the sun's UV rays can be, an awning provides a simple solution that shields out these harmful rays while keeping you cool. It also helps homeowners conserve energy and therefore save money because awnings block the sun from entering the home through windows. According to studies conducted by the American Society of Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers, the use of fabric awnings reduce solar heat gain by up to 77 percent -- lowering indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. Not only do your cooling costs go down, your furniture and carpet are protected from fading.

So you can extend your time outdoors, protect yourself and your home from the sun's damaging effects and save money, but you are still not convinced an awning is the right look for you home? Well the awnings of today are nothing like the boring styles of yesteryear.

For example, Durasol offers a wide variety of style options with over 200 vibrant 100-percent acrylic fabric colors and patterns to compliment any décor. Durasol offers a complete line of solar shading systems designed to meet every shading need. The Durasol SunShelter Series of "lateral arm" awnings are custom-made to suit any home size and style, offering a variety of projection ranges and virtually unlimited widths to meet any space requirement. SunShelter awnings can be mounted on virtually any flat surface or even on a roof -- when limited mounting height is available. An optional Drop Valance allows a section of fabric to be lowered from the front bar, providing additional solar protection from early morning and late afternoon sun.

You can customize awnings to fit other needs as well. For example, do you live in a windy region? An optional wind or motion sensor is available that allows awnings to automatically retract when wind speeds reach a predetermined level, preventing awning damage. Do you suffer from intense sun rays? A sun sensor can also be added to allow for automatic operation determined by the sun's strength. Also, an interior wireless remote control is an option that provides easy-access operation. When not in use, awnings can be easily retracted, safely stored, and will subtly blend in with the exterior beauty of any home.

"On those summer days when it normally would be too hot to be outside, awnings enable homeowners to fully embrace the season creating their vacation oasis right in their own backyard, and there is nothing cooler that instant shade at the touch of a button" adds Bedosky. "Match your awning to the style of your choice and it truly becomes an extension of a home's personality."

To learn more about Durasol Awnings or to locate your local dealer, visit www.durasol.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent