Residential Awnings in Salt Lake City
Create curb appeal, reduce energy, and create an enhanced outdoor living space with an awning or shade product from Sharp’s. Custom-designed to your home, direction of the sun, and your needs, an awning is an affordable way to provide shade and protection while maintaining the feel of the outdoors. Overhead shade solutions include rigid and retractable window awnings, cable slider shades, patio canopies, retractable awnings, and shade sails. We also custom-manufacture vertical shade solutions, such as exterior drapes, roll curtains, and vertical drop screens.
A wide variety of fabrics, styles, and colors creates endless possibilities for you to design a new place where your family can escape.
Benefits of Residential Awnings
1. Energy Efficiency
One of the most significant advantages of awnings is their ability to reduce indoor heat gain. By blocking direct sunlight, especially on south- and west-facing windows, awnings can lower indoor temperatures by up to 15 degrees. This translates into reduced air conditioning costs and less strain on HVAC systems, making them a sustainable, eco-friendly choice.
2. Outdoor Comfort
Awnings create comfortable outdoor living areas by providing shade on patios, decks, and porches. They extend usable living space, allowing you and your family to enjoy meals, gatherings, and relaxation outdoors without being exposed to harsh sunlight or light rain.
3. Protection of Interior and Exterior
Furniture, flooring, and artwork can fade when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays over time. Awnings block a large portion of UV light, helping preserve interior finishes and protecting outdoor furniture from sun damage. Residential awnings can help preserve the value of your home this way.
4. Curb Appeal
Awnings add architectural interest to homes. Available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and styles, they can complement traditional, modern, or eclectic aesthetics. Homeowners often use them to highlight entryways, windows, or porches. Not only are they extremely practical, but they are also a great way to add style to your home's exterior.
5. Versatility
With retractable and motorized options, awnings can be adjusted based on weather conditions or personal preference. This adaptability makes them more practical than permanent roof extensions or pergolas in many cases. In Salt Lake City, the weather can vary, and we'll make sure your residential awnings are ready to go in any weather.
Types of Residential Awnings
1. Retractable Awnings
Retractable awnings are popular because they can be extended or retracted depending on weather and lighting conditions. They may be manually operated with a crank or motorized with remote controls and sensors. Motorized awnings often include features like wind sensors that automatically retract the fabric in strong gusts to prevent damage.
2. Fixed or Stationary Awnings
Fixed awnings are attached permanently to your home and provide continuous shade and protection. They are typically more durable and can be custom-designed to fit specific architectural features. These are ideal for windows, doors, or areas where year-round protection is desired.
3. Freestanding Awnings
Freestanding awnings are not attached to the house and can be placed anywhere on the property. They are great for creating shaded spaces over patios, garden seating areas, or poolside lounges. If you like to frequently rearrange your outdoor living areas, this type of residential awning may be for you.
4. Window and Door Awnings
Smaller awnings are often installed above windows and doors to protect them from direct sunlight, rain, and snow. They also enhance the home’s exterior by adding decorative elements.
5. Pergola-Style Awnings
These combine elements of pergolas with retractable fabric canopies. Homeowners get the beauty of a pergola with the flexibility of an adjustable shading system.
Materials Used in Residential Awnings
The choice of material impacts durability, maintenance, and aesthetics. Common options include:
Canvas: Traditional, breathable, and attractive, though it requires more upkeep to resist mold and fading.
Acrylic Fabric: Offers resistance to fading, mildew, and water while allowing air circulation. The fibers are dyed through a process known as solution-dyeing, which locks in color and provides long-lasting vibrancy even under intense sun exposure. Acrylic fabrics are breathable, allowing air circulation while still repelling rain and resisting mold growth. This makes them ideal for hot and humid climates. They are also available in a wide range of solid colors, stripes, and patterns, ensuring design flexibility. Acrylic awnings typically last longer than canvas and require less maintenance, making them one of the most cost-effective fabric choices over time.
Vinyl-Coated Fabrics: Vinyl-coated polyester or vinyl-laminated fabrics offer exceptional strength and water resistance. Unlike woven fabrics, these materials are essentially waterproof, making them particularly useful in areas with heavy rainfall.
Metal (Aluminum/Steel): Provides permanent, sturdy coverage, often used for fixed awnings or carports. Aluminum, in particular, is lightweight, rust-resistant, and available in a wide array of colors and finishes.
Polycarbonate Panels: Lightweight and UV-resistant, these are often used for modern, translucent awnings.
Design Considerations
When selecting an awning, homeowners should consider:
Size and Placement: The dimensions must match the window, door, or outdoor area it will shade.
Climate: In areas with heavy wind, snow, or rain, more robust structures or retractable options may be better.
Material: The choice of material in a residential awning is more than just a matter of appearance — it determines the awning’s lifespan, ease of care, resistance to the elements, and suitability for specific climates. Homeowners today can select from a wide variety of fabrics, metals, and synthetic options, each with unique advantages and trade-offs.
Color and Style: Lighter colors reflect heat, while darker tones may absorb it. Patterns and trims can enhance architectural appeal. You can get residential awnings that blend well and pop with the color of the rest of your home.
Operation: Manual versus motorized systems, with the latter offering convenience and smart-home integration. Retracting your residential awnings to meet your needs has never been easier with automatic motorized systems.
Budget: Costs vary widely, from a few hundred dollars for basic models to several thousand for high-end motorized systems. We can help create a design plan for you that meets your budget!
Modern Innovations in Awnings
Recent technological innovations have transformed residential awnings from simple shades into sophisticated systems. Motorization has become increasingly common, allowing homeowners to extend or retract awnings with the push of a button, remote control, or even a smartphone app. But it goes even further than that:
Weather Sensors: These detect wind, rain, or sunlight levels, automatically adjusting the awning for protection or energy savings.
LED Lighting Integration: Built-in lighting enhances outdoor usability in the evening.
Solar-Powered Systems: Some retractable awnings now operate using solar energy, reducing reliance on electrical systems.
Maintenance and Care
Proper care extends the lifespan of awnings:
Regular Cleaning: Fabric awnings should be cleaned with mild soap and water to prevent mold or mildew buildup.
Seasonal Inspection: Check for signs of wear, rust, or damage, especially after storms.
Storage: Retractable awnings should be retracted during heavy winds or snowfall to avoid damage.
Professional Servicing: Motorized systems may require occasional servicing to ensure smooth operation.
Environmental Impact
Awnings contribute to sustainable living. By reducing the need for air conditioning, they lower a household’s carbon footprint. Materials like recycled aluminum and eco-friendly fabrics further enhance their environmental benefits.
