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Category: In the shade

Keep Your Home Cool This Summer With These Top Tips

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

Summer has arrived, and with it comes the heat, which means higher home cooling expenses. It’s simple to turn on the air conditioner to beat the heat or sit in front of the nearest fan, but doing so may be costly in the long term. Here are some suggestions for keeping your house cool this summer while also saving money.

Install some awnings

Awnings are a great way to cut your air conditioning costs while still protecting your inside furnishings from the sun’s dazzling rays. By installing permanent, retractable awnings, you may save money on air conditioning while also enhancing the appearance of your property.

Awnings are available in a range of styles and sizes, with portable, fixed, and retractable choices available. The latter has the advantage of being able to fold down in the winter, allowing sunlight to come through windows and glass doors while lowering utility usage by increasing internal warmth.

Install some blinds

In the summer, vertical or horizontal slat-type window blinds are more effective at reducing heat intake. Because there are so many gaps between the slats, it’s tough to limit heat loss via window blinds during the winter, but they give versatility over the summer because of their adaptability. You may regulate the slats to minimize glare, light, and solar heat gain unlike shades.

Shades and shutters

Exterior shutters and drop shades are available in a variety of materials, including wood, steel, aluminum, and vinyl. They’re ideal for preventing heat gain from the sun. Fabric or vinyl drapes are most popular, with the material having gaps that allow you to look through the window.

Our experienced team at Peterson Canvas & Awnings can help you find and install the perfect awning for your home. Don’t hesitate and contact us today to get started!

What First-Time Awning Buyers Should Know

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

Patio awnings are an excellent long-term investment and addition to the value of your home if installed correctly. If you want to improve the appearance of your outdoor patio with an awning, you’ll need expert advice. Here are some questions to ask yourself and your merchant.

Should you choose a stationary or retractable awning?

A stationary awning is more cost-effective than a retractable awning. They’re also lighter in weight than the massive machinery of a retractable model. A retractable awning is most often seen in the backyard and may be customized to your budget and desired features if you have the funds. We really recommend investing in a retractable awn on if you can afford it.

How will your awning be mounted?

It’s critical to consider how the maker will install the equipment because most retractable awnings weigh around 150 to 400 pounds. Check with your contractor to ensure that he or she is using shaft lag screws that are at least 7/8″ wide.

After all exterior materials have been removed and compressed, such as vinyl siding or polystyrene board, the goal of your awning installation is to get halfway through the structure before compressing anything else, such as aluminum siding or fiberglass.

What kinds of fabric do you want?

Awning coverings are available in a range of colors and styles. The fabric you select for your awning not only has an impact on the aesthetic of your outside space, but it will also influence how long it can withstand direct exposure to the elements. In general, look for an awning cover that is created of high-quality acrylics and yarn-like materials.

Is the original quote an estimate or fixed price?

Clients may get an initial quote that meets their budget only to find out later that it includes numerous additional fees and charges. Quotes are generally calculated for the anticipated number of labor hours, but overtime can dramatically increase the overall costs. Make careful to negotiate with your subcontractor in such a manner that ensures the quotation covers any unexpected hours worked. If at all feasible, try to obtain a fixed price on the job.

Our experienced team at Peterson Canvas & Awnings can help you find and install the perfect awning for your home. Don’t hesitate and contact us today to get started!

Should You Purchase a Pergola or a Gazebo?

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

Gazebos and pergolas are popular among homeowners, and both add value to your home. There are, however, important distinctions between the two. It’s critical to understand the differences between a gazebo and a pergola so you can make an informed selection about which one is suitable for your property.

What is a Pergola?

A backyard pergola is an outdoor structure that serves to define and adorn a specific area of your garden. Although pergolas do not have a solid roof, they may be covered with fabric over the top for additional shade and weather protection. They are frequently constructed with rafters or cross beams that run across the top rather than a solid roof.

What is a Gazebo?

A gazebo is a structure that may stand alone and serve as both shade and beauty for an outside area. A gazebo is made of solid beams, a sturdy roof, and flooring. A firm footing is also required for a gazebo, which must be level.

What is the Difference Between a Pergola and a Gazebo?

When comparing gazebos vs. pergolas, the primary consideration is usually the amount of protection you require and how much room you have.

If you want to use your backyard as an outdoor living area, unwind in it, or even construct an outdoor kitchen, a gazebo is the most sensible option. You must consider such factors as how much space you’ll need and how it should look on the whole.

A pergola may be used to draw the attention of visitors to a variety of sites, such as a pathway, garden, or even a jacuzzi section. They’re also an attractive method to connect two various regions by wrapping vines around them. To give the appearance of enhanced protection, plant vines over them or surround them with bushes.

Our experienced team at Peterson Canvas & Awnings can help you find and install the perfect awning for your home. Don’t hesitate and contact us today to get started!

Top 3 Benefits of Restaurant Awnings

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

A commercial awning may be used in any type of restaurant, regardless of size or location. Awnings are an attractive method to advertise a business while also providing shade and possibly lowering energy costs. Here’s how adding an awning to your restaurant may benefit you:

Help bring in revenue

Awnings are a must-have for any restaurant! You can use custom awning designs to advertise your restaurant in a number of ways to attract more clients. Your business name, cuisine, and regular offers can all be shown on your storefront awning, which will encourage people to visit.

Keep your patrons happy and comfortable

When you have outside seats or ones adjacent to a window, you must make sure that your patrons are comfortable. Your clients may enjoy a warm summer breeze without the heat of the sun on their heads with an awning installation. A waterproof awning can also provide your patrons with the option to continue dining outside in case of rain.

Protect your restaurant

Awnings may help your restaurant stay cool while also protecting its outside dining areas from UV damage. If you create a shaded zone away from the doors, windows, and walls of your restaurant, it will stay much cooler inside. This will also save you a lot of money on utility bills!

The dedicated staff at Peterson Canvas & Awnings can help you with all your restaurant awning needs! We’ll help you decide on the best type of awning for your business. Simply contact us, and learn more about the different services we offer.

Can Snow Make My Awning Collapse?

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

If your home or business gets a lot of snowfall in the winter month, it’s important to pay attention to your awnings. With a large amount of snowfall, your awning might collapse under the weight of the snow. But don’t worry, you can minimize the danger by purchasing the right type of awning by following these tips:

Frame engineering

You should never just focus on the fabric when looking to purchase a new awning. Always focus on the frame too! The structure is very important since it’s what the awning snow load will primarily depend on. Manufacturers will also be able to give you an estimate on snow load, which you can compare to the type of snowfall you receive in your area.

Fabric choice

Your safety depends on the choice of fabric, especially when it comes to a leaking awning. Woven fabrics tend to absorb water and snow and often let it leak through. However other fabrics are designed to be waterproof. When fabrics absorb water from the snow instead of repelling it, they become compromised.

Pitch matters

You should also pay attention to the pitch of your awning. Flat awnings will have significantly more snow buildup than an awning that has a smaller angle. On the other hand however, a high-pitch awning will basically let the snow slide right off to the ground.

The dedicated staff at Peterson Canvas & Awnings can help you with all your outdoor living needs! We’ll help you decide on the best type of awning for your home. Simply contact us, and learn more about the different services we offer. 

4 Retractable Awning Styles You Should Know

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

Adding a retractable awning to your home or business can transform your outdoor space, but there are so many styles to choose from you might not know where to start. Before you decide on one type, here are the different styles of retractable awnings you should know. 

Lateral arm awnings

Retractable awnings with a lateral arm are a great choice for those who don’t want to compromise on their building’s look but still want to enjoy the shade. The lateral arm mounts to the wall and creates a shade structure that integrates with your architecture. 

Slide-on-wire

These types of shade structures have a strong cable system where shade panels can extend or retract in either direction. Slide-on-wire awnings are perfect for when you want shade on sunny days but still want an unobstructed view of the sky on other days.

Slide-on-track

Slide-on-track awnings are similar to slide-on-wire canopies, in that canvas panels slide open and closed, and fold into pleats when retracted. These structures use an aluminum track to provide shelter from rainfall and sunshine. 

Tension shades

These types of shades are usually used over skylights, porches, and open-air patios. Tension shades offer shade from overhead sun thanks to their fully tensioned membrane fabric panels.

Our experienced team at Peterson Canvas & Awnings can help you find and install the perfect awning for your home. Don’t hesitate and contact us today to get started!

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