When summer heats up it becomes increasingly important to have a shady spot to relax. Of course, there are many options when it comes to creating your own shady spot, but two of the most common are patio covers and awnings. While retractable awnings have become a popular solution, we’re firm believers that an outdoor covered patio is a better long-term investment. Let’s review some of the advantages as we see them.
Durability
If you have a patio covered by an awning you may have already experienced the common durability issues that people deal with in nearly any climate. Retractable awnings do not stand up well to strong winds let alone hail or falling branches. Even on rainy days, most awnings don’t offer that much protection due to their construction and (typically) smaller footprints.
Over time, fabric on retractable awnings will also become discolored and frail as sunlight takes its toll. Between the battering a retractable awning takes from all of these elements, it doesn’t take long for them to rip, tear, or spring a leak after getting punctured by a falling branch or piece of debris.
A patio cover, on the other hand, provides a substantial upgrade in durability in each of these categories. With a more solid, secure structure, there’s little that high winds or hail can do to a patio cover. You can take the time for building a patio cover of course, or you could talk to a professional and have them install an ACRYLITE patio cover, which will provide you with a durable structure and UV resistance. These patio covers carry a 10-year hail warranty and a 30-year non-yellowing warranty from UV rays. No retractable awning can offer anything close to that promise!
Amount of shade
Retractable awnings are limited in their size based on the size of the structure you’re attaching them to. Whether you’re adding it on to the back of your house or another structure on your property, it can only be as wide as the wall you attach it to. In some cases, this is fine, but you have much more freedom when you go with a patio cover.
Another limiting option for awnings is the height of the building they are attached to. As an awning needs to retract downward so rain can run off, they can only extend so far from the building before they hang too low to walk or sit beneath. A patio cover, on the other hand, has almost unlimited flexibility in how they’re built – they can attach to a home or be completely free-standing to allow you to cover as much ground as possible and provide you precisely the amount of shade you’re looking for.
Flexibility in location
As mentioned above, a patio cover can be attached to a building or be completely free-standing. While an awning limits your options based on the structure they are attached to, a patio cover has no such limitations. This is extremely valuable for people looking to create an outdoor gathering spot. Your patio cover can be placed in the most desirable portion of your yard and laid out precisely how you want to maximize your space.
Is an outdoor covered patio right for you?
The argument for choosing a covered patio versus an awning is a strong one, whether you’re considering building a patio cover or looking at having one installed at your home. Is it time you add one to your home?