Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Awnings and Shades

Awnings can be an excellent addition to your home or business. In the hot desert climate of Phoenix, awnings can provide a much-needed respite from the sun and heat. If you’re looking to purchase awnings, it’s best to begin with plenty of planning and research. This can help you avoid pitfalls associated with the purchase and installation of awnings. Below are the most common mistakes people make when buying awnings for their home or business.

1. Cutting Corners

Who doesn’t want to save money, especially when making a significant purchase? While frugality can be a good trait to have, being thrifty with your awnings may lead to overpaying in the long run.

Think about all the natural elements your awning must withstand, like heat, UV exposure, heavy winds or precipitation. Choosing a high-quality fabric from a reputable seller will ensure that your awning is not only beautiful but also durable enough to handle different weather conditions.

Look for fabrics that resist water, high winds and fading. Having these features enhances the durability of the fabric and ensures you can enjoy your awnings for many years to come.

Because your awning could weigh several hundred pounds or more, you also want to make sure that the parts of your home or business that will be holding it up are sturdy enough to eliminate the risk of collapse. The last thing you want to worry about is your awning falling and hurting someone or damaging your property.

    2.   Manual or Motorized Retractable Awnings? Pick The Best Option for You

Retractable patio awnings can be either manual or motorized. The former has a hand crank you use to retract or extend your awning. The latter relies on a motorized system that does it for you.

Motorized retractable awnings can also come with sun and wind sensors. This means you don’t have to keep track of the weather to know when to retract your awning – the sensors will do it for you.

If you don’t mind cranking your awning in and out and would like to save some money, a manual retractable awning may be a better option for you. They tend to be more affordable and they’re less likely to break down since there aren’t any fragile electrical or motorized components that are prone to wear.

    3.   Mismeasuring Your Awning

People can easily make mistakes when taking measurements for their awning. Some may even skip this step altogether and simply ballpark the area they wish to shade. They may also use the wrong measuring tools, like rulers or laser measurers. The most accurate tool to use for measuring awnings is measuring tape.

Think about your awnings as a long-term investment. Perhaps it may be safest to cover more area than you think is necessary in case you decide to extend your patio or add more seating in the future.

    4.   Purchasing a One-Size-Fits-All Awning Kit

The ability to customize awnings with a variety of colors, shapes and designs is a significant benefit. Low-cost prefabricated awning kits you buy online are cheap, and you get what you pay for. The color you see online might not be the color in real life once you put it on your home. Avoid purchasing an awning just because you like the shape or size in the promotional picture. Instead, make sure the product is designed and custom fabricated for the specific area you wish to cover.

    5.   DIY Installation

Even the finest DIY handyman might not have the experience necessary to properly install and securely anchor an awning on their own. Awning installation is best performed by a team of experienced professionals. Going on a solo mission to install your awning can be counterproductive. You might make several mistakes along the way that will affect the safety and quality of the installation. Relying on a reputable company to install your awnings for you ensures your money won’t be wasted on an unattractive and short-lived awning.

Residential and Commercial Awning Installation for Your Home or Business in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa or Tempe

Many people feel overwhelmed by everything they have to consider when shopping for awnings. The most reliable way to get a long-lasting, high-quality awning is to hire a professional company to guide you through the entire process.

At Arizona Awnings, we serve homeowners and business owners in the Phoenix metropolitan area. We make sure that each project is customized to match your unique needs and preferences. Our awnings are made of only high-quality fabrics and are installed by a dedicated team of experts.

If you’re looking for a creative and efficient way to shade your home and patio, we can help. Call us at 602-252-3430 or fill out our form to schedule your free estimate.