Three Ways to Enhance Your Windows and Doors with Awnings, Canopies, and Roll Shutters

If you are looking for ways to enhance the appearance of your windows and doors, consider awnings, canopies, and roll shutters. Besides the decorative element that awnings, canopies, and shutters lend, they can also provide protection from sun, wind, water, and debris.

Enhancements for Windows and Doors

1. Awnings can be mounted on walls, under ceilings, against rafters, and on the roof above individual windows or over multiple windows and doors. Awnings provide shade, protection from rain, and can define an extended living area such a patio.

Stationary Awnings are usually made of vinyl, aluminum or fiberglass. They come in standard sizes and can be custom made.

Retractable Awnings are made of rot-resistant fabric, and are available in a variety of colors and patterns. The fabric is breathable so it does not trap heat underneath it. Retractable awnings usually adjust to any point between fully opened and fully closed to provide just the right amount of shade for your windows. The mechanism to extend and retract awnings can be mounted inside or outside the exterior wall and may be a hand crank or a motorized push button. Retractable awnings are available in standard and custom made sizes.

Vertical Awnings are made of a fabric that reduces light coming in from outside while allowing those inside to see out. Often used to cover large windows or as walls for lanais, the fabric is guided along steel wires.

2. Canopies are used to shade individual windows as well as add a decorative element to your home. Canopies come in several standard shapes including modified box and semi-circular. Canopies are not retractable, and are often found on commercial buildings as their fabric can be printed with business names, logos, or street addresses. For residential use, you might consider a canopy over your front door with your house number printed on it.
3. Roll shutters not only provide shade, they protect windows from wind, wind-born debris, and water. They also add a measure of security against intruders. Made of vinyl or aluminum, they run in tracks mounted vertically on the exterior of windows or doors, but are operated manually or electronically from inside. Like retractable awnings, roll shutters can be adjusted to any point between fully opened and fully closed. Available in standard sizes up to 13 feet by 13 feet, they can also be manufactured to protect custom made windows of other shapes and sizes.