Difference Between RV Awnings and Awnings for Your Home

Jun 04, 2022

Scottsdale love their RVs, and with good reason. It's wonderful to be able to travel anywhere in Scottsdale, AZ, without having to rent a place. Families have a lot more flexibility while on vacation with RVs, and there is a growing number of empty nesters and retirees who are completely switching to RV living.

The best thing about RV living is its proximity to nature. This is why RVs and awnings work so well together. RVs provide little or no shade protection without an awning. It can be uncomfortable to enjoy the view from your RV outside depending on the position and time of the sun.

Like awnings on your home, RV awnings increase the amount of usable square footage. When they have hundreds of square feet of shade outside, RV owners aren't limited to the RV's interior.

It is not surprising that RV awning installation has grown into a cottage industry. There are many types of RV awnings, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Retractable awnings are a common RV awning style. Although the tracks are placed differently and the arm extensions may vary, the principle is the same.

There is one main difference between RV and home awnings. RV awnings require some form of retractability. It is not practical to drive on the highway with an eight-foot awning hanging from the RV's side.

This is where the big difference lies. It's all about how retractable they are and whether or not they can be completely removed and stored. There aren’t many home awning designs that you can simply pop off the side and bring inside.

Awnings Come in Different Types

Fixed Awnings
Slide-Out Awnings
Automated Awnings

Fixed awnings can be compared to fixed awnings in your home. However, they are usually removable and can be stored using a mechanism. Although they are more difficult to store than automatic or slide-out awnings, they provide shade for extended periods and can be useful for RV owners.

The support arms used to mount slide-out RV awnings near the RV's wheels wells are usually attached to them. The awning, once closed and rolled up, is stored permanently on the RV's side near the roof. The arms at the sides of the rolled awning can be pulled outward and locked into place by locking them in place.

These slide-out awnings may be locked with the arms attached to the base of an RV to create a sloped awning. However, the legs can be removed from the RV and used as posts to anchor the roof and provide support.

Attached to homes, retractable awnings don't usually have vertical arms like an RV awning. Most often, they have joined horizontal arms that extend from the point where the awning retracts. This allows the awning to stretch to its maximum length. Retractable awnings don't need support posts and can be adjusted at any angle.

Motorized versions of slide-out awnings are available that slide along vertical tracks attached to an RV's side. These awnings are similar to manual slide-out RV awnings in appearance and function, but they can't be detached from the track so that the arms can be used as freestanding posts.

Motorized awnings have jointed arms that bend as the awning is moved out. Motorized slide-out retractable awnings function in the same way as home retractable awnings, with the only difference being that the vertical arms are attached to either side of the awning.

To Get a Great Awning in Scottsdale, AZ, You Don't Need an RV

An awning is a great addition to any RV, or if you are considering buying one. A great addition to your home, they can also be used as awnings. You have more options with home or company awning customizations than with RV awnings.

Scottsdale Awning Service can custom make almost any shade sail or permanent awning you want. We can also install retractable and shade structures, as well as patio awnings or shade structures.

Looking for the best awning services in Scottsdale, AZ? Feel free to contact us at (480) 485-0957 or fill out our online form to get your free estimate today!

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Does the Fabric on an Awning Affect Its Cooling or Energy Efficiency Benefits?

14 Jun, 2022

Potentially. The heat absorbed by the fabric will vary depending on its color. While lighter colors reflect heat better, darker colors absorb heat more effectively. A white awning or a black one will shade a patio and lower the temperature. However, the white awning will reflect heat more efficiently while the black awning may radiate heat down more. But color isn't the only thing that affects temperature regulation. The fabric can have a significant impact on heat transference and cooling ability. Scottsdale Awning Service understands that awnings are often purchased to keep patios, houses, and businesses cooler. We use the best fabrics for that purpose. Our clients don't feel like they have to choose a light-colored fabric to maximize the cooling power of their awning. We use fabric brands such as Sunbrella (TM) or Synthesis Commercial 95(Coolaroo). Awnings aren't limited to solid colors. An awning with a striped design can be used to offset heat absorption. You can also offset the radiant heat drawbacks associated with a darker fabric awning. To better radiate heat, an awning that is higher than the rest of your property or building will allow for more space beneath the fabric. An awning with three openings allows for greater heat dissipation. This can negate any heat absorption by a darker awning fabric. What effect will the shade sail fabric or awning color have on the temperature under your shade structure? The possibility exists that the temperature difference could be minimal or nonexistent depending on the airflow and height of your awning. Is it okay to buy a fabric color that you don't love just to have a slight cooling effect? Most likely not. Talk to our specialists in Scottsdale, AZ before you decide on a color or pattern based on reflectivity. You might find that the shaded comfort of your shade sail or awning project is not affected by the color you choose.

What to Expect When Visiting Your Nearest Awning Store

04 Jun, 2022

You can probably find the nearest awning shop right from your phone. Many awning installers and retailers are home service providers, similar to contractors or roofers in Scottsdale, AZ. Call them for a free estimate. They will come to your house and show you the past work they have done. Then, they will help you choose the best solution for your shade sail, patio cover, or awning. There are significant advantages for both home and business owners to working with an awning contractor that doesn't have traditional brick-and-mortar showrooms. A large building is required for showrooms that contain awnings. This means that there is a lot more overhead in Scottsdale, AZ. These higher operating costs are inevitably passed onto the customer. People also love getting customized solutions that work best for them. The only thing you can learn about patio covers in a showroom is how they look on a display. It won't show exactly how it might look in your home.

What Are Valances and Why Would You Want Them on Awnings?

04 Jun, 2022

Valances are typically strips of fabric that hang above windows or at the bottom of awnings. Valances are often used on windows to cover the topmost hardware like curtain rods and blinds. Valances are a stylish ornament that adds style to a room, rather than making it look drab with utilitarian window hardware. Valances are decorative parts of awnings. They don't cover up window or door hardware, but they add style and class to your awning. You can give character to a seemingly mundane feature of your house by changing the trim, valance style, and color or even adding trim.

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