Awnings in New Jersey

I’ve heard a lot of propaganda on the many benefits of having a retractable awning and how it helps you save energy. I was rather apprehensive, and wondered if it was possible that an awning could help save you some money, down the line.

Not one to let it pass, I decided to do some research. More so because many people in my state (New Jersey) were opting for one.

People like me are interested in cutting utility bills in summer in whatever way we can. And here’s where the retractable awning helped. It helped to shade areas of your home that were extremely hot due to the sun. Due to the awning, the house remained cool and we used the air conditioning less.

A retractable awning adds to the decorative value of your home as well. It’s available in a wide variety of bright colors and they look very attractive. You can choose an awning that will complement your home.

Here’s how you can save energy with retractable awnings
Those areas of the house that get direct sunlight are covered with retractable awnings. Due to this the house remains cool, and it cuts down the need for air conditioning. If it’s placed in a proper and relevant position, a retractable awning can help reduce the access heat by almost 65 to 77 percent. Moreover, you can save even more by using a light colored awning fabric.

You should also keep a little gap between the awning and your house, as this acts as a vent for the trapped heat under the awning. The gap allows the heat to escape. It’s important to keep this in mind when you’re installing your retractable awning.

A study done by the Center of Sustainable Building Research, University of Minnesota proved the same findings. Their study showed that an awning helped sun gain to a large extent. Their studies were based on the results of several homes, in seven cities across the U.S. The results were released in the year 2007.

A retractable awning helps to save money in the winter time as well. New Jersey sees some pretty intense sun during winter as well. Thanks to the retractable awning that I installed, I could now save some money.

If you want to avoid sending out a huge environmental footprint, install a retractable awning and cut down on your high energy costs.

When you live in New Jersey you know how the summertime can add heat to your home especially when you don’t have air conditioning. Because of this many people have turned to retractable awnings to save energy and keep themselves cool.

When the weather gets terribly hot in the summer time, running the air conditioning adds up and we end up paying high prices for our utility needs. We like the fact that if you get the right retractable awning it cools the sides of the house where there is so much sun.

A couple of years ago we tried to tell our neighbor that what they needed was a retractable patio awning because they were complain about having so much heat in one end of the house where the sun was the brightest during the day. It took them several months before they went down to Breslow Home Design Center (where we got our awning) and decided to go for it.

We found out later that the reason they hadn’t gone before because they thought it would cost more – instead they found that the price was very reasonable. Well, they did that in the fall and by the summer they were happy they had done this. They were saving about 20% on their air conditioning bill when they compared it to last year’s bill!

New Jersey is the type of place that has long winters and heavy precipitation which makes it more important to save a few bucks anywhere we can. So, we have started a campaign to tell our neighbors how to save money easily.

We bought a retractable patio awning for our needs and we picked a wonderfully colorful striped Sunbrella awning fabric. We were able to match the color perfectly to the side of our house where we have our patio. Our neighbors preferred aluminum but they found that they could use it with a colorful cover that worked just fine. We also decided we wanted to add on a sun sensor so we didn’t have to worry about adjusting our patio awning in the summer time.

We have noticed that just about anywhere we go anymore we see retractable awnings in both residential and commercial spaces. We think that people have found to through word of mouth that you can save money and make an attractive addition to your home at the same time. The nice part is that some people have been able to get more money out of their home when they sold it because their retractable awning gave a little more decorative value.

If you are looking for an effective way to not only save money but to also help your home’s environment because when you place the awning on the side of the house that gets most of the sun it can make the entire house cooler.

When you live in New Jersey you know that you will probably need to buy a retractable patio awning because of the intense sun that can come to us. When you are looking for awnings it may be confusing to know where to purchase one from because there are so many different choices.

Choosing the right awning can be a bit overwhelming too, especially when you have never thought about the option prior to this time. The good news is that there are several businesses that are near you that can help you discover your best options for your situations.

Here are five places to buy awnings that we like:

Breslow Home Design Center — we like this one because they back up their business with over 80 years of service. They have expert awning salespeople and interior designers on staff to help you select just the right awning. They carry a wide range of awning models from the leading national awnings brands such as Sunsetter, Eclipse, Sunesta, NuImage and Alutex. They work with you from the time you walk into the door or call for your in home consultation, through the installation of your retractable awning. And their prices are amazing – you will buy awnings for about the same as you would buying it directly from the factory but with unmatched service. They have locations in both Chester and Livingston but sell awnings throughout New Jersey and New York City.

Awning Products, Inc. — This is another very old company in New Jersey. They are a family owned and operated company that has been in the retractable awning business for 25 years. They custom build their awnings so you decide what you want and they build it right there in their building. They have good customer service and you also get attention from the time you walk into the door to after your awning is installed. They are located in Ocean Township.

Majestic Awning, Inc. — Majestic is a larger company than the first two and it covers a wider area that includes New Jersey. They believe in hands on service so you can make an appointment for someone to come out to your home and assess the situation. They will help you match colors of your retractable awning to your siding and they will identify any obstacles. They will also help you find the most appropriate place to put your awning. They are located in Edison.

Bill’s Canvas Shop--Bill’s is another family owned and operated business and they have been serving southern New Jersey for over 30 years. They build your awning in house and they have installers who have been operating for many years.

Kingsway Awning LLC — Kingsway serves a tri-county area that also includes New Jersey. They are a family owned an operated business and they have many generations that have assisted over the years. They also create everything in house and they make them when as you need them. Each has its own opportunities so it’s a good idea to check them out.

No matter where you go in New Jersey you can find someone to build your awning. It is a good idea thought to do some research at their websites to make sure you get the best place for your needs.

Many awning companies sell both retractable awnings and fixed canopies. There are pros and cons to both fixtures so it is important for you know to know the difference before you shop.

One of my neighbors didn’t do their homework before they went to an awning store and they got a fixed canopy that they couldn’t take back after it had been installed. This is something they have had to deal with since they bought their home.

Today there are many options and it really depends on what you want the fixture for as to which one you purchase.

Retractable Awnings
Retractable awnings have gained popularity over the years because they are so easy to use and install. Many people have found that they can get awning fabric to match the color of their homes very easily. Because they are retractable they also have the convenience of being able to be open when the weather is nice and closed when it is not.

Retractable awnings have also gone through many changes over the years that make them the sunshade of choice. People can now find Sunbrella awning fabric that not only shades you from the sun but also adds sun screen that protects against skin cancer. This is a revolutionary improvement on these types of awnings. You can find them with the old fashioned hand crank or with remote control. The average life of a retractable awning is about 25 years.

You can generally decide how much slope you want in a retractable awning and this slope can be helpful when you are attempting to put a serious dent in the sun. You can have a sensor put on them to block more or less sun and you can also use a wind sensor to change the retractable awning as the wind picks up.

Fixed Canopies
Fixed canopies can be more difficult to use and maintain because they are a permanent fixture on the side of your house. They cannot be retracted for bad weather so they are there permanently. They also can cause problems when you are looking out of a window or from underneath the canopies: your view is usually blocked.

The fabrics that are used for fixed canopies are often opaque which blocks the view of the scenery from any point. They also require more maintenance than retractable awnings because they cannot be removed from the damage from the elements. In fact, the average life of a fixed canopy is about five years. They are usually less expensive than retractable awnings.

You also have to keep in mind the purpose of the fixed canopy. Usually the purpose is to protect one area of your home from the elements. Traditionally a fixed canopy is used at the entrance of a home or over a window that needs shelter from the elements.

The bottom line is that purchasing a particular awning depends on what purpose you are going to use it for and your budget.

Retractable awnings are not something that are easy to buy from a super store or from an out of state manufacturer. There is such a large choice of awning models and awning fabric styles, you need a local expert to help you find the awning that is right for you.

A local store with a local expert and reputable salesperson is a much better choice because they can show you exactly what you are looking for even when you are not sure what you want.

As an example, many people who are in the New Jersey and New York City area rely on Breslow Home Design Center to help them select the best retractable awning. The reason is because of the exquisite customer service. Expert Breslow salespeople will help you from the first time you walk into the door. They do not hurry you and they do not push you to buy. Their biggest concern is that you understand your needs to help you pick the choice this is right for you.

Local stores are best when you’re making a retractable awning purchase because you can look at several examples and get a feel for what you would like. Not only do they have a series of aluminum awnings but they also have many different designs of awning fabric to compliment any house color.

When you purchase from a superstore or directly from a manufacturer, you are not sure what you are getting. You can’t be sure that the products are quality and you might have to wait to have someone install it. In some situations you may have to install it yourself.

Shopping at a local awning dealer like Breslow Home Design Center ensures that your needs are taken care of from the time you walk into the building to the time your retractable awning is installed. They really take care of their customers better than a lot of other local stores. Breslow also has a great price for their awnings–customers pay factory direct prices.

We like local stores the best because they have the most to offer. Some stores will have interior designers who will help you look at the total picture for your home and find a patio awning that will fit into your décor. This is one of the best features of using a local awning dealer.

Some people like to pick out their awnings at a Do It Yourself store because they like to take care of installing their awnings on their own. Although this is a great option, it can be difficult if something happens to the awning and it needs repair. You also need to take great care when installing something that weighs several hundred pounds and you plan to sit under it with your family – an awning is something you most likely want to have professionally installed. When you go to a local store and you need a repair, they will know the best way to repair it and can assist you quickly.