How Come Homes and Buildings Stopped Being Built With Awnings?

Where have all the awnings gone? It seems like just yesterday the streets of neighborhoods and towns were embroidered with vividly colored and striped awnings. Today, awnings seem to be few and far between.

Even in blistering Arizona, many homes have stopped putting up awnings on their doors and windows. A significant number of businesses have also stopped using awnings, despite their usefulness for enhancing curb appeal and promoting the business[1] . Part of this decreased demand is thanks to modern innovations in shading and cooling, but another part is due to the fact that many have forgotten how useful awnings can be.

New Architecture Strategies

The decline of awnings started back in the 1940s. After WWII, modernism became the big trend in architecture, characterized by abnormal symmetry and minimal decor. Due to the trend’s minimalist aesthetic, vibrant fabric awnings fell out of fashion. As a result, awnings became more functional rather than aesthetic, with their primary use being protection against the sun instead of the fun exterior decor it once was. 

Air Conditioning

In the 19th and early 20th century, awnings were people’s only way to protect their homes and stores from heat gain. Today, we have air conditioning. The widespread accessibility and adoption of air conditioning systems was arguably the biggest component of awnings’ gradual disappearance. These systems were able to bring interiors down to a much cooler temperature at a much faster rate than door and window awnings could. As a result, the demand for robust exterior shading was significantly reduced.

Other Shading Solutions

What about sun damage? Even with robust air conditioning, without proper physical protection, direct sunlight exposure can cause your furniture, flooring and property to fade and become discolored. Prolonged exposure can also cause bodily harm, damaging skin and elevating the risk for skin cancer in some cases.

While awnings can offer this essential protection, other shading solutions can too, such as interior shutters, blinds and architectural overhangs. In essence, where there was once just one shading solution, there are now several. Today, many buildings don’t have awnings because they’re using a variety of alternative shading solutions.

Do You Really Need an Awning?

Are awnings the necessity they once were? No – but they are a great investment for any home or business thanks to their ability to drastically reduce heat gain from solar radiation and their aesthetic appeal.

Even with new and diverse innovations in shading out there, fabric awnings are still a tried and true option to protect you from sun damage, lower your energy costs and give your exterior some design flair.

Easy Maintenance

Some believe that other shading devices involve less work than awnings. Maybe this was true of past awnings, but not today’s. At Arizona Awnings, our fade-resistant fabrics are easy to clean and will help your awnings stay vibrant for years, even after relentless monsoon seasons. Our manual and automatic retractable awnings make putting your awning away and avoiding the risk of wind damage a hassle-free process.

Cost-Effective

While awnings can’t compete with the power of air conditioning, they can enhance its effectiveness and the overall energy efficiency of your home. While HVAC units are powerful, they still have to compete with heat gain caused by the sun’s rays entering your home through windows or beating against and heating up exterior walls. This rapid absorption of heat can strain your unit and accelerate wear and tear.

Door and window awnings can reduce the workload of your HVAC unit by drastically reducing heat gain through awning-shaded windows, doors or walls. The savings over time can add up, not only reducing your monthly utility costs but extending the lifespan of your HVAC unit and delaying the need for replacement. Some estimates suggest shade-related savings being as much as $200 each year on energy spending.

Style

While shutters and blinds are functional, they can’t match the depth of style and customization options that awnings have. Eaves and overhangs, while attractive, can be expensive to add to a structure that doesn’t have them. They can’t provide you with a ready-made solution to quickly enhance your exterior.

At Arizona Awnings, our designers will ensure every detail of your awning seamlessly matches your exterior’s design and aesthetic. We’ll guide you through a vast selection of awning style, frame, fabric and valence options and help you design the best awning to complement your home or business.

We’ve Been Designing High-Quality Awnings for Over 95 Years

At Arizona Awnings, our team has been providing custom shading solutions for homes and businesses for nearly a century. We’ve always put our customers and their satisfaction first, producing high-quality awnings that last with a 10-year fade warranty to ensure you get the most out of your investment.

Schedule a one-on-one consultation with our experts at no cost or obligation. Call 602-252-3430 and learn more about how we can optimize your home or business’s shading today.