Awnings have a long history and there is evidence that they were used in ancient Egypt and in Greece. They were used to give cover to fighting men when they left the battle field and the Greeks used awnings in many of their open air theaters. Now days, they are visible in the public arena on shops and hotels. Hotels may have an awning that stretches right from the hotel door to the curbside so that guests can leave their car and enter the hotel without getting wet on a rainy day. Many shops have awnings to protect their windows and their merchandise from the hot sun. Increasingly shop and hotel awnings will have the name of the business or the owner inscribed on them.

An awning can be free standing but is more usually a structure that is attached to a wall. A frame, generally made from aluminum, but sometime from wood or steel is covered with canvas (which now days would be waterproofed and treated to reduce fading) and sometimes with aluminum or thatched wood. Some awnings are a permanent structure while others are retractable. Now days, they are most often seen on patios or in gardens, people may also take an awning when they go camping as it adds extra space to their caravan or tent.

You can buy ready made awnings that are available in different sizes and materials and fit them yourself to an outer wall of your house. Many people will have them on their patios if they do not have a porch because it will protect them from the rain and the sun on days when they may want to eat outside. You can also have custom made awnings so that you know they will fit exactly where you want them to go and be constructed of materials of your choosing. Some awnings are professionally installed – a lot depends on what you want and how much you are prepared to pay for an awning.

There are plain awnings and there are more ornate awnings where the structure might be made of filigreed iron or other fancy metal work. If you have an awning on the side or the back of your house then your house will stay cooler during the summer months because it will be protected from the sun. Many home buyers regard an awning as a plus when they are looking for a house because it means they can enjoy more time on their patio or garden. Now days, there are plenty to choose from and it pays to shop around before buying as prices can vary quite considerably.

For more information about awnings, visit http://www.awninghelp.com