I have a decision to make; when I purchased my house there was a motorized retractable awning covering the brick patio on the south side of the house. The awning is torn, worn and needs a new motor. A new awning is $2000 of similar type. Do I go this route or construct a porch-like overhang over the patio. I have to believe that I could build a 20 X 10 porch overhang for $2000. The house is a typical builders model colonial style home built in the early 80’s.
I need opinions here. What would increase property value, the awning or porch-like overhang? What do most people prefer? Or are there other choices…?
Thanks in advance!
Replies
Some things to think about! The awning is nice because when it's retracted, you get lots of light on the deck/porch/patio. I worked on a high end place a few years back that had an anemometer and a thermometer hooked up to the awning control box, so that if the temp dropped below a certain level, or if the wind picked up all of a sudden, the thing would automatically retract. Of course I don't know what the cost was and when you have those mechanical systems, there's only one thing they can do. . . screw up.
OTOH a permanent roof is nice, sturdy, but irreversible.
I'd probably go for the awning, but that's just me
I have to believe that I could build a 20 X 10 porch overhang for $2000.
Why don't you price the materials including the foundation to support the structure, add your labor costs, and get back to us ?
carpenter in transition
QUOTE "price the materials including the foundation to support the structure"
Other than 3-4 holes cored (dug) 4' deep to support the open side of the structure, there would be no foundation. I don't see any reason to have any thing else. The other side would be attached to the structure of the house. The roof could be a simple as a shed type, or a little more complex and go into a modified hip.
My time to do this is worth nothing...Frankly I enjoy doing these type of DIY projects. Why calculate ones own worth when the alternative is doing nothing or being a couch potato. If you enjoy what you do, why not take your down time and turn it into something valuable.
How about a pergola over the patio? You could put a manual "awning" on cables. They're easy enough to slide back with a pole since they just hange on cables.
With a pergola/awning structure, you get the benefit of a porch like structure, retractability of an awning, no mechanical parts to break down, and I'd have to imagine its easier or the same as to build an attached porch cover).
Pergolas also look nicer IMO.
BTW, I was referring to a pergola over the patio but unattached to the house.
Edited 8/2/2005 5:07 pm ET by Thang
Great thought! I had not considered a pergola with awning. That would provide a nice architectural feature and still provide shade for the south side of the house.
I have never seen an awning on top of a pergola. How does this work on cables?
when you figure this out, let me know, I want one too.
The awning is actually the just the awning fabric. It has eye holes in it that allow it to move back an forth on a set of cables. The cables are just hooked into the pergola structure. Since the fabric just hangs off of the cables (I guess steel), a kid with a pole could basically move the fabric back and forth into place. I'll see if I can dig up some pics.
Plum72:
Here in <!----><!---->NE Ohio<!---->, my wife & I “debated” over putting a retractable awning on the north side of our house. She wanted an awning and I wanted a pergola. My concern was that radiant heat from the awning would be one step removed from being in the direct sun, while a pergola would provide shade and allow breezes to flow through. Since she was using “her money”, she contracted to have the awning put over our deck. I don’t use it because it’s just too ”freakin” warm under the awning. And besides, it does nothing to stop the sun rays from the west from getting to us later in the afternoon. Think that the pergola would have allowed the “roof” to breathe and that a bamboo shade could have been hung on the west side to break-up the afternoon sun. So I would vole for the pergola. Oh by the way, I can almost count on one hand the number of times that she’s used “her covered deck” in the last 2 years. Rookie
I've installed one of those awnings (Sunsetter, I believe).
I tried and tried to talk the lady into getting a pergola with the awning on cables, either "homemade" or from a company, the name of which escapes me right now.
She went with the awning. That may have been the right choice for her since she never goes outside, she just uses it to keep the sun out of her living room. When it was being discussed, she insisted she would be using the patio, but I don't think she ever does.
I think the awning looks wrong just sticking out like that. I find it disconcerting. And then there is the wear and tear of a high tech item exposed to the weather.
The pergola/awning is low tech so it's likely to hold up better and I think it looks a lot nicer (unless you butcher it). You can design it to blend with/complement the house design. I also think it has more potential variations of usage (grow a vine on it, for example).
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.