Climate Guard aluminum awningsAluminum awnings deserve our modern-day respect. Global warming is really a scary prospect. And, energy prices have everyone worried. I try to follow environmental and energy issues as they pertain to homes, and while technologies like solar cells and wind turbines sound very sexy, I don’t see any evidence that they make economic sense yet. Moreover: Our “first fuel” is: Conservation.
That’s where awnings come in. Properly placed, these old-time solutions — low tech common sense! — can reduce heat gain into your interior and reduce the need for air conditioning. I believe there is even a science to placement of the awning canopy, in that you want to block sunlight from penetrating windows in the summer and maximize it in the winter (passive solar gain).
Here is what a 1994 Department of Energy study had to say about the efficacy of window awnings to conserve energy:
Although their effectiveness can be affected by many factors including location, climate, window size, and glass type, the energy efficiency advantages of awnings are clear. According to the Department of Energy, awnings can reduce heat gain up to 65% in south facing windows and up to 77% on windows facing east. Awnings reduce stress on existing air conditioning systems, and make it possible to install new HVAC systems with smaller capacity, thus saving purchasing and operating costs. Air conditioners need to work less hard, less often. When used with air conditioners, awnings can lower the cost of cooling a building by up to 25%.*
I did the google thing and found a number of other aluminum awning manufacturers across the country. Alas, I can not tell you how to differentiate quality. I am guessing “gauge” — but then there also is assembly, hardware and paint quality, not to mention service, price and warranty. Ummm: Buy locally, so you can see what you’re getting and have someone to stare down if there is a problem?
Here are links to other companies that manufacture (and usually also install) their own awnings… I did NOT try to capture dealers.:
- ClimateGuard aluminum awnings in Chicago looks like a big company, with local manufacturing.
- Standard Awning in Northeastern Pennsylvania has been in business since 1948, woot!
- Ballews Aluminum Products was founded in 1958, and has manufacturing in three southern states.
- Looks like you can get a lot of NuImage products at Home Depot.
- West Coast Awning in Northridge, Calif., designs, manufacturers and installs aluminum awnings.
- Crossworld Awning Company is in the Cleveland area. I am unclear whether they are a manufacturer. They also will remove than repaint existing awnings. Gosh: Maintaining something rather than just throwing it away and buying new; what a concept.
- Kohler Awning in the Buffalo area. Not sure if they are a manufacturer, but they look to be a longtimer.
- General Awnings looks to be an aggregator of various designs, with an easy-to-view website.
- There may be more… I ran out of energy after three pages of search. If you know of another company, leave it as a Comment, and we’ll work to build a comprehensive national list. Thank you!!
These aluminum awnings are not cheap. Patient bargain hunters can:
- Watch for new neighbors who rip theirs out.
- Re-Store and salvage places — take your measurements now, and keep them with you.
Josie says
Souderton, PA? I guess that’s why they have such incredible density in my hometown, Philadelphia – there must be hundreds of thousands of aluminum awnings still bravely hangin’ in, in Philly. (As well as the aluminum screen doors with the horse-and-buggy on them…)
Judging off the houses I remember EVERYWHERE growing up, I’d say Fern Green was the runaway winner – though maybe the darker green, faded? And Colonial Blue or Cadet Gray 2nd place, not sure which as I think they’d be hard to tell apart after a couple decades depending on exposure.
But for sun protection, give me plantation shutters or lined, insulated drapes any day, just based on looks. Sorry, I just can’t back up awnings aesthetically for my own home – especially with tiny non-operative shutters uselessly at their sides like vestigal wings. And depending on the wood/fabric choice, much more environmentally sensitive than metal.
I could see the awnings looking very authentic on someone else’s house, though. Would very much like to see someone coordinate their awning to their azaleas or hydrangeas! That’d look amazing.
pam kueber says
Josie, You raise an relevant point about the environmental cost of manufacturing the aluminum. Argh: A life cycle assessement comparison is required, and I fear the data are not available…
Scott says
Except for a little light grunge on the undersides (that as others have mentioned does not seem to want to wash off), and a few random dents to a couple of the scallops from OOPS over the years mine probably look about as new as they did the day the were installed in 1954. Being that this is 2013 I’d say the life cycle would easily be as long as you wanted. 🙂
My only advise is choose the color wisely. The color they picked for my house was the Vivid Cream with Polar White accent stripes. The color is a dead ringer for the old Crayola “Flesh” crayon (or Peach after 1962 for you young folk, LOL) and it’s pretty underwhelming on a stone-front house. I’m dreaming of green and white ones to match the new green roof I’m getting this week as my next big purchase.
By the way here’s another one for the list, Columbus has an aluminum awning company that has been around 1952 named Style-Rite.
Scott says
PS Columbus, Ohio, that is. 🙂
pam kueber says
Very cool, thanks, Scott!
Trip Haynes says
My house, built in 1948, has metal awnings over all the windows and 1 large awning over the front porch. I cannot tell you how much they have helped in the summer and winter. As a matter of fact I have the only house on the entire street in the historic district, which still has the original awnings.
Recently we have had some severe hail storms and it damaged a few of my awnings and am currently lookin for someone to repair them. It seems the majority of the companies are up North and hard to find anyone in the South that can do the repairs.
Trouble says
I thought I heard somewhere that the canvass awnings came first? Either way, my house has the awnings on it show above with the scalloped edge. They ae original and were painted. Now the paint is flaking off! ARGH!
Anyway, through my own research I found AlumaKraft awnings in a ’47 H & G mag and found they are still in business too!
pam kueber says
I tend to believe that’s right, Trouble — you often see canvas awnings on Victorian houses…
Trouble says
You mentioned aluminum awnings are expensive, nd Nikki even said, “Do you think they are $50 each?!”. She likes to insult my intelligence as my wife. Anyhow, I have no idead what a price point is for awnings…….just HOW expensive are they?
I know pricing changes for window sizes, but…
Trip Haynes says
My awnings were peeling and fading terribly when I bought the house 6 years ago. I ended up painting both the top and underside myself. The prices I found to replace the exact awnings I had ran over $200/each and could not bear to spend that much at the time. I have 8 large awnings and 1 huge over the front porch – I almost was afraid to ask about the one over the front porch.
Trouble says
Wish I would have seen this yesterday. I could have given it a healthy “LOL”!
I’m afraid to ask about my porch awning too!
Addrienne says
I wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions or tips on painting original awnings. The ones on 54 ranch have painted and the paint is starting to peel. They also have dirt on them that won’t scrub off.
pam kueber says
Be aware of lead paint issues, Addrienne — consult with a professional.
Trip Haynes says
If there is NO lead paint, the best way to do it is get a long handled scrub brush and clean them extremely well. Then proceed with painting. When I clean them once a year I use a soft long handled mop and then squirt with the house – does an incredilble job.
John Quirk says
Hi Pam,
If people find aluminum awnings too expensive the best alternative is fabric awnings. I have them on south and west facing sides of my home and only use air conditioning a few times a year. In winter I take them down and store them in basement so I get all the solar gain I can get. It takes less than an hour to remove them or put them up!!!
Chilson’s in Northampton made them in 1985 and they are still going strong!!!
John
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip, John. Yes — fabric awnings are even easier to source. I wrote about aluminum because they are harder to find and because I love the retroliciousness of them. But, yes, I bet if you use fabric awnings — and really take care of them — they will last a long time and do the trick.
Melanie says
Thanks for the very timely post!!!!
As soon as the siding is done on the west side of my house, I’m wanting to put awnings on the 3 west windows to minimize the heat from the afternoon sun beating on them. Now I know where to start looking. 🙂
Lynne says
A little off topic, but still in the “aluminum” realm….does anyone have a source for aluminum screen doors?? The silver ones? The big box stores have white, green and various shades of brown, but we need the good old fashioned silver.
pam kueber says
That’s called “mill finish”. I don’t know of anyone – but this is also on my list to research. I am particularly in love with the kind with the round family initial in the middle. I have two “K”s that I recently picked up at an estate sale. You see them on the bay sometimes.
52PostNBeam says
I see these vtg aluminum screen doors in silver and gold every time I visit a habitat ReStore.
pam kueber says
i have two of them in my basement anteroom from estate sales.
Trouble says
You guys have some classy ReStores. Mine is in the ghetto.
And that’s not an opinion.
Melita says
Any company with a product similar to Convex in Maryland? I called Climate Guard and they said ‘NO’ to manufacturing and sending anything here… I have an awning extremely similar to their Convex and it is so non intrusive that I never realize how practical and necessary it is until I the installers of the new siding took it down and did not want to put it back up because … it was… old! — Oh, yes. They had to put it back up, (if they wanted to get paid…) they also painted it to match the new siding house (after eons of year up, it needed painting). I now want more for more doors.
Lauryn says
Love this. Our 1939 house sits right on an alley to the south, so there is no hope of ever having a shade tree there. We rarely use the a.c., preferring fresh air and ceiling fans, but the southern face of our house gets blasted in the summer. I’ve been taking note of the different awnings on the houses in our neighborhood (one filled with minimal traditional beauties) and this just gives me more info for when we can invest in awnings.
Thank you, as always, for all your work on preservation of all this mid-century loveliness, but also for always emphasizing that conservation is our “first fuel”.
Jim DeAngelis says
Hi Pam! Love the blog, been reading it for two years now. I bought a little 1959 cape, from the original owner, in early 2009. Your blog has been invaluable! Just wanted to add to your aluminum awning list; Silver Top Awnings in White Marsh, MD. They’ve been in business since ’47, and I have one of their awnings over my front porch. Here’s their website; http://www.silver-top.com/
Thanks again, and have a great day!
pam kueber says
Thanks, Jim — I’ve made it “12” and will continue to grow it with every reader tip. Many thanks!!! Send me pics of your time capsule!