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Shades of Nostalgia
Jerry Thompson's 1938 Cape Cod in Vienna has sported a variety of stationary awnings over the years.
(By Ann Cameron Siegal For The Washington Post)
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Others consider awnings to be coverings that are retractable while canopies are those that are permanent. Still others use the word awnings when referring to residential coverings and canopies for commercial establishments. Many use the terms interchangeably.
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Updated Materials
In older neighborhoods, you might still see the aluminum awnings popular in the 1940s and 1950s. Indeed, some companies still offer aluminum awnings because they are waterproof and durable.
Early fabric awnings were made of canvas-like cotton duck.
However, both aluminum and cotton have drawbacks. Aluminum awnings are very limited in color and design options. Cotton often stretches or shrinks in reaction to the elements. Designs, such as stripes, were painted on the cotton duck by machine and had a tendency to fade. "They [the fabrics] were unpredictable," said John Thomas, owner of Thomas Shade and Awning in Silver Spring, now celebrating 75 years in business.
Thomas said the biggest enemy to awnings is the sun, not wind or rain. To get a more predictable material, the industry has turned to acrylic-weave fabrics that have color and designs woven in. These fabrics are water-repellent and are usually treated to resist mildew and minimize fading.
Vinyl laminates, which are waterproof, are also available.
Several companies advised staying away from deep colors -- especially red -- as those tend to fade sooner. Additionally, light colors reflect the sun best, keeping the area under the awning cooler.
Styles
Styles have changed considerably since those yellow awnings of Lowery's childhood.
Those awnings were manually pulled up during a storm, and the resulting folds were perfect water collectors. Lowery described the results in a recent e-mail: "When you lowered them again -- Whoosh! A little Niagara tumbled out. What a treat for a little kid."
Today, awnings can be stationary or retractable, slanted or domed, with sides or without. Myriad valances can be added, too.
Thomas said stationary awnings are designed to withstand severe weather, including wind. Fixed-frame awnings usually need to be custom-made, however, and require up to six weeks from order to installation. And custom-made awnings are more expensive than retractable awnings. A traditional fixed awning for a three-foot-by-five-foot window can run several hundred dollars.
