We’ve all heard that there’s no place like home, and while our homes have temporarily become our workspaces and schools, it’s still important to create areas to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Although there might be a lot going on inside the house, your backyard has a lot of potential to become your own private sanctuary. After all, your home is your castle, and it’s a great time to start up some of those home improvement projects you’ve been putting off.  So, if you’re starting to feel a little cooped up, why not go outside? The possibilities to create your own backyard paradise are endless with Rainier Shade’s retractable awnings!

Retractable Awnings Provide Options

With sunny days ahead of us, a change in the weather means that we can start enjoying some fresh air on all the cloud-less days to come, and there’s no better way to enjoy your backyard then under a Rainier retractable awning!  It’ll create a shaded area to protect you from the sun, shelter you from unexpected drizzle, and can even help you cool your home or get it to retain heat.

So the next time you’re feeling a bout of cabin fever coming along, step outside and imagine what it could be like with a little shade under your head and an alfresco lunch as you take a break from your work at home.  Or better yet, take that laptop outside and get some work done.  An awning can help remove the glare on the screen so that you can easily see your coworkers on your next Zoom call. Plus, how many times have you been at work on a beautiful day and just wanted to be outside…? Well, now you can!

Motorized Retractable Awnings

One of the best features of our retractable awnings is that they’re motorized. All Rainier shade products feature time-tested, dependable motors and controls  manufactured by Somfy – The world leader in tubular motor technology. Retracting your awning is as easy as pushing a button.  Keeping your awning safe during inclement weather by retracting into the housing with a little help from your remote will extend the life of your awning and the return on your investment.

Awnings Help Climate Control

During the warmer months in the summertime, an awning will help keep the inside of your home cooler.  That’s because the shade of the awning can prevent UV rays from entering your home and heating it up. 

Awnings are useful in the cooler months, too.  One of the misconceptions about awnings is that they can only be used when it is warm.  And this simply is not true.  Awnings can also help keep your home warm in the winter because they act as a layer of insulation when they are strategically placed on your home. As mentioned above, make sure to monitor the weather and retract your awning ahead of bad weather arriving.

Choose the Right Color Awnings

Choosing the right color awnings is also important, depending on the preferred climate and color of your house.

If you live in a warmer climate, lighter color awnings help deflect the sun’s rays, and if you live in a cooler climate, a darker color awning will absorb heat. The color of your home can also determine what color fabrics will go be best for your awning.   Check out the graphic below to find the color of your home and a complimentary color shade that could work for you home. Download the “Choosing the Right Color Awning” guide here.

Your Awnings Vibrance

There is no need to worry about your awnings color losing its vibrance. Our awnings are made with Sunbrella® fabric.  They’re created by using a special dying system that penetrates each fabric of the awning, so the pigment of the fabric goes straight to the core. There are over 200 colors and patterns to choose from!

If you can’t decide on a color, then a pattern is another option, too. For large awnings, go with a pattern with wide stripes so that the entire pattern can be seen.  Narrow stripe patterns are best for smaller window covering and are easier on the eye.

Let’s Create Your Backyard Paradise

To keep you safe and comply with social distancing efforts, Rainier and our network of dealers can create an estimate for you online without coming to your home.  We are available to help you choose the right awning color and customizable features to suit your needs, as well as answer any questions you have.

Western Washington Residents: If you live in Western Washington, schedule a Free, In-Person or Online No-contact consultation.

If you’re ready to create the backyard paradise of your dreams, CLICK HERE to find a dealer in your area.

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Although we are in the middle of winter, you might want to start thinking about how you can get ahead on your energy savings this summer. More often than not, it isn’t until after that first heatwave, after the AC has run full blast, and after the energy bill arrives that it is too late to start creating energy savings solutions for your home. Before it gets to that point, here are a few things to know about how you can save some dough on your energy bills this summer.

Awnings can reduce your cooling energy by 25%.

This can result in an annual savings of $200 or more a year, according to the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association (PAMA). The first step in cutting your energy consumption is to figure out which side of your house gets shade; this will help determine where you should install an awning.

Awnings can reduce solar heat between 55% – 77%.

On southern-facing windows, fabric awnings can reduce heat between 55% – 65% and 72% – 77% on western-facing windows. Since the sun’s rays can increase the temperature in your home by as much as 20%, an awning can help keep your home cooler and can reduce your dependency on air conditioning.

Shades and awnings work in conjunction with your air conditioner.

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, external shade devices like retractable awnings can minimize the heat load of your house. When you reduce the amount of heat coming into your home, you can also reduce the amount of air conditioning used. This will not only help save costs on your energy bill, but it is also environmentally friendly. By using less energy, you can offset your carbon footprint by emitting fewer greenhouse gases into the air.

The type of fabric used in your awning can influence your energy savings.

Choosing fabric for your awning is important because it can influence how much heat comes into your home and how much energy you can save. Choosing fabrics that are light in color helps reflect the sun’s rays away from your home. Dark-colored awnings absorb heat and are ideal in colder climates that get a lot of light through the windows. Luckily, Rainier Shade offers Sunbrella® fabrics in a variety of colors and patterns. Sunbrella makes one of the longest-lasting fabrics on the market and is guaranteed not to fade for 10 years. For more information on Sunbrella fabric, click here.

To figure out how you can cut down on energy costs in your home, check out the Home Energy Saver audit tool.

Have more questions on how you can get ahead of the game on your energy savings this year? Schedule a free in-home consultation with a local dealer. They will come to you and help find the best shade and awning solution for your home. Click to find a dealer near you.

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A retractable awning extends the comfort of your home to your outdoor space. By choosing a motorized awning, you can create instant shelter with just the touch of a button, protecting you from light rain and glaring sun alike. You’ll enjoy spending more time outdoors on your deck or patio.

Buying an awning may cut into your summer vacation budget, but while a vacation lasts a week or two, your new awning will last for years! Spending time in your backyard will feel like taking an extended vacation, and you can enjoy the comfort and relaxation into the spring, summer, and fall.

You can feel even more comfortable knowing that Rainier offers the longest warranties in the industry; most of our retractable awnings are covered for ten years. With that kind of peace of mind, sitting under the shade of your retractable awning will feel just as relaxing as sitting under an umbrella on a tropical vacation.

“Stay out of the sun.”

We’ve all heard it before, and it’s good advice. But beautiful sunny days are too rare in the Pacific Northwest, so we all want to be outside enjoying the sunshine when we can!

Retractable awnings offer the benefits of sun protection without compromising your view. A lateral arm awning will block the sun’s rays from directly overhead, so you can enjoy the outdoors without the negative effects of UVA and UVB rays (click here to learn more about sun protection.)

If your home faces west (especially if you’re one of the lucky ones to live on the waterfront!) a drop valance under the front edge of the awning adds extra sun protection. A motorized drop valance needs the simple touch of a button to block the sun and reduce glare in the afternoon and evening when the sun is lower in the sky. Most homeowners choose mesh drop valances, which allows you to see through and appreciate your view without the sun in your eyes.

Want to preserve the healthy glow of your furniture and your skin?

You could try moving to Antarctica, but a more practical solution is to extend your retractable awning!

UVA and UVB rays from the sun can damage your skin, as well as fade pigment in your furnishings, interior flooring, and drapes. Blocking the sun with a retractable awning will protect you from sunburns. You’ll look cool, and feel even cooler.

A lateral arm awning blocks the sun’s rays from directly overhead, and if your home faces west, a drop valance adds shade into the afternoon and evening when the sun is lower in the sky.

We call it sunblock, but an awning blocks the sun better than that stuff in a bottle, and won’t leave you with greasy fingers!