How To Keep Your Awning Looking Great For A Long Time

Great Looking Home Awning

In terms of home improvements one way to go is to buy an awning which can add staff, elegance and be very practical in terms of protecting your home from the sun, the rain and even the wind.

You can buy all sorts of types of awnings along with the materials used and it really is up to your own personal preference. Canvas awnings for example are quite popular as they come in several designs and are quite resilient. One point you should bear in mind though with canvas is that it does need to be maintained you want to keep it looking in great shape. If you don't you going to end up regretting using canvas because they can get quite tatty looking, but don't let this put you off because the maintenance aspect isn't all that demanding.

If you live in London or any major city you can usually find a load of awning suppliers who have a full range of awnings and materials to choose from. Just go on the Internet or look in some home and garden magazines under awnings London for instance to check out what's available on whether a canvas awning would best suit your needs.

Now any fabric used to awnings can deteriorate over time due to heat and humidity which will make the pattern fade and can even cause mildew where the moisture in the air is particularly high. Other elements which affect awnings include birds droppings and pests like mice and rats which could chew through the fabric if you end up having some kind of infestation. There's not a lot you can do in terms of maintenance if they end up chewing through the awning, though taking prevention measures to ensure that this doesn't happen is your best bet. Other nuisances affecting the awnings include dust, dirt and leaves from trees which gather to cause a bit of a mess on your awning.

Keep Your Awning Looking Great

The remedy to all this though it's just to make sure that you clean your awning at least twice a year to get rid of any debris that may be sitting on the awning along with checking for pests which may have made a mess of the fabric. If you don't any maintenance year after year then all this is just going to buildup leaving your awning looking awful.

So with that said the first measure you need to take is to use a small brush and a damp cloth to wipe down the canvas awning whichever type of awning that you chosen, and make sure you do underneath as well as on top. You can even use a spray hosepipe for a bit of added pressure but don't go mad because some of these high-pressure hoses can actually damage the awning. Also don't use any industrial strength cleaning agents as this could actually affect the awning as well. It's much better just use some washing up liquid in a bowl with some water.

You could ask your awnings London supplier if they have any cleaning material specially designed for the fabric which is used on your awning but this is probably an unnecessary step to take. If you do already have some kind of cleaning chemical it's always a good idea to test it by using the smallest area possible just in case you get an adverse effect but this isn't advisable to do compared with just using standard soap or something specially formulated from your local supplier.

I mention about cleaning the awning twice a year you can do this every month if you wish depending on how me awnings you have and how long it takes. It also depends on what area you live in of course and whether you have a lot of trees around with leaves blowing everywhere. Just use your own judgement in this instance.

With retractable awnings you need to make sure that you don't forget to dry it out thoroughly first otherwise the moisture left will cause more problems later on such a small growing inside.

Awning Cleaning Tools and Tips

Seeing as this can be strenuous work it makes sense to wait until you have a nice cool day where the sun isn't glaring you're right and it's not raining down like thunder. This sounds silly to mention but it's surprising how many people get it into their heads that this is going to be the day that they clean the awning regardless of how bad the weather is but this really doesn't make sense.

If you do happen to find any really particularly bad stains either from droppings or something unknown then don't scrub the awning to death as this can damage it. Your much better explaining or even taking a picture of what you see and then getting advice from the awning store. They usually have cleaning chemicals specially designed to treat these types of problems.

So all in all that's all they really is to it and as long as you keep the maintenance up you're sure to have an awning that looks great and lasts for years to come.

All About Mini Blinds

Blinds these days are proving to be more popular due to the extensive range on offer. They are also very efficient in providing privacy, great sunlight control and some even excel at holding in the warmth of the house. Let's not forget the appearance which can provide a very chic look that other window coverings find hard to follow, but what about price?

You might be surprised to know that the price of blinds, especially mini blinds have come down in price enormously due to the rising demand in the market and increased choices consumers have to choose from.

When mini blinds first came out the 1 inch panel blind used to cost the earth but like I said, things have changed and they are not only affordable but also come in a full range of colours which is very handy for those thinking of making some kind of interior decoration change. Another great aspect about mini blinds is that you can also use them in conjunction with other window treatments for added benefits of privacy and heat loss prevention.

When I bought some blinds for patio doors I also picked out some curtains as well to hang in front of them so now I have double the installation and it looks pretty good too.

Mini blinds can add real style to any room and the great thing is that they are pretty easy to install as long as you give the blinds seller your right particulars. When it comes to getting measurements for anything it's always best to write things down so you don't get confused and make sure you give them the width first followed by the height as some people have done the reverse and ended up with completely the wrong size blinds. Blinds sellers always work by the width first so bare this in mind. This is also the case when you're choosing blinds for doors whether it be blinds for bifold doors, blinds for folding sliding doors or blinds for patio doors.

You can get mini blinds in one and 2 inch size slats and choose from aluminium, real wood, faux wood and PVC so you have quite a choice along with a range of colours. You can even get motorised mini blinds which add an added spin on the choice that's available. A lot of people prefer the 1 inch slat but it's entirely up to you and what you think would suit you best.

With several finishes to choose from you will find that mini blinds are durable, easy to manage and fairly dust resistant which is always a good thing but this is dependant of course on the material you pick for your mini blinds as some are more dust resistant than others.

If you want to know more about mini blinds just go online and you'll find an array of information with choices galore that may leave you overwhelmed but have no fear because there is really nothing to it once you understand your options. If you're still a little confused as to what would be the best option for you just seek out some advice from a professional who should be able to put you on track.

Many blinds are certainly one way to go but may not necessarily be the best option for the kind of windows you have. They're great for skylight windows for example but not so good for huge bay windows so just use a bit of common sense and you should do fine.

Exterior Shutters Can Make A Real Difference

Exterior window shutters are one way to make your house stand out amongst the crowd and they also offer extra protection for the windows when the weather takes a turn for the worst. It's usually quite easy to install exterior shutters but if you need any help the shutter companies are more than capable of advising you on what you should do.

If you decide to go ahead with adding shutters to the home exterior make sure you think about the level of quality you need that is going to stand the test of time because you don't want to have to  go about replacing them after a short amount of time. Just like blinds where you have everything from roller blinds to motorised blinds. With shutters you also have quite a number of options and it's up to you to decide which type you want to use.

You can buy shutters made from several different types of material but wood is the most popular for a home and it can also be a cheaper option over other materials used.

Hardwoods are used for exterior window shutters as they provide excellent durability and can withstand the elements rather well. Both cedar and basswood are the preferred woods chosen by shutter companies which you will see if you visit any company that sells shutters.

Cedar, like basswood is great at stopping moisture which is important to stop the wood from warping and as a whole it is very long lasting but you need to still add a protective coating to the shutters before you put them up.

Just like any wood treatment you will want to add a primer to your shutters. You can get an oil based primer which matches closely to the color you plan on using as there is a wide selection to choose from. Adding oil will only help to strengthen the wood's natural resistance making them  weather proof and long lasting. If you're not used to painting you can always seek the advice of the shutter company or even approach a professional painter who will be able to tell you the best way to go about it. The other resource everyone has is to just do some research online and you will find more than enough information on the subject. That's what I did when I wanted to find out what size motorised blinds I could get for my home. I also spent some time looking up interior shutters as well but didn't bother buying any in the end.

When you're fitting the shutters be sure to allow a gap between the panels and the house to assure ventilation is made. Don't forget to use the right type of screws. You can buy ones which don't corrode and once you've finished putting the shutters in it's just a case of painting over the screw heads to finish things off.

What color you decide to have in the end is entirely up to you but you should try to pick a color which matches the style of the house and the area you live in.

One thing you do have to bare in mind with exterior shutters is the upkeep as you will need to re-stain them from time to time to keep them from deteriorating. Also make sure you picking finishes which are specifically designed for the exterior. It's easy to go into your local hardware store and pick the wrong can off the shelf.

There is no question that exterior shutters can really make a difference to your home so it's certainly worth considering when you next decide to make some type of home improvement. If you're lucky it may even add value to your home and so could be a real worthwhile investment in the long run.