Awning Opens Out to Shelter Your Patio

QUESTION: I saw some retractable patio awnings that attach to the house. I want it to block the rain and the sun’s heat on the patio yet have the patio uncovered in the cool evenings. Are these awnings effective?

ANSWER: A self-supporting retractable awning is ideal for decks and patios. Strong folding arms, attached to the house, support the entire awning with no other supports. When it is retracted, it is totally hidden in a painted hood cover or under the gutter against the wall.

Extending the awning not only makes your patio more comfortable and allows use in the rain, it can cut your air-conditioning costs. Because it blocks the sun’s direct rays on the patio or deck and through the patio door, the awning significantly reduces faded carpets and heat in the house.

A self-supporting retractable awning works much the way your arms do. When it is retracted, it is like having your elbows bent and your arms folded flat against your chest (the house wall).

Retractable awnings range in size from 40 feet wide with a 13-foot projection down to small window-size units. There are many types of awning fabrics available, depending on the color, durability, water-resistance, cost, etc. that you need.

The two arms are spring loaded at the “elbows” with the awning fabric rolled up on a spool. As the spool is unrolled, the spring-loaded arms keep the fabric taut. It can be opened only 1 foot or fully extended. I use one made by Arbor at my home to cover my firewood and motorcycle.

All wall-mounted retractable awnings come with standard hand cranks to open and close them. Optional motorized operators are available to fit most awning manufacturers’ products. For unusually windy areas, Regel makes a quick-release awning brace for extra support.

For the ultimate convenience, Somfy makes hand-held remote control motorized units. For high-tech buffs, the company also makes computerized sun, rain and wind sensors to control when the awning retracts and opens.

There are also several types of free-standing retractable awnings for patios or decks not adjacent to a house wall. Sunesta makes a ‘butterfly’ model that extends out both sides and retracts into a narrow protective hood over the center. The lightweight aluminum frame is easy to move.

FIM makes an attractive contemporary free-standing retractable umbrella. The main support, with the hand crank, is positioned off to one side so the patio or deck is totally unobstructed.

Write for (or download https://www.dulley.com) Update Bulletin No. 883, a buyer’s guide of 15 attached and free-standing retractable awnings, sizes, features, prices, installation instructions and a fabric selector guide. Please include $2 and a business-size self-addressed stamped envelope and mail to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244.

Halogen Heat Doesn’t Indicate Inefficiency Q: I have several lamps in my home that have halogen bulbs. The light they give off is great, but they seem to get very hot. Does this mean they are inefficient?

A: Halogen light bulbs get hotter than standard incandescent bulbs. In fact, some halogen light bulbs can get hot enough to ignite some types of fabrics that may accidentally touch them.

This higher temperature does not mean they are inefficient. Halogen bulbs produce about as much light per watt as standard incandescent bulbs, but they last about twice as long.

Dark Ceramic Tile Is a Good Choice for Foyer

Q: I want to add ceramic tile to my foyer for the appearance and to take advantage of passive solar heating in the winter. What is the thinnest method of laying it so it will not interfere with the door?

A: Dark ceramic tile is an excellent choice for passive solar heat gain in the winter. If the foyer is shaded in the summer, the extra thermal mass of the tile helps to moderate the indoor temperature rise throughout the day.

A stable substrate for the tile is a must. A thin layer of thin-set with reinforcing wire mesh nailed to the sub-flooring is effective. If you trowel it on carefully, you can level out an uneven floor at the same time.

Small Study Is Colder Than Rest of the House

Q: We have a small study that we do not use often. It is at the northwest corner of the house and it is always colder than the rest of the house. I’d like to solve this problem now, rather than waiting until the weather cools. What is the best type of heating system to get for it?

A: Since you do not use the study very often, it would be wasteful to keep it warm all winter. An electric radiant heater would probably be your best choice. It warms people in the room quickly, like standing in the sun, without having to wait for the entire room to warm up.

In contrast, if you use the room often, try to balance the air flow from your furnace to move more heated air to keep the study warm continuously.

Letters and questions to Dulley, a Cincinnati-based engineering consultant, may be sent to James Dulley, Los Angeles Times, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45244; or download: https://www.dulley.com