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Why don't we use awnings anymore (2022)

(thecraftsmanblog.com)
413 points samclemens | 1 comments | 15 Oct 24 22:11 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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pistoleer ◴[16 Oct 24 07:10 UTC] No.41856374[source]▶
It surprises me to read about "fixed metal frame" awnings. You don't _have_ to make that trade off.

In the Netherlands a lot of houses have electrically retractable awnings (or even just mechanically windable by hand), especially above the giant windows facing the back yard.

During winter and bad weather, we retract the awning. When it's too sunny, we deploy it.

typical row house layout with big windows on both sides: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doorzonwoning

retractable awning: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zonnescherm

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dumbo-octopus ◴[16 Oct 24 07:55 UTC] No.41856655[source]▶
We have them in america too. But every moving part comes with inflated costs for both acquisition and ongoing maintenance.
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pistoleer ◴[16 Oct 24 08:00 UTC] No.41856685[source]▶
In the Netherlands it costs around a grand, as for maintenance... Haven't needed to do any in more than 15 years. The actual screen retracts into a weather proof metal casing, so there's not that much that goes wrong, whereas fixed awnings are exposed to the full weather gamut 24/7.

Let me put it this way: it's cheap enough that a lot of social housing and other cheap forms of housing inhabited by the "lower class" feature them.

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strken ◴[16 Oct 24 10:47 UTC] No.41857614[source]▶
In Australia you can get a 3x2m awning from Bunnings for $300[0] and install it yourself in a couple of hours. I'd be surprised if Lowe's in the US didn't have something for the same price, although they've apparently decided to geoblock Australians from accessing most of their website.

[0] https://www.bunnings.com.au/windoware-3-x-2m-charcoal-easy-f...

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1. thaumasiotes ◴[16 Oct 24 12:21 UTC] No.41858236{3}[source]▶
Lowe's advertises awnings, but they're more expensive than that. I see a listing for "144 inch wide x 120 inch projection x 10 inch height metal solid motorized retractable patio awning" for $426. (I tried switching stores from San Francisco, CA to Albuquerque, NM in case of location-sensitive pricing, but prices didn't change.) One meter is about 39 inches, so this appears to be a bit under double the area (including 50% more projection) for a bit over double the price. But the vast majority of their listings are much smaller without being cheaper. Even the cheaper one is one square meter for US$100.