What exactly do retractable awnings do? Well, of course they provide shade as we all know, but they are also great for adding a little more space to your living area. This is especially true if you live in a small area where every little bit of space counts. This can also be a great place to sit at night when the stars are out and the evening is comfortable.

If you do not have a garage, an awning provides a dry space to enter your home when you come home to rain. This is especially true if your awning is located in the front of your home. Often times the awning will attach to or just under the eaves of your home.

Your space surrounded by the things you love such as plants, a fountain, and seating to enjoy the peaceful feelings anytime you need to have a little personal time can be achieved just by the addition of a retractable awning.

The outside eating area that you want with a table and chairs, grill, and space for coolers that are all protected from the beating rays of the sun is another benefit of having a retractable awning.

Awnings are great energy savers saving you as much as 20 - 25% on your air conditioning bills. You will think you have an outdoor air conditioner when sitting under your cover enjoying a gentle breeze.

Another great feature is they help protect outdoor hot tubs or Jacuzzi's. You will discover there are more benefits than you might expect. Awnings will help keep any leaves and other debris from entering your hot tub.

The size you need depends upon the purpose for which you are going to be using your retractable awning. The largest type lateral arm awning is going to be about 40 feet wide by 17 feet out from whatever it is attached to. The awnings have a drop of about three inches for every foot that they extend. This is why the maximum extended length is about 17 feet.

Be sure to closely measure the area that you want your awning to cover. This will give you a good idea of the size that will best suit your needs. Be sure to note the location of any windows or doors so you can make sure you have plenty of clearance. A window that has an awning covering it will realize a noticeable difference in the amount of heat that enters the home.

If you want to go high-tech you can purchase a sensor that will extend and retract your awning automatically. Once the sensor reads a certain amount of light it will automatically extend the awning. Then once night falls the sensor will automatically retract the awning. Finally, be sure to choose a quality awning so you do not have to worry with routine maintenance and other headaches.