​When it comes to hiring a contractor to perform work on your home, office, or business, you want to find one that’s not just good, but reliable, helpful, and knowledgeable. Finding the right contractor for your needs means you should know what to look for. It’s not just about looking at reviews or star ratings, it’s also about doing your due diligence and understanding what a contractor’s obligations are to you and what yours are to them.

​Here’s a quick checklist of things you should do when looking for a good contractor:

• Plans/Designs: First, before you do anything, make sure you know what you want. Have a plan or design idea that you can take to a contractor who can then improve upon it.
• Get Recommendations: Ask your friends for a recommendation. This is a good place to start.
• Talk to Several Contractors: Don’t just go for the first one you think is good, talk to multiple companies.
• Look at their Reviews/Work Record: Check out their ratings, see if they have good reviews overall
• Timeliness: Check out the contractor’s past projects and the turnaround time. If the contractor is taking one year to install a simple project that should take only 1 month, then you know that company is spread thin and may not be the right fit for you.

​Finding the right contractor takes time. As you can see from the quick list mentioned above, there’s a lot to think about. So, take your time and really do your research. You may want to do more than what’s mentioned here and look at details that are specific to your needs.
When it comes to finding an awning or patio cover contractor, the above list of things to do or think about still applies. Keep in mind you can always call or talk to a potential contractor; this always helps clear up any questions or misconceptions.
 
Now that you know a little more about what to look for in a good contractor, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co. for more information by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com. 

​Awnings, we know what they are and that they provide protection from the elements. But what are freestanding slide-on-wire awnings? It’s a mouthful to be sure, but these beautiful shade structures provide flexibility and creative freedom for your home, restaurant, patio, or other outdoor area.

​So how do these cool looking awnings work? Well, let’s break it down into parts.
 
·      Freestanding Frame: This frame is not mounted to a wall, building, or roof. Instead, the freestanding frame is made of sturdy materials designed to withstand the wind, rain, and sun while not attached to a building. The frame is typically bolted to the ground. Or the frame can be installed to a preexisting wood trellis or pergola.
·      Fabric Pieces: The textiles that make up the fabric panel pieces of the awning are designed specifically for outdoor use. The fabric pieces tend to be square or rectangular and concave downward to create a designer look and feel to your shade structure.
·      Wire/Cables: The wire or cable of the freestanding slide-on-wire awning is where this structure gets its name. The wire serves as the canvas for the fabric pieces. The pieces are strung onto the wires and can be slid back and forth.
·      Hardware: These are the grommets, screws, washers, snaps, and other pieces that hold the frame and fabric in place. 

So how are freestanding slide-on-wire awnings different from attached units? The answer is straightforward. Freestanding slide-on-wire awnings offer you the ability to create a new space in your backyard, front yard, or other outdoor area that is not attached to your building. The slide-on-wire component allows you the flexibility of controlling the amount of shade you want for your lounge space. With a freestanding awning, your outdoor lounge area takes on the look and feel of a mini-getaway spot. 

​So, what kind of spaces or are areas can you utilize a freestanding slide-on-wire awning? Here’s a quick list:
 
·      BBQ Area: you can BBQ in your lounge/shaded area and not worry about the smoke because you can slide the fabric pieces back and away so that the smoke can pass through without damaging the textile. Then when you’re finished cooking, you can put those panels back out to shade you and your family while you eat.
·      Pool Side Lounge Area: creating a space for you to lounge by the pool is an excellent way to set your backyard apart from the norm. By using a freestanding slide-on-wire awning you can install it next to your pool and lounge by the cool water; it would be like being at a hotel.
·      Dining Area: you create an outdoor dining experience – like at a restaurant – without leaving the house by putting up a freestanding slide-on-wire awning and getting some outdoor dining furniture. Imagine eating a meal on a nice evening in the summer with your family and not being bothered the crowds and noise of restaurants.
·      Reading/Leisure Area: think of outdoor furniture and torches for your evening leisure. Or relaxing during the day while reading a book. 

​As you can see, freestanding slide-on-wire awnings create an ambiance that are more akin to places you might see or lounge in at hotels and other hospitality venues. These excellent shade structures are perfect for backyards.
 
Now that you know a little more about what a freestanding slide-on-wire awning is, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co. for more information by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com. 

​Shade structures, they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and varieties. Often, we see awnings in simple frame and fabric form over a door, window, patio, or other open area. But did you know that a special type of awning known as a spear awning is an excellent choice when it comes designing and architectural flare?

​But, you might be wondering, what exactly is a spear awning? It almost sounds ominous, but this is furthest from the truth. A spear awning is a decorative form of construction. What this means is that poles shaped like spears are used to help frame and keep in place your awning structure.
 
For example, think of a regular pole, now shorten or lengthen it and use that as the frame of your awning. The top of the pole is designed in various shapes including points (not sharp) and rounded edges, and even a combination of both. The spears hold up the stationary awning and provide an aesthetically pleasing addition to your home, business, or restaurant. 

​Spears for awnings can be made of metals, special plastics, and other materials designed for the outdoors. So where can you use the awnings on your building? Here’s a quick list:
 
·      Windows
·      Doors
·      Backyards
·      Patios

​When used in combination with your home’s color scheme and theme, spear awnings can add a level of design to your home or building that will make it stand out from the rest. Imagine the windows of your home are protected with spear awnings. The look and feel of your home is going to change simply because you’ve added these decorative awnings to your windows.
 
Keep in mind, regular awnings and spear awnings share the same function. They just differ in style and look. They both use the same fabrics designed for shade structures and both are excellent additions to any home or business. It’s really up to your taste and what you want for your building and how you want it to look. 

​Now that you know a little more about what a spear awning is, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co. for more information about awnings by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com. 

​Did you know that your awning can be designed to be flame retardant? In fact, in areas where high temperatures can cause fires, it’s always a good idea to make sure your awning is fire retardant. 

​Your awning is outside 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means it’s subject to those high temps and, like anything under intense heat, it can be subject to fire. Or, objects surrounding your awning can also catch fire and set flames to your awning. And if you have a barbeque, embers can also float up and set your awning on fire. So, when you install an awning, it’s always good to make sure the fabric used in its construction is not only UV ray resistant, but flame retardant.

​So, what how does flame retardant fabric in an awning work? For starters, awning fabrics are specialty textiles. This means they are developed with a specialized purpose. An awning textile is designed for the outdoors. When an awning fabric is created to be flame retardant, it is typically chemically treated. Even though there is also the inherently flame resistant types of fabrics – like vinyl – you will typically find awning fabrics that have coated to resist flames. 

​So how do flame retardants work in an awning? Here’s a quick explanation:
 
·      Some retardants stop or disrupt a fire from starting by preventing or delaying flames from igniting. Basically, the chemical prevents a fire from flaring up.
·      Other retardants coat the fabric so that it is insulated and the fire can’t penetrate to the fabric and thus burn it.
·      Retardants are used on the top or bottom of a textile and in awnings, usually the whole fabric is treated to be flame retardant. 

The importance of a flame retardant fabric in an awning is multifaceted. Some of those reasons include preventing a fire from starting, stopping the spread of a fire, and ensuring that a fire won’t break out while your awning is out in the sun. Remember, before you purchase and install an awning, make sure the fabric in it is fire retardant as well as UV ray resistant.
​

Now that you know a little more about fire retardant awnings and how they work, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co. for more information about awnings by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com. 

​Summer is just around the corner and cranking up the air conditioner and running up those energy bills is also just a stone’s throw away. So, what can you do to help keep your power bill down.

​​Some people say you should just set your unit to 78 degrees, and while this is a great recommendation, there are other ways you can keep your energy bill down. For starters, you can keep your curtain closed to help keep out unwanted solar heat gain. You can also turn on fans and open windows. But, there is also another way you can cut the cost of your energy bill down: install an awning. 

​So how can investing in an awning reduce your energy bill? You might be thinking, it will cost more than your summer bill to install one. Well, the answers are simple:
 
·      Awnings last for a long, long time and result in year-round savings.
·      Awnings on windows reduce solar heat gain in the summer by up to 65 percent on south-facing windows and 77 percent on west-facing windows!
·      Awnings can cut your energy bill by keeping your home naturally cool by blocking out the sun. You could save up to $200 annually, according to the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association. (PAMA).
·      Remember, using an awning in combination with window treatments, drop screens, and other shade structures is also another way to keep your energy bill down

​​And, when in doubt about awnings and what they can do for you, remember you can always do some research and look at information provided by organizations including PAMA. You can also contact your local awning shop and ask them about any concerns you might have. 

​Now that you know a little more about awnings and how they can help reduce your energy bill, feel free to contact us at American Awning & Blind Co. for more information about awnings by visiting us at http://www.americanawningabc.com. Or call us at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com.