Are you on the hunt for the perfect door awnings? Give copper awnings a try!
We are going to discuss everything related to copper awnings. By the end of this article, you will know all the benefits of using these awnings, the best awning styles, and the easiest way to maintain your awnings to keep them nice and shiny. So, let’s get started!
What Is a Copper Awning?
An awning is an additional roof-like cover that is attached to the exterior walls of a building. Awnings or secondary overhangs are typically made of canvas or polyester and provide shade under windows and doors.
A lot of people confuse awnings and canopies as one and the same, but they are two very different structures. Canopies are free-standing structures, which means that they are not attached to a building.
However, awnings are attached to a wall on one side and are usually fixed in place. They are extensions of a building structure and provide protection from the elements.
In this article, we’ll discuss copper awnings. These are just like regular awnings, but they are made out of the highest-grade copper. These metal awnings are extremely durable and add a touch of glamor to any house.
Benefits of a Copper Awning Over Doors
Now that you know what a copper awning is, let’s discuss the numerous benefits of installing these awnings over your doors:
Protection
The biggest advantage of these structures is that they provide protection from the elements all year long. Once installed, awnings provide shade from the scorching sun, keeping the area right under your door cool.
They also provide protection from rain and snow. If you need to receive a package at the door, you don’t need to put on a raincoat or grab an umbrella because the awning will keep you safe from being drenched, even in a downpour.
Here is a different scenario. Imagine coming home when it’s pouring outside. You reach your home safely thanks to your umbrella, but you start fumbling at the door, trying to hold your umbrella in one hand and looking for your keys with the other.
An awning saves you from all that hassle. Once you reach home, you can pop that umbrella into a stand and take your time getting out your keys as the copper awning over the door will keep you from getting wet.
Privacy
Awnings also provide a bit of privacy from the outside world. If you have nosy neighbors then you know what we are talking about.
If you want to come and go without being seen by the whole neighborhood, then we suggest installing a large-size copper awning over your front door.
You can also install these awnings over other doors in your house. For example, you can add a copper awning over the door adjacent to your patio.
The awning will provide shade and protection to your patio furniture, and you can relax in your deck chair and sip your favorite beverage without fear of being seen or disturbed. Awnings are a low-cost fix to privacy concerns around the house.
Reduce Energy Bills
Did you know that awnings can actually reduce your energy bill and save you a ton of money? Here is how it works:
Awnings keep the exterior of your house cool since they provide shade against the sun. Cooler walls mean that you don’t need to keep the air conditioning on all day in the summers. So, awnings help trim off your electricity bill.
Awnings are especially useful if you have glass doors that let in a lot of sunlight. While natural light can brighten up your rooms, too much sunlight can cause the paint on your walls to peel faster.
Harsh sunlight can also make your curtains fade faster as colored fabric loses its brightness if exposed to the sun for too long.
Not to mention that on a hot day, glass doors can heat up and feel warm when you touch them. A door radiating heat is definitely going to make the inside of your house feel stuffy, but an awning over the door fixes that problem.
Extra Space for Essentials
Awnings can help carve out additional space to keep useful items that you don’t want exposed to the elements.
An awning over the door can provide shade and protection to any furniture that you keep near your doorstep. For instance, you can keep a small shoe rack to keep your own shoes or those of your guests.
It’s a good place to park boots or running shoes without bringing them into the house. It’s also handy to have your shoes right at the door and ready for whenever you need to step out. You can also keep a small rack or bin for umbrellas and other items.
Plus, children can safely leave their bikes under an awning after they are done playing on the driveway. Awnings create an extremely versatile space in which you can store a wide range of items.
Low-Cost Décor
Copper awnings are a great stylistic element to add to your doors. These structures are an easy way to improve the overall appearance of your home.
Awnings come in all shapes and styles, so you can choose the one that best complements the structure of your door.
Instead of choosing a pre-made design, you can get a custom piece that is made to match your door and the overall style and structure of your house.
Increase Property Value
Your house is also an asset, and improving the appearance of your home is the easiest way to help raise the real estate value of your property.
Awnings add a nice whimsical touch to your doors and make the exterior of your house more attractive to onlookers.
Why Choose Copper Over Other Awning Materials?
Awnings are made of all kinds of materials, including canvas, polyester, steel, and even fiberglass. But nothing beats a classic copper awning.
Here is why copper awnings are superior to other types of awnings:
- Copper awnings do not experience wear and tear like canvas or other cloth awnings. You do not have to worry about ripped or stained fabric with a metal awning.
- A cloth awning will also fade faster in bright sunshine, so the fabric will have to be replaced every few years, which isn’t a problem with copper awnings.
- Cloth awnings can get waterlogged in a downpour as water can pool at the top of the awning, making the structure sag and leak moisture onto the door frame. That is not a concern with copper awnings as water doesn’t pool on the smooth surface.
- Copper is easier to clean compared to cloth, which will need to be power washed or sent to the laundry.
- Copper is better than other metals, such as aluminum. While aluminum awnings are cheaper, copper awnings are more durable and last for years without any maintenance.
- Aluminum is a more malleable metal, which means it can get dented quite easily. Not a good choice, especially in a hailstorm. On the other hand, copper is more sturdy and can stand up to light hail.
- Aluminum also rusts much faster than copper. Too much rust can make tiny holes in your awning that weaken the whole structure. If the awning is not changed immediately, it can be a safety hazard as the structure can collapse at any time.
- Water can speed up the rusting process for aluminum awnings, so they aren’t a good choice for areas that receive a lot of rainfall. You will need to spend more money to water-proof aluminum awnings – otherwise they will not last long.
- On the other hand, copper does not rust but oxidizes into a beautiful teal patina that makes the awnings look even more beautiful.
- Copper awnings complement almost any kind of building. Copper awnings improve the aesthetic appearance of any structure, from traditional homes to modern complexes.
Best Copper Awning Styles for Doors
Here are three of the most popular copper awning styles for doorways:
Canopy Awnings
The canopy is a classic awning style that is very aesthetically pleasing with its gentle inward slope. The part attached to the wall and the base are straight, but the top part has a lovely concave curve that makes the overall structure more pleasing to look at.
Boxy or rectangular structures can be quite boring to look at, but slopes create a break in your line of vision that makes them more interesting to look at.
The canopy style looks good on any building but is best suited to traditional-style buildings, such as Georgian-style mansions.
Standing Seam Awnings
Standing seam awnings have a more modern and sleek appearance. These awnings are attached to the wall on one side while the other side is supported using iron brackets.
Standing seam awnings come in different styles. The top part of the awning can either be flat or with a slight slope to it.
These awnings look great over doors in contemporary and modern buildings due to their minimalist aesthetic.
Textured Awnings
Textured awnings are another great option for doors – especially glass – because this style of awnings provides the most shelter from harsh sunlight.
These elegant awnings have a style similar to traditional cloth awnings. For instance, cloth awnings often have a scalloped edge. Textured awnings replicate that style but use copper instead of fabric.
So, if you love the style of traditional cloth awnings but want something more resistant to the weather and general wear and tear, then textured awnings are the way to go.
How to Keep Your Awnings Clean
Copper awnings generally do not require a lot of maintenance. You can dust them off once in a while or wipe them down with soapy water. Or you can power wash them with a garden hose to quickly remove any grime or junk.
Over the years, the copper will oxidize slowly into a mellow green color, which looks quite beautiful. However, if you want your copper awnings to stay nice and shiny, then you can get them professionally cleaned every few years.
You can also use a homemade paste of equal parts lemon juice and salt with a little cornstarch. The paste should be left on the metal for 10-15 mins and then wiped off to reveal a shiny copper surface without the green layer.
FAQs: Selecting Copper Awning For Doors
Is copper the ideal material for door awnings?
Yes, copper is the best choice because it is water-proof and rust-proof. It is also very robust and does not easily get dented, so it is very long-lasting. Plus, copper awnings are very low-maintenance compared to fabric or aluminum awnings.
Which copper awning style is best for your house exterior?
You can choose any style depending on your preference, but canopy styles are the best for traditional buildings while the standing seam is more appropriate for modern-day structures.
If these styles do not appeal to you, then you can ask a professional to make a custom design for you. You can also customize the size of the awnings to match the proportions of your door.
What is a patina?
A patina is a greenish-blue layer of copper oxide that develops over time as pure copper is exposed to air and moisture. The copper oxidizes to form a beautiful green layer in a similar way that rusts develops over iron.
While rust corrodes the iron, the patina actually protects the copper underneath. Once the patina layer is formed, it seals off the copper underneath from further corrosion so it acts like a natural water-proofing layer. This is why copper awnings are naturally water-proof compared to other metal awnings.
Can copper awnings be painted?
Yes, copper awnings can be painted. If you are getting customized awnings, you can get them painted to match the exterior of your house.
Bottom Line
We hope this article has covered all the bases when it comes to choosing the best copper awning over door frames for your home.