Awnings have been around since ancient times: In 50 BC, the Roman poet and philosopher Lucretius wrote of awnings in his only known work, The Nature of Things. The purpose of the poem was to explain the teachings of Greek philosopher Epicurus to a Roman audience, and Lucretius did so with a series of metaphors—and one metaphor he used was the sound an awning makes when hit by a strong gust of wind:
A sound on high, as linen-awning, stretched
O’er mighty theatres, gives forth at times
A cracking roar, when much ’tis beaten about
Betwixt the poles and cross-beams.
Like Lucretius’s writings, the awning has survived, and we are still speaking of awnings today—just not typically in Latin. We see them everywhere outside shops, restaurants, cafes, and many other types of buildings. Maybe you’ve been considering one for your business too. Indeed, there are many reasons to partake in the ancient tradition of putting an awning on the front of your building. Here are the top 4.
1. Enhancing aesthetic and architectural appeal
Awnings add aesthetic value to your building, which is just a fancy way of saying they make your building look great. There are endless permutations of awning colors, styles, and materials that result in the perfect business awning for your needs. Awnings add visual interest and dimension to your building, and they can be constructed to complement your building’s architecture. Plus, there’s just something welcoming about an awning that helps attract visitors to your location.
2. Establishing your brand
The visual appeal of awnings serves a real use: it makes your building distinctive and identifiable. Business awnings can therefore be a powerful tool for branding, and not just because they can function as signage to display your business name, slogan, or other copy. The color and style of your awning can become synonymous with your business and help make your building memorable to customers so they come back again.
3. Allowing you to maximize outdoor space
It goes without saying that an awning can provide protection from the sun and rain for you, your customers, and your visitors. This makes it more comfortable to stand outside your building’s front door, sure—but there’s more. An awning can help you get more use out of your outdoor space. For instance, if you have a cafe, you may be able to add a couple of outdoor tables and entice customers to use them under the shade of your awning. Though most people refer to awnings and canopies interchangeably, larger awnings with columns are technically known as canopies. If you have a lot of outdoor space, a canopy can help you get the most out of it.
4. Blocking the sun and lowering your AC costs
Maybe you don’t care that much about using your outdoor space, but the protection an awning provides extends to the interior of your building. When placed above your front door and windows, awnings make your indoor space more comfortable for employees and visitors by keeping the sun from shining directly into the building. No one likes getting sun in their eyes, but beyond that, the sun can heat up your interior in the summer, forcing you to crank up the air conditioning to stay cool. With a strategically placed awning, you can keep your energy costs down.
Make sure your business awning is durable and properly installed so you see the benefits
Have we sung the praises of awnings enough yet? An awning can be a great addition to your building, but it is important to make the right choice. A canvas awning, for instance, won’t withstand wet weather unless it’s coated in waterproof vinyl. Your business awning also needs to be properly installed so that it doesn’t collapse when the wind makes a cracking roar. Don’t be intimidated, though. If you work with a signage provider that consults with you based on your needs, it’s easy to find an awning that gives you all 4 of these benefits. Then, you can write your own poetry about the awning and its wonders!
