Entrance Canopies - The Case For Thinking Carefully Before You Buy

By: William Penworthy Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Do entrance canopies really make much difference to your home? Do door canopies provide any real benefits. Or are they purely an external accessory that may or may not be of any long term value other than for decoration? Let’s consider the benefits of having an entrance canopy or door canopy fitted to your property, and how the various options available compare with each other on the basis of cost, appearance and long term maintenance and life expectancy.

Imagine the scenario - you arrive home after a night out with friends, it’s cold, it’s dark and, because this is the UK and the middle of summer, it’s also raining. You arrive at your front door, fumbling in the pitch dark for your key, whilst the rain slides down the back of your neck.

Now imagine arriving home and being able to shelter from the rain, allowing you to find your key and open your door without gaining a few extra pounds in weight through rain drenching your best clothes. As some entrance canopies have lighting installed too, the scenario becomes even more relaxed and comfortable.

Whether for your benefit, or the benefit of friends, family and other visitors to your home, an entrance canopy or door canopy provides shelter and light - a much more inviting welcome than the elements are likely to provide. Many people consider door canopies merely superficial ways of decorating a property, but in fact they serve a very practical purpose, and provide your home with comfort, shelter and lighting exactly where it’s needed every time someone arrives at your home.

But to consider the practical benefit in terms of comfort, shelter and a warm welcome is not to suggest that entrance canopies do not add an element of design or decoration. There are many different styles and designs to choose from, meaning that there will certainly be a range of choices available to match the existing exterior decor and building style.

It’s important to consider the existing style of your home as selecting a door canopy that will complement your home will produce a finished result which will look entirely as though the canopy has always been there. There is certainly no reason why an entrance canopy should look as though it is an afterthought or an added extra. Today there are many styles, designs and finishes, providing an entrance canopy which blends in and complements your home perfectly.

The property world has certainly been hit hard over recent months, and trying to sell your home can be very difficult. More than ever before it is essential to find ways to make your home stand out from the many others in the neighbourhood also vying for the attention of potential buyers. Having an attractive entrance canopy is an extremely affordable, and very quick way of adding a feature to your home which will certainly make it stand apart from similar properties in the area in a very positive way. Perhaps your home is already on the market and you are looking at ways to hasten a sale. Perhaps door canopies are one way to add value, without adding a significant expense.

But when it comes to choosing between the many entrance canopies and door canopies available, what should you look for, and how do the different materials and styles compare? There are three main types of entrance canopy construction - those made from timber, those made from metal, and those made from a material known as GRP, or Glass Reinforced Polyester. If you look at door canopies in showrooms and in brochures, there’s often nothing to tell between them by looking at them - especially if the ones you’re shown are all new. The difference lies in the cost, the convenience or inconvenience of installation, and the long term maintenance.

As far as cost is concerned, both timber and metal based entrance canopies represent the more expensive end of the scale, with GRP based door canopies much more affordable. However, the cost is not entirely in the fabrication of the entrance canopy, but also with the installation. Because timber and wood are quite heavy, installation does take longer, with more fitters needed, and more time too. Glass reinforced polyester (GRP) door canopies are very lightweight, often only requiring a single person to deliver and install the product, reducing the expense quite considerably.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that whilst timber and metal entrance canopies will require continual maintenance, including painting, varnishing and finishing, GRP door canopies require little more than an occasional wipe with a damp cloth. Affordable, quick and easy to install, hassle free in terms of long term maintenance, and providing both an attractive feature and a practical benefit for your home, GRP entrance canopies represent the ideal choice for your home.