Window & Door Awnings in Orlando, FL

Window and door awnings are the small awnings that do a lot of work. A west-facing bedroom that bakes every afternoon, a kitchen window that turns the room into an oven at 4 p.m., a front door where guests stand in the rain while you find your keys: each of these is a few feet wide and solved by a properly sized awning. Because the awning stops sunlight outside the glass, the heat never gets into the room, which blinds and curtains cannot fully do.

Which windows to shade first

In Orlando, west-facing windows take the low, hot afternoon sun and are usually the first priority. South-facing windows get high midday sun, which a modest awning blocks well in summer. East-facing windows catch morning sun. North-facing windows rarely need shade. We walk the house with you and note which rooms run hot and when, then recommend which openings to cover.

Sizing a window awning

The projection (how far the awning sticks out) and the drop (how far down it reaches) decide how much glass is shaded at a given hour. A higher sun needs less projection; a low afternoon sun needs a longer projection or side panels. Too small and it barely shades the glass; too big and it darkens the room and catches more wind. We size each one for its orientation.

Door and entry awnings

Over a front door, side door or garage entry, an awning keeps rain off people and off the door itself, which helps wood and painted doors last. In Central Florida's afternoon storms, the main design points are pitch (so water runs off the front, not onto the step) and width (wide enough to cover the landing). Fixed fabric, aluminum or a small motorized retractable can all work; what fits depends on the look of the house and your HOA rules.

Styles

• Traditional slope: a straight pitched face with or without side panels.
• Dome or half-round: curved to match arched windows.
• Retractable drop-arm: a small motorized or crank awning that lowers in front of the window.
• Aluminum slatted: permanent metal awnings common on older Florida houses.
• Entry canopy: a deeper frame over a door, sometimes with posts.

Wind and storms

Small awnings fall under the same Florida Building Code awning and canopy provisions as larger ones, and they mount on walls that may be stucco over block or wood framing. We fasten into solid structure, not just the stucco. Before a hurricane, retract drop-arm awnings and follow the instructions for removing fabric on fixed frames if you choose to.

Matching the house

On a stucco home in a newer subdivision, HOA rules often set allowed colors and styles. On an older Orlando bungalow, a striped dome or slope awning can suit the period. We bring fabric samples and can photograph the window so you can picture the result before deciding.