Our lawns need sun and rain to help them flourish but when you plan an outing, no one wants the weather to ruin those plans. Patio awnings can help prevent this from happening. They are more than a cover for your picnic table or a cookout though. An awning can provide shade for many different reasons.
Older versions of awnings were in the form of a gable type shelter. They were placed over windows and doors to shelter them from rain and provide shade for the small areas. Most were permanent and could not be removed or adjusted to cover a larger area. At that place and time, they were used strictly as shelter.
Some older homes were featured with wooden or aluminum awning over the windows and doorways. These were usually permanent and considered a part of the trim. They provided shade for the windows and doors as well as protected them from rain. Many took the place of shutters that would be closed during a rain storm.