How to Design Metal Window Awnings

Measure the width of the window. Transfer the measurement to 1/4-inch graph paper. Measure the height of the window and the area above the window. Part of the design centers on how the awning can be mounted. Draw a front elevation of your window and the surrounding area. A front elevation is a straight-on, two-dimensional drawing, as if you're looking straight at the wall.

Take a front photograph of the house. Try to take the photo with the camera lens level with the top of the window. Stand back and take a wider photo that captures the whole front of the house. Take your photos to a photocopier store to have them enlarged and printed on 11-by-17-inch paper.

Design the awning to fit with the architecture of the house. If you have a Mission style house, look at the shapes of the architecture for design ideas. A rounded window can be echoed with a rounded metal awning. Modern architecture will look good with geometric shapes such as triangles. A Western style home may look good with a more rustic raw edge on the metal and cutout design elements such as stars or other symbols.

Draw examples of your ideas on tracing paper taped over your front elevation and over your enlarged window photocopy. Try awnings of different sizes, shapes and heights. Consider attaching the awning with different fastener designs such as triangular angled metal, U-shaped metal coming straight out from the exterior wall or curved metal that seems to cup the top of the window.

Draw your best designs at scale over your front elevation. Make a sample of the awning out of cardboard and hold it in place on your home. You may discover that the awning will be too low and block a view, or it may be angled wrong and not provide enough shade. Always angle your structure so rainwater runs away from the house.