The Exterior Feature Bargain Block's Keith Bynum Doesn't Love Seeing On Homes
While Keith Bynum from HGTV's hit "Bargain Block" is known for his incredibly creative designs as he works with his partner Evan Thomas on renovating run-down houses in Detroit on a budget, there are some design choices that even he thinks are terrible ideas. In a recent episode, "Farmhouse and Schoolhouse," Bynum pointed out one he particularly hates: metal window awnings.
In the episode, they went with a farmhouse style for the house they got for $45,000 — a tiny sum for most houses but a large amount for the pair who usually pick up houses in distress for under $10,000. But as the house was in better condition than their average flip, they wanted to make cost-efficient changes, yet also made a big impact. And one of those was removing the awning that covered almost half of the window. Bynum noted in the episode, "As with most of the homes in this neighborhood, there are big aluminum awnings on them. They block out all the light, and you can't see out your windows."
Metal awnings were popular back in the day
In the 1950s, aluminum window awnings became an extremely popular addition to homes to protect windows from rain, hail, and other elements and were thought to require less maintenance than canvas awnings, which can tear, discolor, or even get moldy. However, because they are not retractable, and many of the vintage ones from the '50s were quite large for the size of the windows, they often block out sunlight. So Keith Bynum isn't the only one pulling them down, as most modern homeowners prize a bright interior.
That said, Joanna Gaines from "Fixer Upper" says metal awnings can be the best choice for your windows — if they're done right. When she and husband Chip renovated their Waco "castle" on their HGTV show "Fixer Upper: The Castle," they removed the original awnings but then ended up with some window damage from the unpredictable Texas weather. So she reinstalled new metal awnings but chose a shorter type than the vintage '50s style. Modern awnings also come in a wide range of sizes and styles, and — most importantly — many are retractable.