Canopy or awning for front door

We will want some sort of cover over our stoop, to protect the front door and also to provide shelter for visitors if it is raining. What is the difference between a canopy and an awning? What would be historically accurate (or at least not offensive?). Online I have seen both striped fabric covers and also polycarbonate curved covers. (I am using “cover” because I don’t know whether “awning” or “canopy” is right. ) I would be glad to consider other options, and my husband is pretty good as a carpenter. I found some references in old posts on the forum, but the links did not work. Thanks!

Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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Thanks. The house is brick. We’ll be in Brooklyn in December and I will pay attention to awnings in the neighborhood when I walk around.

brokelin | 1 year and 5 months ago

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It is hard to say without seeing your house, but assuming you have some sort of brownstone (whether brownstone, brick or limestone), what I think looks best on old buildings are ones made of wrought iron and glass, especially on houses that look something like yours. Walk around the city and see if you see any that you like. The wrought iron could, of course, be cast iron or steel instead, and the glass could be polycarbonate – the look would be similar. The iron (or iron-looking ones) and glass ones look like the fencing and stair railings on such houses, and blend in.

Second would be an all metal one that looks old, but there is something to be said for not making the stoop darker when fishing out and inserting your key, and if you have glass in your entryway door, one that was glass on top wouldn’t stop the light from filtering through into the entryway of your house the way a solid one would.

The important thing is to have a style that looks like it could have come from a century or more ago, not necessarily as old as your house, depending on how old it is, but definitely something pre-war looking – a modern one will likely look out of place. You might be able to find such a thing for purchase, but I suspect in order to get something that looks good and fits your house, you might want to find someone who custom fabricates them to fit the house. As with most old-house stuff, that probably exists in Brooklyn. I’d start with asking the businesses that make replacement stair railings and gates. There might even be salvage ones around, but getting the right size to fit could be tough.

Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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We are not in a Landmark district.

crosbyshawn4 | 1 year and 5 months ago

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I would say that you need an awning, especially if you are dealing with a Landmark district. The LPC has rules regarding about what is acceptable to use depending on what district you are located in. It would be good to have your architect look into this before you purchase any material that may not be compliant.

Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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I am not sure my first post showed up; it looks greyed-out. I will repeat it here: The house is from 1901 and the tax photos from around 1940 show striped canvas (I assume canvas) awnings on all the windows and the door, hung from below the stone lintels. If awnings aren’t allowed then I guess we can’t be historically accurate, at least not legally.

Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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PS The window awnings in the tax photo are really long! It must have been dark inside. But no doubt it kept rooms cooler.

cate | 1 year and 5 months ago

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What would be historically accurate depends on your house. Late 19th century wood frames had wooden canopies on large brackets. Circa 1900 brick houses sometime had a shallow stone canopy over the front door. You could look at the circa 1940 tax photos for your block or nearby blocks, walk around streets near you, and check out houses in historic districts, etc., to see some examples. Awnings are canvas and not really allowed because they are a fire hazard. Metal canopies might work with a post war house but are not historically appropriate for earlier ones.

Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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We will stick with paint! thanks

justinromeu26 | 1 year and 5 months ago

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listen, varnish needs a coat every other year. maybe every 3 years in low sun. if it fails you more or less have to remove it. most of the time it has to come off if it fails. sometimes i can deal with it if it has partially failed. but paint, last longer when done right over good primer. if it fails, you can sand lightly, prime, fill spots, prime, sand lightly, dust, prime and paint and you will hide most damage from the failure. as you age, having a painted door will be much better.

Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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We decided to go for paint-grade and paint the door; bare wood is gorgeous but from what I’ve read it requires more upkeep and is more susceptible to weather. Should I reconsider?

justinromeu26 | 1 year and 5 months ago

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there used to be glendale awning and my neighbor used them for hers and even had it refabericed by them in the time i have lived in my house. but I think they closed.

i ordered my canvas awning on line.

Fyi, i ordered one of the larger ones that could be had without support legs and it does not do a great job of keeping snow and rain off the steps and my better half wishes i had never put it up. Protect your door by keeping a good coat of finish on it.

that reminds me, i did not ask those people upstate what they finish doors with, but you had better know so you can overcoat.

Guest User | 1 year and 5 months ago

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PS We have a stone lintel above the door – I suppose a canopy would have to be put above the lintel?