Protective hoods, available as an option, have been designed to provide adequate protection when structural protection is not available. Hoods are often purchased when the awning is a roof or fascia – mounted and when not located directly under and overhang.
Nothing could be more convenient than simply flipping a switch and watching your awning roll out on its own. Once fully extended or retracted, the unit will stop automatically. You may also stop the retractable in any position that you desire. Research has shown that a motorized awning is used four times as much as a manual unit.
Yes, your awning fabric can be refaced. The cost is approximately 40% of the original awning cost.
Retractable Awnings are designed to provide protection from the sun’s rays and not from rain. They can however be used in a light rain or drizzle if the awning is pitched properly. In heavy driving rain or wind the awning must be retracted to ensure that no damage occurs.
The retractable is made for sun protection and should not be left out in windy conditions. The rule of thumb is, if you are comfortable under the awning, it is safe to operate it. It should not be out in winds over 25-30 miles per hour. Since wind is unpredictable it should always be retracted when you are not home.
The awning is mounted to the wall studs or headers through any structure, siding, shingles or stucco. For roof mount applications installers tie into the rafters and silicone to protect and prevent leaks.
Retractable Awnings have been designed to be self-supporting. This style of awning relies on secure mounting in conjunction with spring-loaded arms. The arm tension is created with springs and large radius elbows keep the fabric tight by applying outward force.
Because most retractable awnings are customized for each residence, prices cannot be given without verified measurements and on site inspection. Our professional salespeople can meet with you for a free, in-home consultation to design an awning that’s right for you.
Awnings are very low maintenance. They also don’t require winter removal.
Retractable awnings have anodized aluminum frames with powder coated castings and components.
The main difference between retractable and fixed frame awnings is movement. A fixed frame awning is a permanent structure that offers continual weather protection and is always present for constant, uninterrupted shade. A retractable awning offers movement due to spring-loaded arms that support the awning and provides the option of sun or shade.
For starters, an awning is more durable and can be designed and constructed to meet the unique configuration of your home. An awning can cover a larger area and set the boundaries for an outdoor room. On the other hand, an umbrella is highly susceptible to wind damage, must always be operated manually and shades a much smaller space.
“Retractable” or “lateral-arm” awnings as they are technically called are designed to be self-supporting and eliminate the need for poles and framework. However depending on use, projection and size of the awning temporary support poles may be a worthwhile investment for use with your awning.
For applications under the eaves of your home, installers will mount brackets that tie indirectly either to wall studs or header plates. For roof-mounted applications, installers will mount brackets that tie indirectly into the rafters. Consult your sales person for more details on the best way to mount your awning.
Your awning will keep your deck or patio up to 20 degrees cooler, and will subsequently keep the inside of your home cooler as well. By preventing the sun from shining through a patio door or window, the inside stays cooler, which reduces air-conditioning costs and prevents fading of your carpets and furniture. Also, Elegance fabrics are woven, which allows air to circulate through the fabric instead of letting heat build up under your awning.
It is easier to include a motor with the initial awning installation, but it is possible to add one at a later date. Research has shown that a motorized awning is used four times as often as a manual unit. Also, adding a motor later will be more costly than if the awning and motor are installed together with your initial purchase.
The pitch is the angle of fall made by the front bar of an awning. The pitch determines how much water may puddle on the awning when the awning is fully extended. The less pitch an awning has, the more impact rain will have on the awning. All awnings will eventually fail if too much water or weight is allowed to collect on them. When set at the minimum pitch, an awning may collect rain even when the fabric is tight. The more pitch you have, the less you will have to worry about rain collecting on the awning. Increasing the pitch, even a few inches, will have a dramatic reduction on the awning’s ability to collect rainwater. The pitch of an awning is not a factor if the awning is retracted during rain events. It’s always best to retract the awning when not in use no matter what the weather forecast.
Adjusting the pitch can also provide better shade depending on the angle of the sun in relation to the angle of the awning.
Retractable awnings are designed so you can stop the awning at any point with the remote control or the hand crank. There are three buttons on the remote, one for extension, one for retraction, and one to stop the awning at your desired length.
Today, most high-quality awnings use Sunbrella® fabrics. These high-grade fabrics have the color embedded in every fiber, ensuring that they won’t significantly fade over time. Sunbrella fabrics are available in over 140 decorator patterns and can easily coordinate with your outdoor furniture. Sunbrella fabrics block 98 percent of the harmful UV rays of the sun and have been awarded the Seal of Recommendation by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
There is no definite rating for how much wind an awning can handle. Light winds of less than 10 mph (15 kph) should not harm most awnings. However, wind gusts can rapidly reach very high speeds, and in extremely windy locations, a fixed frame awning may be better suited for your application.
For a retractable awning, it is best to retract the awning before wind speeds reach the point of causing the awning to sway side to side or up and down. It is best to retract the awning when not in use regardless of the weather conditions.
Excessive wind and rain are the leading causes of damage to awnings.
High quality awnings utilize powder coated aluminum framework and stainless steel cables and hardware. This is often one main difference when comparing lower and higher quality units.
The Benefits of Awnings are: Energy Savings, Reduce air condition costs, Protection from the Sun, UV rays, rain, snow, sleet, hail, and wind; identification and advertising of your business, Architectural Aesthetics.
Because awnings and canopies are customized they can be made in any size.
Frames can be made from either galvanize steel or aluminum. Regular maintenance is required for galvanize steel frames every three to five years. Aluminum frames last a lifetime however you will need to inspect the fasteners and connectors.
The life of fabric varies with the amount of sun and wind however most fabric have a 5 to 8 year lifespan. Proper care will extend the life of the fabric.
Acrylic fabric is water repellent not waterproof. Water repellent awning and canopies will allow you to enjoy your deck or patio during most weather conditions, that allows you to be safe outside.
Sunbrella fabric have been tested and provide up to 98% UV protection and has been awarded the "Seal of Recommendation" by the Skin Cancer Foundation, an organization dedicated to the prevention of skin cancer.
Whites and lighter colored fabrics provide less protection than darker fabrics.
Fixed awnings and canopies and retractable awnings are customized for each home or commercial center and prices cannot be given without verified measurements and in some cases architectural drawings.
The protective hood is used on awnings that are installed that are exposed on a wall or roof. The hood protects the fabric from the dirt, stains and birds. Some Retractable Awnings come with hoods.
Nothing could be more convenient than simply flipping a switch and watching your awning roll out on its own. Once fully extended or retracted, the unit will stop automatically. You may also stop the retractable in any position with the wall-mounted switch. Research has shown that a motorized awning is used four times as much as a manual unit. Don’t believe it? Consider how few times you would change the TV channel if you didn’t have a remote control.
Because most retractable awnings are customized for each residence, prices cannot be given without verified measurements and on-site inspection. Your awning supplier typically can meet with you for a free, in-home consultation to design an awning that’s right for you.
Generally, however, today’s awning fabrics are considered water-repellent, not waterproof. Water-repellent awning and patio canopies will allow you to enjoy your deck or patio during most weather conditions that it is safe to be outside.
Retractable awnings primarily are for sun protection and should not be left out in windy conditions. However, wind is a very unpredictable force, with a tendency to change direction and speed very quickly. In a wind-tunnel test, which is a very controlled environment, a retractable awning withstood straight-on wind forces at over 50 m.p.h. In “real-life” applications, the general rule of thumb is: If you are comfortable sitting outdoors dining or reading the paper, then it is probably safe to operate your awning. The concern with wind is the up-lifting effect on the awning rather than the downward force; therefore the greater the pitch, the more wind-resistant the unit is.
Good question. Of course, the darker the color chosen, the darker the shade effect underneath will be. There are exceptions, however. Certain fabrics have a lighter-colored underneath side than the top-side color, which gives a more pleasing shading effect. As for the temperature, while color choice has some slight impact, the type of fabric chosen and the overall ventilation of the installation will have a greater effect.
The difference between inside and outside mount is way in which the blind or shade is hung. Inside mount is attaching the blind within the window sill so that the blinds or shades would be flush with the wall. Outside mount is when a blind or shade hangs outside the window sill and would extend beyond the wall or door.