How to Install a Retractable Awning

Recently, we can see an increase in the number of business owners or homeowners looking for ways to create a serene but beautiful environment. Most people choose fish tanks, others choose flower pots, while the more sophisticated ones go for arts. Patios and decks are known to be a popular gathering place but, if your outdoor spaces are exposed to the raw weather or the sun, you may have to look into getting and installing a retractable awning. These devices are designed and manufactured to give users complete control over the amount of protection you want from your device.

How to Install a Retractable Awning

In addition to being beautiful, these retractable awnings are affordable and they don’t take much to operate or maintain. In this article, you will find out that installing a retractable awning is something anyone and everyone can do. Well, these instructions are universal therefore you are advised to read your product’s instruction or manual but in this article, we would give you the idea of time, cost of setting up, and tools required to undergo the project.

 Putting up a retractable awning can be technically done within an hour. Have it at the back of your mind that you may need an outlet installed for cases with an automated retractable awning. 

Required Tools and Materials

An average workshop may have most of the materials and tools listed down here which can be used to install a retractable awning. They are:

How to Install a Retractable Awning

Pencil

Hammer

Level

Phillip Head Screw and Screwdriver

Anchors

Stud Finder

Tape Measure

Assorted SAE wrenches

Laser Level

Rubber mallet or woodblock

Hammer

Appropriate lag bolts for installation – refer to the manual for sizes

Ratchet Set

Crescent and Assorted metric wrenches

Electric drill for installation – It also refers to the manual for sizes.

How To Install a Retractable Awning

When installing your retractable awning, it makes it easier for you if the hood and the mounting bar are placed under the eaves or better yet the soffit. You should make sure that the lag bolt is perfectly inserted into the sheathing of the house – the brick veneer or siding will not weigh much. If your house is built in a way that you cannot make use of the interior studs, you have to set up a header board to replace it. Make sure you go toe to toe with the manufacturer’s manual if the need may be. To get the final clearances, the height at which the wall bracket is mounted will determine this. When it comes to the slope of any retractable awning every 12 feet of fabric has to have 3 inches of a slope.

Step 1

First, use your laser level or your chalk to Mark out the location in which you want to install your retractable awning.

Step 2

Measure out the distance from a window or a door to where you would place your outer bracket.

Step 3

From inside the building, run the same window/door measurement to find the wall stud. Be very careful to write down the measurement.

Step 4

Using the previous window/door measurement on the outside, Mark on your exterior wall about ⅞ inches below your first chalk line.

Step 5

Using the Electric drill, make a ⅛ inches locator hole down to the center of the stud.

Step 6

Put down a vertical line which measures about 4 – 5 inches long.

Step 7

On this line, set your mounting bracket making sure that it is on the same level as the chalk line. Indicate the holes you are going to mount your bracket.

Step 8

Drill the ⅛ inches hole to make sure that you are in the stud center. When at the center, fill the holes before you can proceed to mount the studs.

Step 9

Mount the brackets using lag bolts. Ensure you listen carefully in case the wood is crackling during this process – you have to make sure you are at the center to get all the balance and support your device needs.

Step 10

Hold the other end bracket using the previous procedure.

Step 11

Fix the awning to the brackets by pressing the bar into the bracket end, making sure it is perfectly in place. Use your hammer or rubber mallet if it is necessary.

Step 12

Follow step by step the user guide and manual installation guide. Each producer is different.

Set your slope the way you want it but be careful because if it is too much, passersby would hit their head but if it’s too little, water can lodge in the fabric causing it to Damage. These devices have adjustment bolts which can help you change the slope.

Ensure both the hand crank and the electric motor works fine and smoothly. If it slides out fine without any restriction, you are done. Make sure you close your awning during the time of a storm. Enjoy your summer and install a retractable product to relax in the shade.

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