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Return to the Porches & Decks Forum | Post a Follow-Up

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Retractable Awning? DIY?

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Posted by brigittatony (My Page) on
Mon, Mar 16, 09 at 18:08

Does anyone have any experience making their own retractable patio covers? I would like to put retractable awnings on my patio (I have an existing wood arbor). I like this style that ShadeTree makes:

http://www.shadetreecanopies.com/catalog2/shadetree-thanks-fabrics.asp

It seems like they would be pretty easy to make. I'm assuming you could make a track out of heavy wire and then get sunbrella fabric and use dowels... But, I would love to know if anyone has tried this themselves or seen diy directions posted anywhere? Thanks so much!

Here is a link that might be useful: ShadeTree Canopies

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RE: Retractable Awning? DIY?

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Believe it or not it is easier to build a DIY permanent awning than it is to build a retractable one that works as smoothly as a store bought kit. Also, I think you will find that you will end up spending more on the supplies to build it than you will on purchasing one. I have a strong DIY streak in me so I hate to rain on your DIY parade but this is a situation where you might do better to buy.

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RE: Retractable Awning? DIY?

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I really have my heart set on a retractable awning since I don't want the inside of my house to be shaded all the time. But, since I live in a very hot area, I do need something to shade the house during the sweltering summer months.

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Retractable Awning? DIY?

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I am a landscaper in Southern California and have experience with the product from Shade Tree Canopies. I installed one unit from Shade Tree and will not install or present this product to my customers. For one, the unit has individual pieces of fabric which allows the sun and rain to enter between the sections of fabric thus defeating the intended purpose of a shade cover for a pergola. Also Shade Tree uses Sunbrella fabric which is water resistant and not water proof so water does come through. You are much better off using a product called the Milano (for those with a pergola) or Milano PLUS for those without a pergola from www.retractableawnings.com . You can see the product here http://www.retractableawnings.com/milano.htm and installed units here http://www.retractableawnings.com/gallmilano.htm

Retractableawnings.com uses Ferrari 502 and 602 fabrics which are completely waterPROOF.

Great product! Great company. Highly recommended :)

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.retractableawnings.com

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Retractable Awning? DIY?

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I forgot to mention that the Milano unit from www.retractableawnings.com has ONE CONTINUOUS PIECE of waterPROOF Ferrari fabric all the way across up to 42 foot 8 inches wide so you don't have any rain, sun or glare coming in as compared to the Shadetree product which has fabric in sections and as mentioned above allows sun and rain to come between the sections of NON waterproof fabric.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.retractableawnings.com

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RE: Retractable Awning? DIY?

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We've had a shade tree canopy for 2 years and love it. Sunbrella is a good quality outdoor fabric. Water doesn not seep through the fabric. The fact that it comes in sections allows longer projections and flexible installation - yes, rain will fall beteen the panels if left open in the rain. So if you want to sit outside in the rain that is not a good choice. One thing I like about them is that they will disengage in wind if you happen to leave it open and storm kicks up, which happend to us about a month a go. 70 mph winds and the canopies were fine.

Landscapers - it sounds like your complaints about the shadetree canopies are that it did not fit your desired application, which is your fault for selecting the wrong product if it was not acceptable. We've been very happy with ours, but it may not be for everyone.

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RE: Retractable Awning? DIY?

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I have been looking at Shade tree for a while and I like that it will disengage when the wind kicks up. I also like that it does not have that projection arm. For our deck, that would get in the way. Love the choice of fabrics.

Right now we have a Sears water resistant canopy. Not bad, held up pretty good during a downpour. But it isn't going to last for more than a couple of seasons. I should have just saved my money for a Shadetree.

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