DIY Retractable Patio Awnings

A retractable patio awning will provide shade over the patio, protection from all types of weather and create a more comfortable area for relaxation. You can have the awning as partial protection for the sitting area, leaving the cooking area open, or you can also have it designed where you have the most possible exposure to the sunlight.

Retractable patio awnings can extend up to fourteen feet from the wall where they are attached. The width ranges from five to forty feet. Patio awnings are operated either manually, with a spring-loaded mechanism, or by an electrical motor. Some awnings are operated with remote controls or by rain sensors. An electrically powered awning will have the option to operate manually in case of a power failure.

Installing a retractable patio awning yourself can require patience, it but can be successfully accomplished by following a few steps.

1. Use a chalk line to line up the mounting brackets. Carefully follow the instructions on the product for marking the dimensions for the brackets. Locate the mounting brackets under the edge of the roof. The pitch or the slope of the awning should be approximately three inches for every twelve feet.

2. Try inserting fasteners through the sheathing, into the studs. This is the horizontal joist around the perimeter of a floor. Do not mount the brackets to fascia board because this portion of the building will not be able to support the weight of the awning.

3. If you are unable to tie the mounting brackets to the joists or studs, install a 2x6 ledger board and fasten to the joists or studs. Then install the brackets onto the ledger board. Use a mallet to place the mounting bar into the brackets.

4. Be sure to leave enough head room underneath the awning. Also make sure that the fabric of the awning is tight so the proper drainage of water is not an issue. The owner's manual will give you particular instructions on how to make any necessary adjustments adjust your awning.