Measuring for Awnings
Awnings are secondary coverings installed on outside home structures like walls, windows, and doors. They are also installed on patios, recreational vehicles, and along sidewalks. Awnings provide protection against environmental elements like rain, hail, snow, sunlight, and wind. Awnings have proven benefits. When installed outside windows, awnings can maintain constant internal room temperatures by blocking out the sun’s rays and lower electricity bills. They provide shade to party guests at outdoor patios during a sudden rain shower.
When installed on sidewalks, they allow pedestrians to walk comfortably without feeling the sun on their backs. Awnings installed on recreational vehicles provide additional living space to family members who want to lounge in a hammock and enjoy the outdoors. Outside restaurant and shop windows, awnings give protection and free advertisement, by bearing the establishment’s name in print.
Aside from giving protection against the environmental elements, awnings provide aesthetic quality to residential and commercial structures. The design of awnings is no longer limited to straight-edges and stripes. The increasing demand for awnings has pushed its manufacturers to come up with new designs to cater to more clients. From the traditional look, awnings now come in dome, concave, convex, and speared designs that can make any structure look whimsical or elegant.
How to measure awnings
Once you have decided on the style of awning you want, you are now ready to specify its dimensions. If you will be hiring a contractor to build your awning, these professionals usually take the measurements themselves. They visit your home or building and have the necessary tools to measure your walls and windows. However, for do-it-yourself people who want to build their awnings themselves, there are simple ways to measure awnings.
The easiest way to do this is to measure the structure where you will be installing the awning. If you will be installing your awning on a window, measure the wall where the window is located. Afterwards, measure the entire length of the window, from one tip of the frame to the other. Do the same procedure when measuring the window’s height.
In order to keep the ordering simple and free of errors, please follow the guidelines step by step and fill the information into the appropriate boxes as you go along.
1. Measure the width of the wall where you like to place the awning. Keep in mind that the width of the fabric is 6 inches less then the total width of the awning (mechanics). Width of awning minus 1′6 inches gives you the maximum projection for your configuration.
2. When measuring the height of the awning location, keep in mind that you should have a minimum height of 6 feet at the lower part of the awning while fully extended. When considering the projection and height of installation, keep in mind that in order to use the awning in light rain you must have a slope of at least 15 degree. Minimum distance between mounting brackets and windows should be 8 inches. On ceiling mounts measure at least 8 inches from the outside edge of the building to the first edge of the bracket.
3. Choose from these 3 mounting brackets: a) bracket for mounting on timber framed walls or brick walls, b) bracket for ceiling mount, c) bracket for mounting to the side of rafters.
4. Choose between manual or motorized operation and on which side (looking at the awning from the outside) the motor switch or the crank handle should be.
5. Distance between floor and mounted awning minus 40 inches equals the length of the crank handle.
6. Choose between white, bronze and beige as the hardware color. Additional colors available for an additional 12% or minimum $100.00 per order.
7. Choose a color and pattern combination for the awning fabric. It should fit your house as well as your surroundings.
8. Retractable awnings are easily self-installed. Manufacturers will provide you with all the necessary hardware specific to your installation and a step by step manual, explaining in detail how to get the awning out of the box and mounted to your satisfaction.