Halifax Awning Questions

Adding an awning to your patio or deck will not only give you shade protection from the sun and protection from rain showers, but will add an extra living space to your property. Now you will have a cozy are to relax in your patio furniture, barbecue in most weather conditions and be able to entertain and eat meals outside with family and friends.

An awning will add a shade cover above you when enjoying your outdoor space. It helps to eliminate the heat and the glare from the sun. Often an awning will lower the temperature of the covered area by about 10 degrees. It will also keep the sun off windows in the patio area and keep areas of your home cooler. Even if you are not using your outdoor space, if the awning is part way out it will keep the sun off doors and windows reducing the heat coming through the glass. Blinds will help to a degree, but once the sun gets through the glass it will still be in your building.

If the sun would be coming under the awning at certain times of the day (late afternoon or early evening if south or western exposure) Rolltec has an awning that has an inclination system built into the arms, the Adalia Extreme (X3M) Plus, so the homeowner is able to adjust the pitch themselves using the handle for the gear box or the manual override if motorized.

There is also a feature to provide a built in retractable screen in the front bar of the awning either made of fabric or filter screen. This can be rolled down for extra sun protection or for privacy.

If the sun comes in at the side a panel can be attached to the back and front bar to block the sun.

Usually if you have about 12 in above the doors and windows on your deck area, there will be enough space to mount an awning on the wall. This will allow for adequate pitch to allow rain to run off and give good sun protection.

However, this being said we can place an awning in an area with less space depending on the height expectations of the home owner. The less room the flatter the pitch.

If the space is extremely limited or there are obstructions in the way around tops of windows or doors, we can roof mount the system on special stainless steel brackets that are mounted on top of asphalt shingles and anchored through to the roof trusses. Everything is chalked underneath and around the bracket to provide a waterproof seal. These brackets do not obstruct rain flow or snow melt from getting to the gutters.

Mounting an awning can usually be done on most structures. Sometimes you may need to have a carpenter or contractor do some structural repairs before install. If there is an air gap behind metal siding, the newer style cedar shingles, horizontal or vertical tongue and groove board siding, the wall may need to be stripped and a ledger board installed and trimmed out to make water tight before an awning is able to be mounted. This is not a service we offer.

Vinyl siding is most often used on homes in Nova Scotia. If there is Styrofoam in the wall, we remove it in the area where the awning support brackets are to be placed and put plywood blocks in place on top of the studs to replace the foam. The siding is then snapped back together and the brackets are mounted directly to the siding with the tech screw holes caulked behind the bracket. This gives the bracket a solid base. If the foam is not removed it will compress over time and the bracket will not be anchored securely.

We cannot mount on a cinder block wall as there are air pockets. We can usually mount on brick or stone if the wall behind is solid. Awnings can be mounted on cement walls using concrete anchors instead of tech screws or lag bolts.

We cannot mount on a cinder block wall as there are air pockets. We can usually mount on brick or stone if the wall behind is solid. Awnings can be mounted on cement walls using concrete anchors instead of tech screws or lag bolts.

If the wall is not suitable for mounting on a one storey building we can mount on the roof if it is asphalt shingles with special stainless steel roof brackets. We can roof mount the system on top of asphalt shingles anchored through to the roof trusses. Everything is chalked underneath and around the bracket to provide a waterproof seal. These brackets do not obstruct rain flow or snow melt from getting to the gutters.

Depending on the size of the awning, installation times can vary. The system sits on a series of brackets that will be mounted to the wall or to the roof if the headroom on the deck does not allow for adequate pitch.

Usually installation is approximately 1 to 4 hours depending on the number of brackets, the mounting system and running electrical wiring (if ordered) to an outside outlet if motorized. This includes making any adjustments to level and pitch the awning to customer specifications.

There is very little maintenance required for an awning. There is nothing that needs to be oiled or greased on the frame.

It is recommended that you clean your fabric once or twice a season. Just roll it out and standing on a step ladder at the front edge of the awning using a long handled brush give it a scrub off with a light detergent such as Dawn. The valance and the first two feet from the front bar collect most of the dust and debris in the air and rain. If there are stubborn stains, Spray 9 in the jug diluted with water helps to remove stains.

Over a number of seasons the frame may become dirty and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works great to remove this.

If a part is damaged you can call us to come and assess and we can order in a replacement. Typically, if the part has not been damaged through improper use or negligence, it is covered by warranty. There may be a labor fee to install the new part.

After 8-10 years if the fabric especially on the valance or the front edge of the awning above the front bar becomes torn, we can assess and may be able to repair or turn the whole fabric around so the back edge around the roller is on the front and the worn fabric is at the back of the roller, thus giving you 5-6 more years of serviceability before the system need a new material cover.

When we are contacted to give a quote we will give some information over the phone or through emails and then book an onsite visit to assess your need and concerns.

During the on-site visit clearances for headroom above doors and windows is checked. Measurements are taken along the wall and out from the house to show the customer the sizing of units that will fit their needs.

Once you decide on the system that fits your needs and the price is confirmed, we require a deposit of one third of the price to place the order with Rolltec.

All orders are custom made and are not pre-stocked. The order is placed and usually takes 2-6 weeks for production, shipping and final install. Time varies because of the volume of sales as the season progresses. Orders placed in March or April have a quick turnaround in factory, whereas, orders placed in July usually take about 6 weeks.

The balance of the invoice is due on install.

The business is not set up to take credit or debit payments and the payment method is e-transfer or cheque.