DIY Bakery Awning

Bakery awnings provide an element of style and function.

In strip malls and high rises throughout the United States, and for businesses throughout the world, exterior awnings are a means to draw attention to a bakery or business storefront. Bakery awnings provide shelter from hot sun, rain and snow for customers to enjoy al fresco dining, and awnings also advertise the business and its baked goods. Bakery awnings can take many shapes, with the flexible "skin" of the awning conforming to the shape of the framing. Creatively, with advances in lighting capabilities, bakery awnings can even be lighted.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Electric drill
• Grommets
• Canvas or other fabric
• Sewing machine with large needle
• Nylon thread
• Aluminum tubing
• Hacksaw
• Corner tube junctions
• Pipe cement
• Socket bits or socket wrench
• Pliers

Instructions

Planning

1. Measure and mark a position 7 feet up from the sidewalk or ground in front of the bakery. Follow your city code minimum height requirements.

2. Measure down from the 7-foot mark to the point where the awning will end. This is the drop, and the guide for any side panels.

3. Calculate and mark the mounting width. For anything other than a mount on window casing, the width can be anything you choose. Mark the width at the determined distance from both the 7-foot mark and the crop mark.

4. Measure the distance the awning will extend from the wall. This can be any length up to one and a half times the drop.

5. Measure the determined width of the awning.

6. Photograph the bakery window or door to create a visual reference or create a rendering of the awning on your bakery with computer software.

Sewing

1. Buy your chosen fabric, canvas or any other durable outdoor fabric.

2. Sew a hem on the awning fabric using a sewing machine with a large needle. Use nylon thread for greater resistance to outdoor elements. Sew the hems to prevent fraying.

3. Cut small round holes in the fabric above the hem to install grommets where tie-downs will aid installation.

4. Insert metal grommets in each hole made in the fabric.

Installation

1. Assemble the mounting pieces from aluminum tubing that is one to two inches in diameter. Cut the tubing with a hacksaw, and drill holes in the center 12 inches apart to match 12-inch centers in any wall.

2. Connect the cut aluminum tubing with purpose-built corner tube junctions that hold each tube securely. Secure the frame connection with pipe cement.

3. Attach the awning fabric to the aluminum frame before mounting the bakery awning to the wall. The tension in the fabric will help hold the frame securely together. Once attached, through twist ties, nuts and bolts or any other connection method, bolt the bakery awning to the wall using U-clamps and lag bolts preferably driven into studs.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy an awning kit from a source that supplies the framing and fabric treatments to your specifications.

References

• TCT&A Industries: Do-It-Yourself Awnings
• Spacemakers Awnings: Awning Installation