How to Install Retractable Awnings

Retractable awnings provide shade and shelter for your deck or patio as needed. Much more affordable than building a permanent cover or enclosure, retractable awnings are a practical way to expand the usable time of your outdoor areas. While you could hire a carpenter or handyman to install your retractable awning, you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself.

Things You'll Need

• Retractable awning
• Electric drill and bits
• Phillips screwdriver
• Wrenches
• Stud finder
• Carpenter's level
• Chalk line
• Silicon sealant

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with all of the parts of your retractable awning. Take everything out of the box it comes in, and figure out what each item is and where it belongs.

2. Determine how high you would like to install your retractable awning. To do this, you must take into account how much pitch your awning has and how high you would like the front rail of the awning to be. Add the amount of pitch to the front rail height to come up with a mounting height.

3. Snap a chalk line across the exterior wall at the height you wish to install the awning. Make sure the chalk line is level using a carpenter's level.

4. Use the stud finder to locate the structural elements of the exterior wall on which you plan to mount the awning. You may have to locate the studs on the inside of the wall and transfer your measurements to the exterior. Retractable awnings must be securely mounted to studs, joists or headers because winds can have a large effect on them.

5. Locate the center of the stud by drilling small holes an inch below the chalk line until you find the outer edges. Draw a long, level vertical line through the hole that represents the center of the stud. Fill the other holes with silicon sealant.

6. Mount the awning brackets to the exterior wall along the vertical line. Different-sized awnings require more or less brackets, so let the instruction manual for your particular awning be your guide for how many to use and where to position them in relation to each other.

7. Install the hood on the mounting brackets according to the manufacturer's instructions.

8. Insert the bar of the awning into the mounting brackets and secure using the bolts and washers provided.

9. Unwrap the awning and adjust the pitch to your preference.

Tips & Warnings

• Very long awnings typically come in 2 pieces. These pieces should be assembled first according to the manufacturer's instructions.

• Drill pilot holes for the mounting brackets to avoid splitting the wood.

• Consult the installation manual that comes with your retractable awning for additional instructions about how to install an awning on different types of exteriors. For example, concrete walls and walls with shingles or siding require different installation methods.