How to Attach an Awning to an Existing House

Aluminum awnings for windows take less than an hour to install and hold up against inclement weather.

Window awnings help cut the cost of heating and cooling your home by deflecting sunlight off windows. Aluminum awnings withstand weather elements longer than wood awnings that can warp and rot. After measuring your windows for your awnings and purchasing the equipment, installation usually takes less than an hour for each window. Most kits will include the parts needed for installation, but not the tools. Awnings are made for virtually any size window or door.

Things You'll Need

• Drill
• Drill bits
• Extension cord
• Ladder
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Level
• Pliers
• "U" brackets (two for each window)
• Wall brackets (two for each window)
• Bracket fasteners
• Valance brackets (two for each window)
• Screw
• Panel stringers (two for each window)
• Return arm (two for each window)
• Offset sleeves (two for each window)
• Cotter pins
• Awning panels (number will vary depending on size of awning)

Instructions

1. Mark with a pencil where the wall brackets will be installed on top of the window and secure the wall brackets with fasteners.

2. Attach the valance bracket to the bottom of the panel stringer using a screw. The panel stringer will hold the panels for the awning and includes notches where the panels can be set and snapped into place at the end of the project.

3. Attach the return arm with the offset sleeve to the panel stringer at the knockout location, which is a visible, small hole in the panel stringer. Secure the attachment with a cotter pin. The return arm angles the awning away from the window and the offset sleeve attaches the return arm to the panel stringer.

4. Set the top of the panel stringer into the top "U" bracket already secured to the siding and fasten with a cotter pin. Adjust the return arm so it lines up with the lower bracket location and secure with a drill.

5. Attach the lower "U" bracket with wall fasteners. Connect the return arm to the wall bracket with a cotter pin. Repeat for the other panel stringers.

6. Attach the awning roof panels to the parallel panel stringers, working from the bottom up. Some panels come equipped with curled edges so they conform to the shape of the panels and snap into place.

Tips & Warnings

• Awnings should be 12 inches wider than the window to block light from the sides.

• When installing the panel stringers, make sure they are parallel to each other.

• Most aluminum awnings are built using guidelines from the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO). Such kits should include an ICBO research report number, which rates the awnings related to how much snow they can hold and what wind speeds the awnings can withstand.

References

• Try Tech.com
• Shade Builder