Frequently Asked Questions

The main difference between retractable and fixed frame awnings is movement. A fixed frame awning is a permanent structure that offers continual weather protection and is always present for constant, uninterrupted shade. A retractable awning offers movement due to spring-loaded arms that support the awning and provides the option of sun or shade.

For starters, an awning is more durable and can be designed and constructed to meet the unique configuration of your home. An awning can cover a larger area and set the boundaries for an outdoor room. On the other hand, an umbrella is highly susceptible to wind damage, must always be operated manually and shades a much smaller space.

“Retractable” or “lateral-arm” awnings as they are technically called are designed to be self-supporting and eliminate the need for poles and framework (a good-quality retractable awning should not need support poles). This style of awning relies on a secure structure mounting and its spring-loaded arms for its support.

For applications under the eaves of your home, installers will mount brackets that tie indirectly either to wall studs or header plates. For roof-mounted applications, installers will mount brackets that tie indirectly into the rafters. Consult your installer for more details on the best way to mount your awning.

Yes! Your awning will keep your deck or patio up to 20 degrees cooler, and will subsequently keep the inside of your home cooler as well. By preventing the sun from shining through a patio door or window, the inside stays cooler, which reduces air-conditioning costs and prevents fading of your carpets and furniture. Also, Sunbrella fabrics are woven, which allows air to circulate through the fabric instead of letting heat build up under your awning.

Awnings have a manual override crank that will allow you to retract your awning by hand in case of power failure or malfunction.

It is easier to include a motor with the initial awning installation, but it is possible to add one at a later date. Research has shown that a motorized awning is used four times as often as a manual unit. Also, adding a motor later will be more costly than if the awning and motor are installed together with your initial purchase.

The pitch is the angle of fall made by the front bar of an awning. The pitch determines how much water may puddle on the awning when the awning is fully extended.

The less pitch an awning has, the more impact rain will have on the awning. All awnings will eventually fail if too much water or weight is allowed to collect on them. When set at the minimum pitch, an awning may collect rain even when the fabric is tight.

The more pitch you have, the less you will have to worry about rain collecting on the awning. Increasing the pitch, even a few inches, will have a dramatic reduction on the awning’s ability to collect rainwater. The pitch of an awning is not a factor if the awning is retracted during rain events. It’s always best to retract the awning when not in use no matter what the weather forecast.

Adjusting the pitch can also provide better shade depending on the angle of the sun in relation to the angle of the awning.

Retractable awnings are designed so you can stop the awning at any point with the remote control or the hand crank. There are three buttons on the remote, one for extension, one for retraction, and one to stop the awning at your desired length.

Excessive wind and rain are the leading causes of damage to awnings, and there is no definite rating for how much wind an awning can handle.

Light winds of less than 5 mph (8 kph) should not harm most awnings. However, wind gusts can rapidly reach very high speeds, and in extremely windy locations, an awning may not be suited for your application.

For a retractable awning, it is best to retract the awning before wind speeds reach the point of causing the awning to sway side to side or up and down. It is best to retract the awning when not in use regardless of the weather conditions.

To minimize corrosion, it is essential to use the proper material during construction. Stainless steel, galvanized steel and anodized aluminum are your best choices for prevention of rust and corrosion.

Today, most high-quality awnings use Sunbrella fabrics. These high-grade fabrics have the color embedded in every fiber, ensuring that they won’t significantly fade over time. Sunbrella fabrics are available in over 140 decorator patterns and can easily coordinate with your outdoor furniture. Sunbrella fabrics block 98 percent of the harmful UV rays of the sun and have been awarded the Seal of Recommendation by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Sunbrella is not dyed in the conventional sense (which is a common misperception). In fact, we do not use dyes at all. Highly UV resistant pigments are mixed with Sunbrella fibers in a liquid state prior to extrusion. Fiber is then cut, baled, blended, spun into yarn and woven into fabric.

Here’s a simple analogy that should point out the difference: conventional dyeing is like a radish in that the color is on the outside, but not on the inside. Cut a radish and you’ll find an outer red skin, but an inner white core. Sunbrella is like a carrot. If you cut a carrot, it’s orange all the way through.

Your Sunbrella awning fabric should be cleaned regularly before substances such as dirt, roof particles, and the like accumulate and become embedded in the fabric. The fabric can be cleaned easily with mild soap and water, while still attached to your home.

Click here to download detailed cleaning instructions.

Or if you prefer, we’re happy to recommend an awning cleaning service to clean the awning for you. Call us for a recommendation!

It is not unusual to see two to three inches of fabric sticking out at one end of the awning when totally retracted, normally visible at the opposite end of the motor.

Modern EZ awnings have a unique wrap around P.V.C. housing. If the awning fabric does not retract all the way into the box after the motor shuts off, this is very common and does not require a service call. Simply rotate the BLACK override loop attached to the motor end and rotate the loop clockwise. The fabric will draw tight into the box or under the hood of the awning system.

All of our retractable awnings are designed for moderate wind conditions; however your awning should be retracted when the winds are strong enough to raise the awning causing the arms to flex. Stressing the awning in such a way will not create immediate harm but leaving the awning exposed to excessive or sudden wind gusts may create damage to the wall brackets and/or the arm support brackets. If you do not have a wind sensor installed on your awning be sure to retract the awning when not in use.

All of our retractable awnings are designed to shed rainfall, providing the pitch or slope of the awning is adequate. There are several causes for water build up on your awning. The most common problem is the lack of pitch on the awning due to wall height restrictions. The second reason is, heavy down pours of rain in a short period of time.

Be sure to retract the awning when there is apparent build up of water on the fabric. The weight of the water will cause the arm brackets to break and if there is ample water on the fabric, the fabric will stretch and the support bar may bend causing serious damage to the awning.

Marygrove Awning motors have less than 1% failure rate after five years, however, in the event that the awning fails to move in either direction, first check that the power cord is securely plugged into the outlet. Then check that the GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) was not tripped. Next, check that the remote control light is working when you depress the button. If not, replace the battery before proceeding.

The motor has a built in thermo switch that may be activated after five minutes of continuous use and will take fifteen to twenty minutes to cool down. After the motor cools down it will function as normal.

In the event that these items are secure and the awning is extended, you need to retract the awning therefore your awning motor has a built in manual override. This override is located at the end of the awning on the right or left side where the motor is inserted into the drive shaft. Place the crank handle into the black override, then turning the loop clockwise until the awning is fully retracted.

Through the year the awning is exposed to moisture and common atmospheric conditions. Many new awning frames have metal to metal contact that will wear overtime. To eliminate the sounds, simply spray WD-40 or the equivalent into the elbow bracket on each arm. Being careful not to over spray on the fabric. WD-40 will stain the fabric so be sure to protect the fabric by placing a cloth in front of the awning fabric and spraying the WD-40 directly into the joint with 3 to 4 inch plastic nozzle. In the event the squeak continues, call for service.

Although the awning structure and fabric are designed for all year use, it is advisable to remove the valance at the front of the awning. Simply by removing the two screws at the end of the valance bar, slide the valance out of the extrusion and carefully store the valance until next spring. This will prevent the valance and the piping from fraying due to wind and weather exposure.

Twice a year, to avoid excessive dirt build up on the fabric and frame, use a mild dish washing soap and a mild spray from the garden hose to keep your awning looking good all year. DO NOT USE A POWER SPRAYER on the fabric at anytime.