FAQs

Does my house wall need special preparation for a retractable awning?

Posted on February 19, 2022 by Samson

If you are fixing a patio awning to a straight forward, 2 plus storey brick house, there will generally be nothing further needed. Single storey buildings, some substrates and some size awnings may require additional bracketing, which we can and will provide. However, a lot of ultra modern homes using super lightweight blocks can be a problem requiring a further framework for support and spreading the loadings..

Obviously on larger awnings the amount of stress put onto the fixing areas when the awning is fully extended can be great indeed.
An awning fully extended is like a large sail in the wind and it is imperative that the correct brackets and fixings are always used and also the correct amount and position according to the size and type of awning.
Not only is it dangerous to have an awning not properly secured to the building it can also pull brickwork down and cause structural damage if the stresses are not spread out correctly. Samson will use chemical fixings for most brackets which ensure a far greater strength and load bearing ability than a normal fixing can.

On single storey or timber built houses and structures we usually have to use what are commonly called ‘spreader plates’ to ensure the stresses not focussed in one place and spreading the weight and load bearing over several brick courses or over more timber to avoid potential damage over time. Spreader plates are quite simply either steel or aluminium plates or box sections that enable many more fixings either sideways or downwards to spread out the forces of an extended awning.

Spreader brackets on single storey buildings are also regularly used to raise the height of the awnings to ensure a good pitch can be achieved by taking the awning cassette up to, or higher than the guttering height, whilst not placing the fixing stresses on the very top coarse of brickwork, in a bungalow for example.

When an awning is extended the stress is ‘sheer stress’ down wards and upwards as well and if the fixings are in the top of a course of bricks or stonework then there is no compression from above to ensure the sheer stress does not simple pull the bracket straight off the wall.

Samson can fabricate almost any size or shape of bracket or framework to ensure a safe and reliable installation but also to enquires the awning is in the right position for maximum effect when is use. Ultimately if the house wall is totally unsuitable we will offer a complete goal post box section steel frame to support the awning(s) without any fixings to the house. This is all a method to place awnings in remote positions when required.

Samson Awnings survey and specify to ensure the correct brackets are always used for the required size and weight of the chosen awning or terrace cover.

Posted in General Faqs, Installation, Patio Awnings | Tagged brackets, Fixings, Installation, Patio Awnings, Recommendations, Retractable Awnings, Safety | No comment