General
Questions
Why
do I need an awning or canopy?
An
awning or canopy can be an excellent form
of compliment to any kind of electrical cooling
appliance (air conditioning). Awnings
restrict the amount of heat entering a building
through glass windows and doors thus reducing
interior temperatures up to 13 degrees and
reducing energy costs by up to 20 percent!
What
more do awnings do in addition to reducing energy
costs?
Our awnings are designed
to complement the architecture of any building
using various types, fabrics, colors, patterns
and styles thus adding decor to the building.
Awnings provide a sense of hospitality and
extend your living space beautifully. Covering
your patio or deck in the summer with a canvas awning is like adding
an additional room to your house.
Awnings & canopies provide protection from the sun and rain and combine
functional elegance with decorative appeal to enhance the appearance of any
home or business. Awnings also protect curtains, furnishings & carpets
from fading from direct UV light.
Note: This
mostly applies to stationary awnings & canopies. Retractable
awnings or canopies should be retracted when
there is inclement weather or high winds
unless specifically designed for such.
How long
can an awning or canopy last?
Awning
frames made of aluminum or steel last a life-time. Today's
fabrics are made to last 5 - 7 years. Today's
most popular fabric, Sunbrella comes with a 5 year
warranty. However, with proper maintenance
and care, they can last even longer. We suggest
taking your awnings and in particular, canopies
down for the winter months. If you
are unable to do this task yourself, we offer
such a service including installation, take down
and/or storage.
What kind of
fabrics are used in awnings and is there a large
color selection?
We
offer a large selection of fabric options. More
popular fabrics include Sunbrella, Dickson, Calabana,
Weathertyte and much more. These fabrics
are available in a variety of colors in both solids
and stripes. We're sure to have a fabric
available to suit your needs and tastes.
Retractable vs. Stationary
If
there are no poles, what supports a retractable awning?
Retractable
awnings are designed to be self supporting. They
rely on secure mounting in conjunction with spring
loaded arms. The arm tension is created with
internal springs and large radius elbows keep the
fabric tight by applying outward force.
What
kind of wind loads can a retractable awning handle?
Retractable
awnings are primarily intended for sun protection
and should not be left out in windy conditions. Wind
is a very unpredictable force with a tendency
to change direction and speed very quickly. The
general rule of thumb is: If you are comfortable
sitting outdoors dining or reading a newspaper,
then it is probably safe to operate your awning. The
concern with wind is the up-lifting effect on
the awning rather than the downward force; therefore
the greater the pitch, the more wind resistant
the unit is. A stationary awning or canopy
is designed to withstand fairly high winds and
certainly can be used in the rain. If
you would like to have your patio or deck be
used as an 'extra room' in the summer months,
a stationary canopy would be a much better
choice for you.
Why
would I want my retractable awning to be motorized?
Nothing
can be more convenient than simply flipping
a switch and watching
your awning roll out on its own. Once fully
extended or retracted, the unit will stop automatically. You
may also stop the awning in any position with
a wall mounted switch. Research has
shown that a motorized awning is used four
times as much as a manual unit!
Do
I need a protective hood for my retractable awning
or canopy?
A protective hood, available
at an additional cost and is designed to provide
adequate protection for your unit when structural
protection is not available. Hoods are often
purchased when the retractable awning is being fascia
mounted and when not located directly under a ledge
or overhang.
Who?
What? When?
What
should I look for in an awning professional?
You
should look for someone with experience and
a reputation for quality work and service. At
Lehrman & Lehrman, we've been designing and
installing awnings, canopies, blinds and shades
for 70 years! We use only the finest materials
and design to exacting specifications. And
besides the warranty provided by the fabric manufacturer,
we guarantee our work to be free from defects
in workmanship for 1 year! Our
repeat business is our testament to skill and
quality workmanship. We have been servicing
some of our customers for decades!
What
is the process of getting a new awning or canopy?
If you are interested in getting
a new awning or canopy installed just give us a
call or send us an e-mail.
We'll make arrangement to come visit your house
or business and take the necessary measurements.
In many cases, you do not even need to be home for
us to do this. Once we have the measurements,
we call to discuss with you what type of awning
or canopy you are interested in and get a general
idea of what you are looking for. We'll then
provide you with a quote based on your selected
style of awning or canopy and your measurements.
At any time during this process you are welcome
to visit our showroom and select the type and color
of fabric you would like for your awning.
We can also provide you with a sample book from
which you can select to color or pattern.
Once you have our quote and you decide you would
like for us to build you a custom awning or canopy,
simply send us a 50% deposit and a copy of the signed
agreement and we'll start the process.
How
long does it take to make an awning once I place
an order?
As with any custom manufactured
product, there is a lead time for quality work to
be accomplished. For fabric awnings or canopies,
this can mean as little as two weeks or as long
as two months. This varies depending on the
time of the year (spring, summer & fall are
typically our busiest time of the year) and it is
not unusual for this lead time to run longer during
these seasons. The best time for ordering
a new awning or canopy is during the fall or winter
months when we have more time to devote to your
project and ensuring the product being available
when you want it in the spring. However, we
make every effort to delivery your awning or canopy
as soon as we can.
How
much does a new awning or canopy cost?
Unfortunately,
there is no easy answer. The
actual cost for your awning or canopy will depend
on the size, the structure it is attaching to,
the fabric you select, whether it is stationary
or retractable and a host of other factors. However,
if you have a rough idea of the size of awning
or canopy you are looking for, we might be able
to provide you with a rough cost estimate. If
this falls within your budget or planning, let
us come out and measure and provide you with
a more accurate quotation. There
is no cost to you for our free quote!
What
sizes are your awnings or canopies available
in?
Since
our awnings & canopies are custom made,
we can cover almost any area you are looking
to cover. Our
awnings are available in a variety of styles
and fabrics and we can design a canopy to cover
almost any shaped space.
More
Technical Stuff
How do the awnings
attach to the building?
Awnings
and canopies are usually attached to the face
(side) of the building. We can mount
your awning or canopy onto brick, aluminum
siding, around chimneys and even on roofs.
What
is pitch and why is it so important?
Pitch
is the amount of 'drop' from the top of the awning
or canopy in the back to the front. Pitch
is important to allow the rain to run off quickly. If
you do not have enough pitch, the rain may tend
to pool in places. This can cause the fabric
to stretch and increase the likelihood of more
pooling. If
you ever find rain water collecting in your canopy,
use the soft end of a broom to push the water
out from underneath and let us know immediately
of the problem.
Cleaning
Can I hose
down my awning/canopy?
Yes.
In particular if you have Sunbrella fabric. It
is good to hose off your fabrics off on a monthly
basis with clear water. Do this while they
are extended on their frames on a sunny day. This
practice will help prevent dirt from becoming
deeply imbedded in the fabric and eliminate the
need for more frequent vigorous cleanings. Just
make sure to allow the fabric to air
dry when finished.
How
often does it need to be cleaned?
This
depends on your environment but in general a
thorough cleaning will most likely be needed
every two to three years. But as mentioned
above, hosing off the fabric on a monthly basis
will help to keep it clean longer.
Is
there any way I can clean bird droppings
off my awning/canopy?
For stains such as bird droppings,
roof run-off, pollution, rust, tree, sap, insect
stains, etc., here are some products that Sunbrella
suggests trying (provided you have Sunbrella fabric):
Goo Gone Grease Cutter (a hand cleaner), Greased
Lightning or Clean Rite Purple Power. Rub
product into fabric allowing it to penetrate.
Brush with a soft brush and rinse THOROUGHLY!
Repeat if necessary. Sunbrella also has their
own 'Fabric Cleaner 303' which is a concentrate
available in various sizes. We stock small
2 oz bottles that you can purchase and try on a
difficult spot you may have. This is also
available in sizes up to 1 gallon and is made to
be diluted in water. You can even use this
in your washer!
Can
I wash my awnings in a washer?
Yes if it is made of Sunbrella
fabric and provided of course that your washer can
handle the size of your awning. Just make
sure it is on the gentle cycle and do not use any
harsh detergents. Something like Woolite would
be good or as mentioned above, the Sunbrella Fabric
Cleaner 303 can be used in your washer. If
you have multiple awnings, and in particular if
they have clinch staples, it is recommended that
you wash them separately so that they don't get
tangled together and rip. However, please note that
the more you clean your awnings, in particular in
a washer, the more likely you will remove the water-repellent
coating.
Can
I use a pressure washer?
Yes
but not at full power. Be particularly
careful if the fabric is old as it may tear. Also,
if you have painted graphics on your awning or
canopy, the pressure washer may damage them.
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