Unfortunately this doesn’t work! There are a great deal of cheap, lightweight, “DIY” awnings available on the market nowadays at various superstores and garden centres, a lot of which do not even have a CE mark, most of which are imported off the shelf take-away units in a limited variety of colours and sizes, and none of which have the quality or strength of a made-to-measure awning supplied by a registered and qualified UK awning company.
Retractable Awnings are structural fixtures, heavy duty and permanently installed. They should be neither lightweight nor portable, given particularly the general British Weather conditions and as such due consideration should always be given to an expert survey prior to purchase by an experienced Blindmaker.
HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW IT CAN WORK
Our local Muslim community wanted a temporary retractable shelter to cover a 7mtr x 7 mtr area of the courtyard adjoining their local Mosque, in order to pray outdoors during especially busy periods when the Mosque becomes overcrowded and the typically British Weather, come rain or shine, may not be conducive to this activity. However, the Mosque being a Grade I listed building, the awning had to be freestanding as nothing can be fixed in anyway to the walls of the building itself. And because of it’s long term permanence it needed to be retractable.
Initially, following a detailed structural feasibility survey, full planning consent was applied for and approved by Bristol City Council, contract details agreed with the Mosque and then manufacture and installation of a freestanding structural retractable awning system can commence.
2 Mtr long heavy duty steel tubes with reinforced base plates are fabricated and concreted very securely into the ground, providing the basis for the structural aspect of the framework.
100mm square box section aluminium is used to fabricate the goal post framework that will support the awnings. Two lengths fixed together to form a 7 mtr crossbar are supported by the 4mtr uprights. These are then powder coated to RAL6009 and then slid neatly over the ground works.
Estoryl PVC Awning Fabric is used for the covers because of its waterproof flameproof and durability qualities. The colours were cut and welded together in keeping with the colourful aspects of the local street scenes and recent inner city regeneration project successfully completed in conjunction with Bristol City Council.
Most importantly, the Weinor I 2000 cassette awning unit was used for the system because of its strength and reliability. Two units each at 7mtrs wide x 3.5mtrs projection, gear operated for simplicity, are attached back-to-back to the box section goalposts. All the colours match in perfectly and the Weinor Awning systems easily support the total of over 50 square metres of PVC fabric coverage.
Project managed from start to finish by Chris Reason of Artistic Blinds & Awnings in Bristol England. There are hundreds of ways to do a job, but please lets do it safely. We have over 30 years experience in the design manufacture, construction and installation of all types of blinds and awnings. We cover most of the country and our surveys are generally free of charge. Good advice is invaluable, so please pick up the phone and ask first. 0117 9109888 – for free advice on why and how to install a quality awning system and not to buy cheap imported imitations.
DON'T DO THIS
It wouldn't be safe
Cost Implication IRO £UK 9,000 plus VAT.
Subject to location and survey.
Here's another one
Approx. cost using Weinor
Awnings for 27 sqm
coverage £4800 + VAT
(ELECTRIC OPERATION)
Here's another one
Approx. cost using Monaco
Awnings for 21 sqm
coverage £3000 + VAT
(GEAR OPERATION)
Unfortunately this doesn’t work! There are a great deal of cheap, lightweight, “DIY” awnings available on the market nowadays at various superstores and garden centres, a lot of which do not even have a CE mark, most of which are imported off the shelf take-away units in a limited variety of colours and sizes, and none of which have the quality or strength of a made-to-measure awning supplied by a registered and qualified UK awning company.
