Awning installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering awning installation

Awnings are judged on whether the brackets stay tight and the fabric looks sharp after the first summer, so customers trust pros who find the framing and seal the wall. Win the job by showing the anchor plan and the wind plan before you quote.

What customers ask

  • Will the awning hold in a windstorm?
  • Will the brackets leak into my wall?
  • Can you make it retract automatically?
  • How long will the fabric last in the sun?
  • Can you match the color to my house?
  • Who wires the motor?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask what the awning is for, which window or door it shades, how wide it must be and whether a motor is wanted.
  • On site, check the wall type, the framing location, the window trim and the wind exposure, and photograph the mounting area.
  • Show a sample of the fabric and frame finish, and explain the fabric's sun and fade rating in plain words.
  • In the quote, list the brackets, the anchors, the frame, the fabric, the motor and the electrical work as separate lines.
  • Explain the seal around the brackets and the pitch that sends water away, since that is what keeps the wall dry.
  • Put the wind plan and the care instructions in writing, including when the customer should retract the awning.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of the bracket mounting and the seal before the frame goes on, showing the framing anchors
  • Finished awning photos from the outside and inside, showing the shade and the pitch
  • Awning types you install, such as fixed, retractable and motorized styles
  • Your service area and whether you also do patio covers, pergolas and shade screens

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a yearly check of the brackets, the seal and the motor, explained as routine care
  • Suggest a fabric clean and a retraction check before the windy season
  • Mention a shade screen or a second awning as information when the customer wants more coverage

Licenses and permits

Whether an awning needs a contractor license varies by place, and motorized awnings often involve licensed electrical work and some installations may need a permit. Confirm what applies where you work with your state or local licensing agency and local building department, and keep your insurance current.

Questions

What do I do when the customer wants the awning anchored into siding only?

Decline to anchor into siding alone, since it will not hold the wind load. Explain that the brackets must reach the framing or a solid wall, and quote the anchoring that does.

Should I warranty the awning fabric?

Pass through the fabric and motor warranty from the manufacturer, and state that wind damage and fabric left out in storms are outside your warranty. Put the retraction guidance in writing.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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