Awning installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What awning installation is

Awning installation mounts a fixed or retractable awning over a window, door or patio with brackets anchored into the framing, adjusts the pitch and wires any motor, so it gives shade and cover from weather. The brackets carry the weight and the wind load, so the anchoring into the house framing decides whether the awning stays up.

Signs you need it

  • A window or a door gets direct afternoon sun, and the room or the patio is too hot to use
  • A patio or a door needs cover from rain as you come in and out of the house
  • A deck or patio is used often, and a retractable awning would give shade when you need it
  • An old awning has torn, sagged, rusted or pulled away from the house, and it needs replacing
  • A window has been unshaded for years, and the glass or the fabric inside is fading from sun
  • A motor-operated awning is wanted, so it can be opened and closed from a switch or a remote

What the pro does

  • Check the wall, the framing, the window or door trim and the position of the awning to plan the brackets and the pitch
  • Locate the framing behind the siding and mark the bracket positions, avoiding wires, pipes and gaps in the framing
  • Anchor the mounting brackets into the framing with the bolts or screws the awning manufacturer requires
  • Mount the arms and the frame to the brackets, and set the pitch so the awning sheds water away from the house
  • Wire the motor and the controls if the awning is retractable, with a licensed electrician making the power connection
  • Test the operation, check the bracket fasteners and the seal against the wall, and set the wind stops for the site

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Awning width, projection and style, such as a fixed frame, a retractable arm or a dome shape
  • Manual or motorized operation, and the controls, sensors and wind stops that go with each
  • Wall type and framing, since brick, stucco or masonry needs different anchors than wood framing
  • Number of mounting points and the bracket size needed for the awning width and the wind exposure
  • Electrical work for a motor, including the power run and the connection by a licensed electrician
  • Access height and the difficulty of working above a window, door or patio

What a written quote should spell out

  • Awning width, projection, style and the fabric or frame material named
  • Mounting brackets, anchors and the framing connection described
  • Motor, controls, wind sensor and the electrical work, if included
  • Pitch, flashing and sealing details at the wall
  • Testing steps and the wind stop settings used
  • Warranty on the frame, the fabric and the motor, and what it excludes

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Where are the brackets anchored, and do you find the framing before drilling?
  • What wind rating does the awning have, and how does it retract in high wind?
  • What pitch will the awning have, and where will the water run off?
  • Who makes the electrical connection for a motor, and is that a licensed electrician?
  • How is the wall sealed around the brackets to keep water out?
  • What is the warranty on the fabric, the frame and the motor?

Red flags

  • Anchors brackets only into siding or trim with no connection to the framing
  • Skips the sealing around the brackets, which lets water into the wall
  • Sets the pitch so the water runs toward the window or the door
  • Wires a motor without a licensed electrician or a proper circuit
  • Says the awning will hold in any wind without a wind stop or retraction plan

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can install a light, manual, fixed awning on a solid wall with framing anchors they can find and drill safely. Call a pro for any awning that is heavy, wide, motorized or mounted on masonry or stucco, since the anchors and the wind load must hold the frame. Drilling into a wall can hit wires and pipes, and working above a door or window can cause falls, so check for utilities and use a stable ladder and a helper.

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 in many areas. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before work starts, especially for the electrical work and the attachment to the house.

Awning installation questions

Will a retractable awning hold up in wind?

Many retractable awnings can be fitted with wind sensors or stops that retract the fabric when the wind rises, and the anchoring has to match the wind exposure. Ask the pro to show the wind stop and how it works before you buy.

Can an awning be mounted on brick or stucco?

Yes, but the brackets need masonry-rated anchors set into the solid wall, not into the mortar or the stucco alone. Ask the pro what anchors they use for your wall type.

How do I keep the awning fabric from fading?

Solution-dyed fabric resists fading better, and the awning should be retracted in heavy wind or storms. Ask the pro for the fabric type and its care instructions.

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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