[MrBill]

I have multiple 12 ft wide retractable awnings were the awning material is rubbing on the cover/cassette when the awning is opened/closed.

I have talked with the mfg and they claim that the installer should have used header boards between the awning and the house. The installer used 3 brackets attached directly to the house through vinyl siding.
As the the mfg claims the problem was with installation, the mfg warranty will not cover repair.

Can anyone with awning experience confirm that a header is needed?

Thanks for your assistance!

 

[Ron6519]

Can you access the installation instructions? It should say right in there how it's installed.
Since the instructions will vary from company to company, it might help to ID which one you have.
Ron

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Do you have a picture of the installation?

 

[MrBill]

Can you access the installation instructions? It should say right in there how it's installed.
Since the instructions will vary from company to company, it might help to ID which one you have.
Ron

I have not be able to access the installation instructions. The awnings are manufactured by CraftBilt (Craftbilt.com). The original proposal describes them as Cottage Cassette motorized retractable awnings. The mfg website references window awnings from Aristocrat including a Manor model retractable full cassette awning.

Oldest story in the book, the distributor that sold us the awnings and installed them went out-of-business after twenty years in the business.

After I sent a buch of photos to Craftbilt they arranged for another local distributor to look check out the problems. The distributor said that the installation instructions only show the three brackets; however, they also said that any reputable installer should know to install a header. That also seems to be the position of the mfg.

Crafbilt is willing to replace the awning material for one of the awnings that is frayed. The distributor/installer wants app. $600 per awning to take them down, install vinyl clad headers and reinstall the awnings. To reinstall 5 of the 6 six awnings is a wooping $3,000. Three awnings are 12 ft wide with 47" projection, one is 11 ft x 47", one 9 ft x 32" and one only 5 ft x 47". Might only do the 4 widest awnings.

 

[MrBill]

Do you have a picture of the installation?

This photo shows the 3 brackets at bottom of cassette. It's hard to see in this photo but the bottom of the cassette is bowed at each of the brackets.



Different angle of same awning



Closeup of one awning. Center seam rubbing against cassette.

 

[Scuba_Dave]

Well if its bowed & not straight then it sounds like it was the installation. That sucks
How long ago were they installed?

 

[Tom Struble]

i always install a 2x ledger lagged into the framing,you cant just screw it thru vinyl siding and expect it to be right,did the awning guy do this or did the siders do it?
Same thing with the arms they should have solid blocking behind them

 

[MrBill]

Well if its bowed & not straight then it sounds like it was the installation. That sucks
How long ago were they installed?

The installation was about 2 years ago and the distributor/installer when out-of-business within the first year. I've been pursuing it with the mfg for a long time. One of the principals from the distributor installed the awnings and was allegedly pushed out by his partners before they when belly up. He offered to fix some of the problems but actually just strung me along for a year. Finally PUSH the mfg and they set me up with another distributor that "seems" to be saying the right things.

BTW: Scuba_Dave, are you a diver? Wife and I got into scuba about 15 years ago. Haven't done any lately.

 

[MrBill]

i always install a 2x ledger lagged into the framing,you cant just screw it thru vinyl siding and expect it to be right,did the awning guy do this or did the siders do it?
Same thing with the arms they should have solid blocking behind them

Awning guy installed everything.

Thanks for the tip on the arms/blocking!!

 

[Scuba_Dave]

BTW: Scuba_Dave, are you a diver? Wife and I got into scuba about 15 years ago. Haven't done any lately.

Yup, been diving since '98
We dive for lobster up here

 

[Tom Struble]

you really have to remove the awning and some siding get a 2x in there wrap and flash it properly then reinstall everything

 

[MrBill]

you really have to remove the awning and some siding get a 2x in there wrap and flash it properly then reinstall everything

Yep, that's what the "new" installer said; however, I think he is planning on using 1x so it doesn't protrude out to much. Should I insist on 2x?

 

[Tom Struble]

depends on whats under the vinyl,1x will only bring the surface out the thickness of the siding putting you basicly where it is now.
If you need additional clearance because the fabric is rubbing you need additional thickness

hope this makes sence:wink:

 

[MrBill]

depends on whats under the vinyl,1x will only bring the surface out the thickness of the siding putting you basicly where it is now.
If you need additional clearance because the fabric is rubbing you need additional thickness

hope this makes sence:wink:

Basically makes sense but note that the fabric is rubbing on the cassette, not on the siding etc.. It is my understanding the header will provide more support and remove the "bowing" of the bottom edge of the cassette. Guess I need to make sure they anchor the 1x into enough studs for stability?

 

[Tom Struble]

gottcha 1x should be fine,my personal prefrence would be 2x tho but im not there so i would defer to your siding guy