Customer Resources
Customer PORTAL
Welcome to our brand new customer portal, a dynamic and user-friendly platform designed to keep you connected with your project anytime, anywhere. Easily navigate through important documents, view the latest progress photos, and check the current status of your project with just a few clicks!
Expert Insights, Trusted Solutions:
Elevating Your Outdoor Experience
We've been serving Sussex County, DE (and surrounding areas) since 2001, and we attribute our lasting presence to the top-quality products we work with and the ongoing support we offer to our customers. Whether you're under warranty or not, we will always be here to answer questions or help service your product(s).
Please refrain from leaving your awning open during heavy rain fall. Even though water will bead-up and roll off the fabric, heavy rain sometimes does not roll off fast enough and can pool up, causing your fabric to stretch while also putting additional strain on the lateral (retractable) arms. This could result in damage to your awning. In addition, heavy rain is often accompanied by heavy wind gusts which are never safe for your awning.
Leaving your awning retracted while wet for long periods of time can result in mold/mildew growth. So, if your awning does get wet, be sure to keep it open on the next sunny day so that it can dry out completely.
You have just purchased the best-vinyl glazed window system available today. It’s been proven for years. With proper care and cleaning, your Sunspace Model 200 enclosure will give you years of enjoyment and trouble free service. The Weathermaster View Flex vinyl is a strong, resilient material specifically formulated to resist deterioration from the sun’s ultra violet rays. However, they must be properly cleaned and maintained. Weathermaster vinyl products should be cleaned at least twice a year. The use of any products containing abrasives, ammonia or other chemicals can damage vinyl and will void the warranty.
- Allow panels to cool before washing or cleaning.
- Raise or lower vent to release interlock from adjoining vent.
- Grasp the top of the vent with one hand and bottom of vent with the other hand.
- With both hands, slide vent to the left.
- With the right hand, swing the vent out from the right side of the window frame.
Do NOT use the center bar to raise or lower the vent. Repeat with each remaining panel. - Rest the windows up against a wall or chair. Place a soft towel on a flat surface (i.e. Card table), lay vent on towel to clean.
- Spray Sunspace cleaner/conditioner on Weathermaster View Flex vinyl, then wipe clean with a soft rag or cloth. Repeat on other side.NOTE: If it appears that there is a generous amount of sand or grit on the outside facing vinyl, you may rinse off window to remove that material. Using a mixture of mild liquid detergent like liquid Dawn or Woolite and warm water can also help remove hard water deposits caused by sprinklers or spot cleaning. Let dry, then clean. *Using the right cleaner is important! Stop by our showroom to restock on manufacturer approved vinyl cleaning solutions.
- Replace vents, simply reverse the procedure.
Since the valance fabric is always exposed to sunlight, high winds and inclement weather, it tends to wear out faster than the rest of your awning fabric.
Luckily, our valances are removable! Take them down at the end of the season and re-install them when you plan to frequently use your awning again. If you decide not to remove the valance and find that over time your valance has become heavily worn, we can replace just the valance, rather than all the fabric, which saves considerably on cost.
Your wind-sensor is a precautionary backup, not a fail-safe. It is a motion sensor designed to retract your awning only after detecting bouncing or swaying. This can be a handy helper if you should step away momentarily, although, depending on the size of your awning, it may not have enough time to fully retract before a heavier wind gust comes along. This is why we always advise that you keep your awning closed when not in use.
*With or without a wind-sensor, wind damage is never covered under warranty.
The wind sensor runs on batteries which need to be replaced from time to time. Aside from this, there are sensitivity settings which are pre-programmed by your installers. Should you experience issues with your wind-sensor. Try changing the batteries before contacting our service department.
Tip: If the awning is auto-retracting every 30 minutes or so, this is a sign that the wind sensor batteries need to be changed.
Remote Programming:
The wind sensor, motor, and remote for your awning are produced by Somfy Motors. Just like your wind sensor, the awning remote is battery-powered. Thus, if you experience issues with your remote, you can take some troubleshooting steps on your own before contacting our service department.
1- Replace your remote batteries.
2- Check the GFI switches throughout your house to ensure nothing has been tripped.
Still Need Help?
Service Request
Schedule A Service Visit
Not only are your materials covered under warranty by the manufacturer, but our workmanship is also covered under warranty for 2-5 years (depending on the product) from the date of your installation. Should you experience any issues with your Patio Systems product, please contact our Service Department using the form below.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main difference between retractable and fixed frame awnings is movement. A fixed frame awning is a permanent structure that offers continual weather protection and is always present for constant, uninterrupted shade. While a retractable awning offers movement due to spring-loaded arms that support the awning and provides the option of sun or shade.
For starters, an awning is more durable and can be designed and constructed to meet the unique configuration of your home. An awning can cover a larger area and set the boundaries for an outdoor room. On the other hand, an umbrella is highly susceptible to wind damage, must always be operated manually and shades a much smaller space.
“Retractable” or “lateral-arm” awnings as they are technically called are designed to be self-supporting and eliminate the need for poles and framework (a good-quality retractable awning should not need support poles). This style of awning relies on a secure structure mounting and its spring-loaded arms for its support.
For applications under the eaves of your home, installers will mount brackets that tie indirectly either to wall studs or header plates. For roof-mounted applications, installers will mount brackets that tie indirectly into the rafters. Consult your installer for more details on the best way to mount your awning.
Your awning will keep your deck or patio up to 20 degrees cooler, and will subsequently keep the inside of your home cooler as well. By preventing the sun from shining through a patio door or window, the inside stays cooler, which reduces air-conditioning costs and prevents fading of your carpets and furniture. Also, Sunbrella® fabrics are woven, which allows air to circulate through the fabric instead of letting heat build up under your awning.
Awnings will generally have a manual override crank that will allow you to retract your awning by hand in case of power failure or malfunction.
It is easier to include a motor with the initial awning installation, but it is possible to add one at a later date. Research has shown that a motorized awning is used four times as often as a manual unit. Also, adding a motor later will be more costly than if the awning and motor are installed together with your initial purchase.
Adjusting the pitch can also provide better shade depending on the angle of the sun in relation to the angle of the awning
The pitch is the angle of fall made by the front bar of an awning. The pitch determines how much water may puddle on the awning when the awning is fully extended. The less pitch an awning has, the more impact rain will have on the awning. All awnings will eventually fail if too much water or weight is allowed to collect on them. When set at the minimum pitch, an awning may collect rain even when the fabric is tight. The more pitch you have, the less you will have to worry about rain collecting on the awning. Increasing the pitch, even a few inches, will have a dramatic reduction on the awning’s ability to collect rainwater. The pitch of an awning is not a factor if the awning is retracted during rain events. It’s always best to retract the awning when not in use no matter what the weather forecast.
Adjusting the pitch can also provide better shade depending on the angle of the sun in relation to the angle of the awning
Retractable awnings are designed so you can stop the awning at any point with the remote control or the hand crank. There are three buttons on the remote, one for extension, one for retraction, and one to stop the awning at your desired length.
Today, most high-quality awnings use Sunbrella® fabrics. These high-grade fabrics have the color embedded in every fiber, ensuring that they won’t significantly fade over time. Sunbrella fabrics are available in over 140 decorator patterns and can easily coordinate with your outdoor furniture. Sunbrella fabrics block 98 percent of the harmful UV rays of the sun and have been awarded the Seal of Recommendation by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
There is no definite rating for how much wind an awning can handle. Light winds of less than 5 mph (8 kph) should not harm most awnings. However, wind gusts can rapidly reach very high speeds, and in extremely windy locations, an awning may not be suited for your application.
For a retractable awning, it is best to retract the awning before wind speeds reach the point of causing the awning to sway side to side or up and down. It is best to retract the awning when not in use regardless of the weather conditions.
Excessive wind and rain are the leading causes of damage to awnings.
To minimize corrosion, it is essential to use the proper material during construction. Stainless steel, galvanized steel and anodized aluminum are your best choices for prevention of rust and corrosion.
For a retractable awning, it is best to retract the awning before wind speeds reach the point of causing the awning to sway side to side or up and down. It is best to retract the awning when not in use regardless of the weather conditions.
Excessive wind and rain are the leading causes of damage to awnings.