Are you considering purchasing a custom awning? This is quite normal. With spring right around the corner and the milder temperatures returning, it’s natural to think about your landscaping. It’s even more normal considering the current context, which limits our travel. The outdoor space at home, therefore, becomes an important place to spend a pleasant summer outside.
Your backyard is the perfect place to get some rest, enjoy some cocktails with your better half or your friends, and spend some quality time with your children. A well-thought-out layout will let you enjoy the warm season to the fullest.
Fortunately, there are many solutions to make your outdoor space a real haven of peace, such as purchasing comfortable and stylish outdoor furniture and installing a fixed patio awning or umbrellas to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays.
Many homeowners make the mistake of investing in a poor-quality awning from Canadian Tire. Although these are less expensive to purchase, they deteriorate very quickly and offer very few advantages compared to a custom awning.
Investing in an awning isn’t a decision to be made lightly, especially if you plan to make your yard a space to rest. To make an informed decision when buying your first awning here is some sound advice from our landscaping experts.
1. Buying an awning: big box store or custom?
As awning specialists, we strongly recommend opting for custom models, not only for their quality and durability but also their practicality. Awnings from Costco or other big box stores have standardized shapes and colors. Their dimensions may not be ideal for your space, and the color won’t necessarily match your décor.
The only advantage of buying at a big box store is the speed of the purchasing process. All you have to do is choose a box, go to the checkout, and you’re done. You can even order them online and have them delivered right to your door. However, you will need to install it yourself. You will also have to deal with the problems if there is a part missing from the box. You will have to return the product and try to install it again, hoping that everything is there this time.
Doing the installation yourself also carries risks. A poorly installed awning can collapse and cause injuries. Your patio is an important living area during the summer, so it’s crucial to invest for the long term with a custom awning.
It usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to design and manufacture a custom awning, but your awning will last for many years. Certain companies also offer awning installation and removal services, so you won’t have to worry about the strength of your garden shed.
2. Custom awning: how to choose your manufacturer
The achievements page
Any good indoor or outdoor layout professional has a website where you can see photos of their achievements. An awning manufacturer’s achievements page works like a portfolio. This is where you, the customer, can see the quality and aesthetics of the products offered by the manufacturer. Take the time to check if they have photos of custom awnings that have been made in Quebec.
Of course, many other factors may convince you or make you turn your back on an awning manufacturer. However, the achievements page will help you familiarize yourself with the products and services offered.
The after-sales service
When you purchase from a retail chain, the store’s responsibility is over the moment of the checkout, except for returns or exchanges. What about manufacturers offering custom awnings?
Another advantage of doing business with a manufacturer is the access to numerous related services. These services will allow you to keep your awning in good condition for as long as possible. Here are some of the services to consider when choosing where to buy your first custom awning.
- Storage service : important for those who don’t have a dry, heated, and secure space to store their awning during the winter.
- Cleaning and waterproofing: Groupe Bellon Prestige offers an at-home cleaning service. Contact us, and we take care of the rest for you.
- Repairs: Having access to repair service as soon as a hole or a cut appears is an undeniable advantage.
Our team also offers comprehensive turnkey service. We will also take care of the installation of your awning in the spring and the removal in the winter, in addition to storing it at our 35,000-square-foot factory. We store your custom awning in the best possible conditions in one of our heated, dry, and insured premises. If we discover a hole, our certified team will take care of it.
Additional advice on custom awning maintenance
- Clean the canvas with warm water and mild soap. Dirt affects the quality and life expectancy of your canvas.
- Remove unwanted insects as soon as you see them, such as spiders and bees to avoid having nests and webs in the corners.
- Clear the debris that falls in the autumn off your canvas. Use a broom to get rid of dead leaves and branches that could pierce your canvas.
Don’t hesitate to contact our specialists. We offer many accessories, insecticides, and cleaning and waterproofing products to protect your canvas.
3. Choosing a custom awning: what is the difference between retractable and fixed?
This is a question that many homeowners ask themselves before making a choice. The difference lies primarily in your preferences regarding your patio.
A retractable awning acts as a wall-mounted umbrella. Attached to your wall, it can be retracted at any time. Some automated awnings can also be controlled from a smart device.
As for the fixed awning, this is an awning attached to the ground that remains in place. In this case, your awning can be 4-season if desired, which is not possible for a retractable awning.
Can a retractable awning stay outside in the winter?
No, your awning absolutely must be retracted. Otherwise, it could freeze and break. We also recommend investing in a full cover to protect your canvas. We offer a wide selection of cases for your custom retractable awnings.
For fixed awnings, you must remove the canvas and store it in a warm location.
Manual or motorized?
Motorized awnings are practical, but a bit more expensive. Automated models can be controlled from your fingertip using your cell phone. You can even connect them with your patio heater.
Manual awnings require a bit more effort to retract.
Impact of the awning on your electricity bill
An awning doesn’t consume electricity. On the contrary: you will save up to 17% on your air conditioning bill on hot days. The shade created by the awning helps cool the room.
4. The variety of colors and patterns
A custom awning is a long-term investment. That’s why it’s important to be able to personalize it as much as possible so that it suits you perfectly.
When properly maintained, your awning can last for 15 to 20 years. We therefore recommend not letting yourself get carried away with “trendy” and instead choosing colors and patterns that match your home and your style. It would be a shame to invest in flashy colors that you will wind up hating after only a few years.
A good awning manufacturer must be able to offer you a wide selection of colors and patterns. Groupe Bellon Prestige offers hundreds, and our advisors are at your disposal to give you the best layout advice for your home.
Our advice on choosing the right color for your custom awning
Start by determining the palette that interests you. A palette is a color chart that includes several different shades. Identify the main one.
If your wall is light-colored, opt for more understated options. For darker walls, we recommend bright colors for contrast. You can also use the Coolors site to help you determine a palette.
You can also think about patterns, such as vertical or horizontal lines. The lines might even help hide certain seams. If you need help, our advisors will be pleased to guide you through our selection of over 500 colors and patterns.
5. The variety of brands available
Depending on your space or the architecture of your home, some brands might suit your patio a little better than others.
We’re proud to offer our customers more than 7 renowned brands, such as:
- Mitjavila, an awning brand manufactured in Quebec. These awnings offer unparalleled flexibility and are available in large widths. They can also be motorized, and we offer more than 500 choices of fabric colors. In some cases, the slope of the awning can also be variable. In case of issues, repairs can also be carried out without any problems.
- Bat, which offers you the best in Italy. We offer this brand in more than 500 colors, and some models also support variable slopes. You can also motorize Bat awnings with Somfy motors. Bat awnings are also available in multiple structure colors and offer optimal protection from the rain and sun. In case of heavy rain, you just have to retract the awning.
- CORRADI, a high-quality European-style retractable awning. This awning is also very popular in Europe. Its fixed structure is made of aluminum or exotic wood, according to your preferences. CORRADI awnings can withstand heavy rain without disturbing your guests. Opting for a CORRADI awning means offering yourself maximum simplicity. They can be connected to your smartphone. However, the canvas selection is more limited.
- Bellon, designed by a manufacturer with over 125 years of experience in the field. We own our private label and have developed solid expertise. No matter what shape you want, our specialists can produce it for you. We also offer a wide selection of fabric colors (over 500 available) and can adjust the slope of your awning.
- Stobag, lets you combine comfort with Swiss expertise. STOBAG custom awnings not only offer shade but add character while creating a beautiful atmosphere on your patio. With a selection of 300 different patterns and colors, you will undoubtedly find a canvas that will match your outdoor space.
Entrust the design of your custom awning to experts
Groupe Bellon Prestige has offered its custom awning design and manufacturing service to Quebecers since 1895. We’re proud to help Quebecers give their home some character and enjoy their outdoor space to the fullest.
Whether it’s for a home or business, an awning is an investment that combines style and practicality for outdoor spaces. We also offer many other products to complement your patios, such as electric infrared patio heaters, outdoor curtains, or umbrellas.
Request a quote from one of our experts now. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be pleased to take your call.
