Awning gaps

Awning Gaps

Awnings extend our living space by creating a seamless link between indoor and outdoor living.

A range of constructions allows us to expand outdoors, easily and attractively - from canvas, manufactured in bright or subtle colours, striped or plain, to timber, including a variety of lattice options, with a roof to match, or one made of glass, acrylic or metal.

Not all awnings require a permit and fabric awnings made by HomePlus Franchise in conjunction with Juralco Aluminium Building Products Ltd fall into this category.

Manager, Gerard Aalders, says “From a health point of view, an awning allows us to enjoy the outdoors, but keep out of the direct sun as well as protecting us from wind and rain. It is a decorative feature and a great selling point and you can change the look of your property simply by replacing the canvas”.

The company offers a made to measure fitted product in two different styles, in over a hundred colourways, using natural and acrylic fabrics with a five-year guarantee against fading. The Deauville Folding Arm (spring-loaded to give in the wind by expelling tension) and the Bannette Drop Arm made with anodised arms and stainless marine grade fittings. Awnings of this type can be fixed to the wall or to the soffit overhead (a good option today with weatherproofing issues). A metal hood attached to the wall over the unit, to protect the retracted awing from the elements is an optional extra.

The Deauville, designed so as not to obstruct walkways, can be made in any size between 2m long x 1.5m projection to 5.9 long and 3.5 projection, in projection increments of 500mm. The ‘baby’ awning 2m length x 1.5m projection, is around $1460 installed, while the cost for a folding arm manual gearbox is around $475 - $645 with remote control, plus $135 for a wind sensor – a small anemometer (has a propeller) attached to the house wall near the awning to catch the wind, which will automatically close the awning when a certain wind speed is reached.

At the other end of the scale, the largest size Deauville is around $4095 motorised, including approx $785 for motor and wind sensor.

The Bannette Drop Arm is for smaller projects like windows or small balconies and is designed to protect inside furnishings, from the harsh sun. With a manual gearbox, the cost for 750mm projection – 1000mm wide is $715, 3000mm wide $1120 with 1500mm projection – 1000mm wide at $850 and 3000mm wide $1220, plus sun and wind sensor $200.

Both styles can be controlled with either manual crank handles or tubular electric motors. Automation is by the push of a button, or operated by remote control.

Depending on your location and needs, other fabric solutions, are sidepost umbrellas and shade sales.

David Jesze from Shademakers says, “We get a lot of people who are looking for awnings, but end up buying a sidepost umbrella, as they prefer the design aspect and the ambiance it creates, as well as the option of being able to move the umbrella to different locations”.

The elimination of a centre post provides maximum space and shade, while the vented canopy facilitates airflow and provides greater stability in the wind.

Manufactured in three different designs using anodized aluminium masts, stainless steel fittings, marine-grade components and European fabrics, the acrylic canvas is colourfast, mould and water-resistant, retains its shape and comes with a 5 year warranty.

The Sola model with a 360º rotation feature and two tilt levels, can also be used to block out nosy neighbours as in their tilt position they create a satellite dish cover – very popular in apartments and town houses. Available as a 2.7m sq $1,595 or octagonal – 3m $1,495, 3.4m $1595 and 3.8m $1765 (ex factory, with base plate or in-ground fitting (extra for some colours and canopy options).

Shademakers also hire out the light-weight Sola umbrella (25 kgs) on a portable base, for a special occasion ($245.00 Inc GST for a weekend).

Readymade and made to order sails are available from Shade Plus Ltd. For smaller residential applications, three stock sizes are available in six colourways - 3.6m square $195.75, 3.6m right angle triangle $334 and 4.2m equilateral triangle $219.

Custom made shades are designed, to suit the location and available fixing points, so could have five points or be shaped like a rectangle, a kite or even a bird. Costs range from around $1200 to $2500. The advantages are an ability to withstand 150 kph winds and that they can be removed easily for winter storage, great if you live in a snowfall area

Handyman stores, like Bunnings sell off the shelf products like the Coolaroo range in triangle and square shade sails and rollup and horizontal window shades. Made from commercial grade knitted fabric, designed to breathe and allow the breeze to filter through on hot days, while not cutting out all light but blocking out up to 90% of UV rays. Retractable wall/door/window awnings 3m x 2m retail for $675, 2.5m x 2 for $593; shade sails 3.6m triangle $114, 3.6m square $196.

Permanent structures, require building permits. Allan Smith from Living Outdoors Ltd, says, “Anything structural attached to the house, regardless of size, will require a building consent. As a price guideline, a basic but very strong pine kitset pegola/archway, say 1500w x 2000h x 600d with trellis sides and flat purlin roof, with posts concreted in position is $350. (Kitset has either walls pre-assembled or roof pre-assembled). The sky is the limit at the other end of the scale”.

Smith says pine trellis, by far the most popular, is available in 25, 30, 35, 40 & 45mm wide - followed by cedar at approximately three times the price of pine, then Macrocarpa, Rimu and other exotics.

When it comes to pergola construction, a vital part is ensuring the posts can support the weight of the overhead beams and roof.

If using glass, laminated glass ($195 sqm), is the better glass option say Auckland Glass and suggest using 6.38 thickness, consisting of two pieces of 3.19 laminated together to give extra strength and sound reduction qualities. This is more resistant and a lot tougher to break and when hit with ‘crack’ force, will crack but hold together, whereas toughened glass will shatter like a car windscreen.

With glass, the rafters need to be closer together, because of the weight, and the construction must be square, because glass is unforgiving.

When roofing two pergolas recently, we used a clear acrylic by Mulford Plastics NZ Ltd ($106.08sqm). It is 6mm thick, able to span 600mms and gives the appearance of glass.

The company supplies a range of acrylic sheeting ranging from 2mm to 25mm thick in clear and matt, which can be cut to suit and is easily fabricated and glued.

Metal roofing is another way to go. Brownbuilt Metal Folding Ltd manufacture bull-nose curved corrugated iron for a pergola roof at a cost of $22.73 a lineal metre for colour and $19.19 a lineal metre unpainted, plus $20.61 for the bull-nose. If you like the idea of copper, they can offer that too for $135 a sqm flat sheet copper.

Aluminium curved canopies made by Awesome Awnings are made to last, says Rosemary Dean. “Our products are made from structural grade steel instead of mild steel as is more often the case. They are rust free and offer large spans, built to engineers’ specifications to meet the building code”.

Rafters are bent to accommodate curved acrylic to a 10ml radius. The laser light polycarbonate roof is 8mms thick and the firm recommends a grey square profile, which will keep heat and light out better than clear. Able to be built in a variety of sizes to be attached to your home, a middle size is similar to a standard carport size 5m x 3m cost $8,800, including building consent application (not consent cost).

(all prices include gst).

©2006 Linda Donald
All rights reserved
Appeared in NZ Property Investor
Words 1324