Retractableawnings.com® vs. Awntech Comparison

When it comes to buying a retractable awning to enhance your enjoyment of your home or business, we know you have plenty of options -- one of which is Awntech. We compared our products to the Awntech Hampton model, and here’s what we found in terms of quality, durability, features, color choices, warranty and more:

Durability comparison

All of our products at RetractableAwnings.com are built to last through years of use and various all kinds of weather. We use materials that resist rust, pitting and corrosion: Our frames are made from 6063 aluminum, and our hardware is 316 Marine grade stainless steel. Our arm components are manufactured using heavy duty German, Flexon brand non-rusting stainless steel chains and Italian heavy duty springs. All of our models have been Beaufort wind load tested, and we use cycle testing -- subjecting our lateral arm awning models to 80,000 open/close cycles to make sure they perform well every time.

By contrast, Awntech either does not specify which materials they use and if they perform cycle testing. Their products are not Beaufort wind load tested. Furthermore, the steel cables used in their arms are not coated and therefore rust at which time the arms will need to be replaced resulting in a cost to the consumer.

Size comparison

The Awntech Hampton’s maximum size is 24 feet wide with a 10-foot projection. Our maximum width and projection, using a single motor and a single piece of fabric, is 52 feet 6 inches wide and a 16-foot projection.

Color and fabric choice comparison

Awntech only offers its frame in white, using an unspecified brand of powder coating, while ours are available in 4 colors of Qualicoat® brand electrostatic powder coating: White, Sand, Ivory and Brown. When it comes to fabrics, there’s no question which brand comes out on top: Awntech offers only about 20 Docryl fabrics, while RetractableAwnings.com offers over 500 solution-dyed acrylic fabrics from big brand names like Para, Dickson, Recasens, Sunbrella and Sattler. We also have flame retardant fabric available, which Awntech does not offer.

While we’re on the topic of our fabrics, it’s worth noting that our attention to quality even extends to our choice of thread: We use Goretex brand Tenara thread that is UV-resistant and also resists damage from saltwater, cleaning products such as bleach, and extreme hot and cold temperatures, and has a lifetime warranty against seam separation. Awntech’s website does not specify which thread is used or any information about its quality.

Feature comparison

Our retractable awnings are available with value-added features that increase their safety and ease of use. For instance, all of our awnings use a patented roller design that prevents the fabric from bunching, optional front bar telescopic poles for extra wind support, and a patented center support to protect the fabric from fraying and rubbing against the center support (a/k/a the intermediate tube support) causing friction and damage to the fabric.

We also have high-tech options such as a timer/digital keypad and keyswitch or a smartphone/tablet app module that controls our awning’s opening and closing times from anywhere. Awntech does not offer similar options.

Warranty comparison

We offer a 25-year non-prorated warranty on our frames and a 10-year warranty on our brand name fabrics. Awntech offers a 5-year, prorated limited warranty.

For a more complete side-by-side comparison of RetractableAwnings.com and Awntech products, see and download the comparison matrix below.

Download Comparison PDF