Folding Arm Awnings & Folding Canopies

No. We offer manual operation with a detachable crank, motorized and motorized with backup manual override.

The backup manual override is used to close the retractable awning in case of loss of electricity in your home, building or neighborhood. This will prevent damage to the awning as you can close the awning manually prior to a storm or high winds.

Yes, our retractable lateral arm awnings can be stopped at any position when being extended or retracted and when operated manually or using a motor.

• Both models allow the ability to adjust the pitch/angle. On the Palermo, the pitch is adjusted manually with hand tools using a ladder and on the Palermo PLUS the pitch/angle is adjusted using a detachable crank when standing below the arm.

• The Palermo PLUS models has bubble levels on the front bar to attain a perfectly level front bar and the Palermo does not.

• The Palermo model can be manufactured with a projection greater than or equal to the width as shown in the first picture on the Palermo model web page. The Palermo PLUS cannot.

• The Palermo has a maximum projection of 11’10” and the Palermo PLUS has a maximum projection of 13’2”

Retractableawnings.com only uses brand name solution dyed acrylic fabrics (such as Para, Dickson and Sunbrella) due to the long lasting color of these fabrics. We do not use traditional tent type canvas, cotton, polyester or duck fabrics as these fabrics tend to mildew, rot and fade very fast. In addition, we don’t use vinyl because even though vinyl does provide shade, it absorbs the heat and does not breathe and thus it is very hot under the retractable awning.

There are two different ways that fibers for fabric are colored, and each method produces fibers with different characteristics. One way to color fibers is to dip them in a vat of dye after they are extruded. This method is great for achieving bright colors, and allows manufacturers to create smaller quantities of dyed fibers. In this method, the dye penetrates just the outer surface of the fiber.  Think of a radish: the interior is white, but the exterior is red. This is the same way a “piece-dyed” or “yarn-dyed” fiber is colored.  Most fabrics and carpet fibers today are dyed in this way.

The other way to dye fibers is to add the dye to the liquid fiber solution before the fibers are extruded.  This allows the color to be mixed into the solution thoroughly, bringing the color all the way through the fiber once it is extruded.  In this instance, picture a carrot:  unlike a radish, which has color only on the outside, a solution dyed fiber has color all the way through the fiber.

What difference does the dye method make?  A lot, if you are looking for a colorfast retractable awning fabric with a 10 year warranty!  Solution-dyed fibers are the most colorfast in the industry.  

Retractableawnings.com uses high speed pneumatic machines to sew all of our folding lateral arm awning fabrics using Gore Tenara thread – the absolute best in the world. Gore Tenara thread maintains its strength even after continued exposure to UV sunlight. UV resistance is built into each and every thread, and is not a coating or additive that can wear. In addition, Gore Tenara thread remains flexible and extremely strong in hot and cold extremes. The thread won’t absorb water and it resists acid rain, salt water, pollution, snow and freezing. Retractableawnings.com does not use any other type of sewing thread including polyester as polyester does not stand up to the elements especially UV rays. Based on our testing Retractableawnings.com does not use heat sealing due to the fact that with even low amounts of humidity the fabric separates at the seam. Seams sewn with Gore Tenara thread are guaranteed not to come apart for life.

The motor on all of our folding lateral arm awnings is located inside the roller tube that the fabric rolls around and therefore does not add any additional width to the retractable awning. The motor can either be on the left or right side of the awning – your choice.

All models components are from Europe – the very best in the world and nothing from China - the very lowest quality in the world. The Palermo/Palermo Plus models frame tucks neatly under the hood/cover. The maximum projection on the Palermo is 11’10” and on the Palermo Plus is 13’2”. The Venezia model is fully enclosed so none of the hardware, roller tube or fabric is visible. The Venezia also has a sleek appearance and does not allow birds, squirrels, rodents etc. to nest under the hood since it is fully enclosed. The Venezia has a maximum projection of 13’2”. The Roma model is available with either a 14’3” or 16’0” projection (largest folding lateral arm awning in the world). For a more detailed side by side comparison of all models, click on or copy and paste the link below in to your browser address bar. You can make the pdf larger if using Adobe Acrobat by clicking on the + sign or Ctrl +: 

FOLDING LATERAL ARM AWNING  MODEL MATRIX COMPARISON- RETRACTABLEAWNINGS.COM - 2017 VERSION

That depends on your needs, what type of weather you plan to have the awning extended or partially extended in, where you would like to install the retractable awning, how you plan to use it, the size you need or want (the area you want to cover) and your budget.

The very best folding lateral arm awnings in the world like our Palermo/Palermo Plus model can handle +- 20-24mph or 29-38km/hr. (Beaufort scale 5) when extended and in use. Most people are indoors when the wind speed is above 20mph or 32km/hr. and would not be using the retractable awning. To be sure your folding lateral arm awning is not damaged by high wind, Retractableawnings.com highly recommends using either a wind sensor (anemometer) or motion sensor to automatically close the awning. All models except are Beaufort wind load tested.

• The wind sensor (anemometer) will close the awning when the wind reaches a certain speed. The wind speed can be set to close the awning anywhere between 12mph and 31mph and can always be changed in the future if wind conditions change. The anemometer is a wired device and needs to be plugged in to an outlet.

• The motion sensor will also close the awning when the wind reaches a certain speed. The sensitivity is based on the movement of the front bar of the retractable folding lateral arm awning and can be changed in the future if wind conditions change. The motion sensor is not a wired device (i.e. it is wireless) sending a radio signal to the motor and does not need electrical power. Instead, it operates using batteries.

• The main benefit the motion sensor has over the wind sensor (anemometer) is that since it is placed on the front bar, it detects wind (in the form of movement) from either side or the front and under the retractable awning whereas the wind sensor (anemometer) only detects wind at whichever side of the awning the anemometer is installed.