Retractable awnings help homeowner control indoor temperature

Rolltec Rolling Systems Ltd. | Concord, Ontario, Canada

This project, which won an Outstanding Achievement Award in the retractable awnings and canopies category of the 2008 International Achievement Awards, consisted of three retractable awnings installed on a custom-built home. Each awning is powered by a Somfy radio-control motor and is equipped with a sun and wind sensor. All awnings are covered with protective hoods to ensure a long life span of the fabric and mechanism. The awnings were designed to provide the residents with shade over their terrace and inside their living area. By installing retractable awnings, the homeowner was trying control the temperature inside his home. The project’s difficulty was that installation surfaces for the awnings were not in a straight line, with a large section in the middle recessed back. To achieve a uniform look of the awnings, special extended brackets had to be manufactured for the middle section. An uneven stone surface was carefully chiseled to accommodate the size of the wall brackets, which were installed using epoxy glue, shields and threaded rods. The stylish retractable awnings created a harmonious and unobstructed transition between the home and the terrace.