Many homeowners have discovered they have insufficient clearance to install an awning above their patio doors. The optimum mounting height for a lateral arm retractable awning is 9 feet. It is not uncommon to find homes with less than 8 feet clearance below the eaves. Before you surrender to the idea of having a HOT uncomfortable deck or patio that is almost un-useable, read on.

The solution may be a roof mounted awning. Nearly 80% of awnings sold by Nebraska Outdoor Living Center are roof mounted systems. This allows the awning to extend out above the existing gutters giving ample head clearance when the awning is fully extended. Roof mounted awnings should not impact the roof drainage at all. The roof mounting brackets keep the awning up off of the roof allowing water to drain underneath.

If you plan to install the roof brackets yourself, be sure that the lag bolts are into the rafters and not just into the roof sheeting. Professional installers typically pre-drill the holes to be sure they are into the rafter. Then they fill the hole with silicone sealant before securing the bracket to the roof with rust proof lag bolts. When properly installed a roof mounted awning system is stable and leak proof.

Some manufactures do not offer roof brackets to ‘do-it-yourself’ homeowners. If you are uncomfortable in making an awning installation, especially a roof mounted awning, consider hiring an experienced installer. A properly installed retractable awning can transform a HOT deck or patio into the coolest room of your home. Studies have shown that an awning can drop the ambient temperature by up to 20 degrees!