Retractable Awnings — Important Facts
Retractable awnings are designed to protect you and your family from the harsh rays of the Sun. But they provide many additional benefits to their owners. A high quality retractable awning will also keep you dry in a light rain, reduce heat gain in your house, reduce annoying glare, stop interior fabric fading and make your deck or patio a cool, comfortable place to relax.
Retractable awnings come in all sizes and varying levels of quality. In general, if you make an investment in a quality retractable awning, you will have made an investment that will last for years to come. Like gas grills you can spend a very little on a product that will last for a year or two or you can make an investment that will provide years of reliable and beautiful protection from the elements. Please continue reading as we describe the features you should look for in a quality addition to you home.
Torsion or Square Bar
The torsion bar acts as the shock absorber for the retractable awning. When the awning moves, the system transmits the energy of the movement to the torsion bar. Many refer to the torsion bar as the key stabilizer of the retractable awning, yet use inferior thin wall steel or aluminum. At Eclipse we use both steel and aluminum torsion bars, depending on the application. When possible we recommend a steel torsion bar for maximum strength. But alas, not all steel torsion bar is created equal. We use 2-millimeter thick walls in our torsion bar. Don’t settle for less in your investment. In highly corrosive applications we increase the wall thickness to 3mm and use an aluminum torsion bar for added protection against corrosion.
Arms
The retractable (lateral) arms transmit tension from the internal springs to the front bar in order to keep the fabric tight. This arm system allows for an awning that requires no poles or upright supports. In a comparison of arms many focus on the system used to connect the spring to the front part of the arm. Many US manufacturers are using exposed single or double cables and or chains. At Eclipse, we have employed Advanced Belt Technology or ABT. The ABT system is made up of nine stainless steel cables totally sealed in a poly carbon UV resistant PVC coating. This state of the art tensioning system creates more stability at the front bar resulting in a high performance awning. The ABT system also guarantees a long life for your arm. While cables have been tested to 5000 cycles (a cycle is one time in and out) and chains have been tested to 8,000 cycles, the ABT system has been tested to an amazing 60,000 cycles. What this means to you is simply the best looking and best performing retractable awning available.
Arm Assembly (or Shoulders)
An arm assembly (or shoulder) is used to connect the arm to the torsion bar. Many companies use a less expensive extruded piece bolted together; while others use a three or four piece cast aluminum arm assembly. The Eclipse™ has a two-piece cast aluminum shoulder with a “sure lock pitch-adjustment”. The sure lock pitch-adjustment assures your pitch will stay in place, saving the hassle and expense of frequent pitch adjustments.
Front Bar
The front bar is where the fabric is connected to the frame at the front portion of the awning. The valance also connects to the front bar and hangs freely in a decorative manner. As in the previously mentioned components, strength is key in the front bar extrusion. Our front bar has a very large perimeter for added strength. Engineers often refer to this as the “I factor”, similar in concept to an I- beam. Think of roof or floor construction where 2x12 boards are used (not 4x4) because of the strength the 12-inch perimeter lends. This added strength keeps your front bar from bending and combines with a strong roller tube for a great looking and great performing awning.
Roller Tube
The fabric rolls around the roller tube when the awning is retracted and unrolls off the roller tube when the awning is extended. The roller tube flexes and returns to form as the awning moves in the breeze. A straight roller tube combined with a straight front bar means a great looking awning, as they maintain the square cut of the fabric. The Eclipse™ features a 78mm steel roller tube for strength and stability.
Installation Brackets
Installation Brackets are the connection between the awning and the house. Good solid installations brackets can be made from either extruded or die cast aluminum either will work just fine. The key to a solid installation application is the distance between the two lag bolts, which attach the bracket to the wall. Our installation brackets maximize the distance between the lag bolts while maintaining a compact design.
Hood
The hood protects the awning from the elements when it is retracted and also gives the unit a clean and finished look. While not absolutely necessary, the hood is recommended whenever the unit is not installed under some form of protection, like an overhang. We use an aluminum hood for strength and durability.
Motorization
Motorization (like awnings) is cool. Cranking your awning in and out gets old over time. Our experience tells us that people use and enjoy their awnings more when they opt for motorized units. Simply touch a button and your awning reacts to your every command. Eclipse features Somfy motors and controls. Somfy has a wide array of remote and automated controls including sun and wind sensors.
If you must go big, GO TOTAL ECLIPSE!
The Total Eclipse (our 13ft projection) is a whole different ballgame. Unlike other systems, we use different (more substantial) components in every area for the Total Eclipse . We start with a 50mm steel torsion bar (sorry aluminum is not available). That’s 25% larger than other systems. The arm and arm assembly are larger in extrusion profiles and cast parts. The installation brackets are larger and can be used for wall or soffit installation. The arms are assembled with epoxy and to ensure strength, rivets are added. The front bar has even larger exterior dimensions for the stability required in a unit this size. The casting in the elbow is larger to transfer more tension to the fabric. The A.B.T.® is also larger, nine larger cables for a larger belt. Thirteen feet is a serious projection and you need a serious awning. Other systems use the same product at 10 feet and 11-6 as they use for their 13-foot projection. NOT ECLIPSE!
