During a hot summer day, patios and decks tend to absorb a lot of heat. Sitting in these open outdoor spaces can definitely get uncomfortable as you sit there sweating and burning in the sun. Many people add awnings to solve this problem, but they can be a bit expensive. If you want to have the luxury of sitting in the shade on a beautiful summer day, there is a cost-effective way of doing this. By building your own awning, you’ll save a ton of money and you’ll be able to enjoy some shade as well! This article will guide you on how to build your own awning.

This project will require a short list of tools and materials. It will require the following; a tape measure, an electric drill, four sections of rope, four stakes, four grommets, two key rings, two screw hooks, a sewing machine (make sure you have a large needle), two supporting poles and a large piece of canvas. It may sound like a lot, but nothing is really expensive on this list.

Patio Awning

The first step will be to determine the size of the canvas you need for your awning. Always purchase more than you think you need this way you have extra material for a hem. Now your sewing skills will come into play! You’ll now need to sew the hems around the material; this will help avoid any fraying. Since this canvas will be outdoors, use nylon thread since it’s more durable in the outdoor conditions. On the four corners, install one grommet on each corner.

Once the grommets are in place, take the tape measure and measure from one grommet to the other. On the side you plan on having the awning branch out from, drill two pilot holes on the wood siding. These holes will make it much easier for you in the next step; screw the hooks into the pilot holes.

Take a single key ring and install each key ring on each grommet. Start on the side that’s going up against the house first. You’ll need to place the first two key rings on the two hooks and at this point, one entire side of your awning should be complete!

In order to support the other side of the awning, we’ll need to set up the support poles. Pull the canvas to determine where the poles will stand. Make sure it’s nice and taught. The poles will either need a stand on a flat base or they can be driven into the dirt ground. Once you’ve found a secure spot for the poles, proceed by placing them through the grommets.

Now it’s time to use the rope. The rope will play a major role as a support system. Take the rope and tie it to the grommets, on the side of the poles. Since you have four ropes, use two ropes on each side of the pole. You’ll want to stake the ropes into the ground for support. One rope should point directly straight out from the pole and the other should point directly to the side at a ninety degree angle for more support. Do this to both poles.

With these simple steps, you can build your own awning. It will only take a few hours and it won’t cost nearly as much as purchasing and having an awning professionally installed. However, it will accomplish your goal of keeping you cool on those hot summer days!

This author specializes in creating custom house awnings. He’s a big believer in that the right awning fabrics will play a major role in how long your awning will last. More information can be found at this authors site, awningfabric. net.