I hope I have chosen the right subforum, as my question doesn’t perfectly fit anywhere.
We are planning to install one or two awnings above our terrace. It is a multi-family building, and we have a ground-floor apartment with a continuous terrace area, as wide as our living space (see pictures). Above part of it is the balcony of the apartment above (width approximately 4m (13 feet); the awning would be about 3.5m (11.5 feet) wide and 3–3.5m (10–11.5 feet) deep), while the other area is uncovered (width about 5m (16.5 feet); the awning would be 4.5m (15 feet) wide and 3.5–4m (11.5–13 feet) deep). Since our terrace faces roughly south-southwest, we would ideally like to have an awning over both areas, as the balcony offers only little sun protection during the day. However, the uncovered area is more important. So far, we have obtained quotes from local specialist companies. They also examined the situation on site, as the installation is somewhat complicated (as it turned out later). These companies should know what they are doing, but so far we have not felt completely confident about any of the proposed solutions or fully convinced. Therefore, we would appreciate additional opinions about the possible installation methods.
Uncovered terrace area:
The “installation issue” with the uncovered terrace area is that the first-floor apartment has floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the entire width (see pictures as well). These floor-to-ceiling windows naturally have fall protection barriers. Because of these barriers, the awning cannot be attached directly to the wall.
One company (which installs Klaiber awnings) suggested mounting the awning directly onto the brackets/supports of the fall protection barriers on the floor-to-ceiling windows. What do you think about this? I have a feeling these supports are probably not designed to also carry the weight of an awning!? We were told to ask the construction company about this, but there is no cooperation or assistance available. Additionally, the awning would be quite large at 4.5m x 4m (approximately 14.75 ft x 13 ft) (fully extended 18m² (194 ft²)). That must be a considerable weight.
Another company (which installs Hella awnings) proposed having custom spacer brackets fabricated by a metalworker and then attaching the awning to the wall. I actually prefer this option, but custom-made brackets? Are there no ready-made solutions from the awning manufacturers that are approved for this? Also, there is the question regarding the external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS, or “external wall insulation”). These custom spacer brackets would be attached to the wall, but the insulation is not load-bearing material. Can it handle these loads at all? The company said that nowadays you can’t remove the ETICS, but there are special anchor bolts for this. I looked it up, and such anchors do exist, but wouldn’t these brackets need to be fastened directly to the concrete behind the insulation? Presumably, just like the fall protection brackets, which come out of the wall, I assume this is how it should be done. Otherwise, the screws would have to go from the anchor in the concrete through the insulation before holding the spacer brackets. This would create quite a lever effect because the insulation is quite thick nowadays, and the screws have no grip in it. It would feel like hanging a heavy object 15–20cm (6–8 inches) away from the wall, only supported by screws. Or am I misunderstanding something?
As a layperson, I would suspect the best option is to remove some of the insulation, then fasten the spacer brackets underneath the insulation directly to the concrete, and then close the insulation again. After that, mount the awning on these spacer brackets.
Covered area:
There is no problem with the insulation here, but the same issue regarding the distance applies. Here, it is the fall protection of the balcony instead of the windows, as unfortunately it is a prefabricated balcony and not a “built-on” balcony. Basically, the question is where and how it should be best attached here. Also with custom spacer brackets?
I would greatly appreciate expert advice. I am also open to tips regarding awning manufacturers (How do Klaiber and Hella compare?). I often see Markilux, Weinor, and Warema described as top brands. I have read less about Hella and Klaiber so far.
We are planning to install one or two awnings above our terrace. It is a multi-family building, and we have a ground-floor apartment with a continuous terrace area, as wide as our living space (see pictures). Above part of it is the balcony of the apartment above (width approximately 4m (13 feet); the awning would be about 3.5m (11.5 feet) wide and 3–3.5m (10–11.5 feet) deep), while the other area is uncovered (width about 5m (16.5 feet); the awning would be 4.5m (15 feet) wide and 3.5–4m (11.5–13 feet) deep). Since our terrace faces roughly south-southwest, we would ideally like to have an awning over both areas, as the balcony offers only little sun protection during the day. However, the uncovered area is more important. So far, we have obtained quotes from local specialist companies. They also examined the situation on site, as the installation is somewhat complicated (as it turned out later). These companies should know what they are doing, but so far we have not felt completely confident about any of the proposed solutions or fully convinced. Therefore, we would appreciate additional opinions about the possible installation methods.
Uncovered terrace area:
The “installation issue” with the uncovered terrace area is that the first-floor apartment has floor-to-ceiling windows spanning the entire width (see pictures as well). These floor-to-ceiling windows naturally have fall protection barriers. Because of these barriers, the awning cannot be attached directly to the wall.
One company (which installs Klaiber awnings) suggested mounting the awning directly onto the brackets/supports of the fall protection barriers on the floor-to-ceiling windows. What do you think about this? I have a feeling these supports are probably not designed to also carry the weight of an awning!? We were told to ask the construction company about this, but there is no cooperation or assistance available. Additionally, the awning would be quite large at 4.5m x 4m (approximately 14.75 ft x 13 ft) (fully extended 18m² (194 ft²)). That must be a considerable weight.
Another company (which installs Hella awnings) proposed having custom spacer brackets fabricated by a metalworker and then attaching the awning to the wall. I actually prefer this option, but custom-made brackets? Are there no ready-made solutions from the awning manufacturers that are approved for this? Also, there is the question regarding the external thermal insulation composite system (ETICS, or “external wall insulation”). These custom spacer brackets would be attached to the wall, but the insulation is not load-bearing material. Can it handle these loads at all? The company said that nowadays you can’t remove the ETICS, but there are special anchor bolts for this. I looked it up, and such anchors do exist, but wouldn’t these brackets need to be fastened directly to the concrete behind the insulation? Presumably, just like the fall protection brackets, which come out of the wall, I assume this is how it should be done. Otherwise, the screws would have to go from the anchor in the concrete through the insulation before holding the spacer brackets. This would create quite a lever effect because the insulation is quite thick nowadays, and the screws have no grip in it. It would feel like hanging a heavy object 15–20cm (6–8 inches) away from the wall, only supported by screws. Or am I misunderstanding something?
As a layperson, I would suspect the best option is to remove some of the insulation, then fasten the spacer brackets underneath the insulation directly to the concrete, and then close the insulation again. After that, mount the awning on these spacer brackets.
Covered area:
There is no problem with the insulation here, but the same issue regarding the distance applies. Here, it is the fall protection of the balcony instead of the windows, as unfortunately it is a prefabricated balcony and not a “built-on” balcony. Basically, the question is where and how it should be best attached here. Also with custom spacer brackets?
I would greatly appreciate expert advice. I am also open to tips regarding awning manufacturers (How do Klaiber and Hella compare?). I often see Markilux, Weinor, and Warema described as top brands. I have read less about Hella and Klaiber so far.
@pagoni2020
In your floor plan thread, you have a picture of our house with the sunshade retracted. Only two 4mm (0.16 inch) steel cables run from the house to the posts (50 or 60mm (2 or 2.4 inch) diameter). The left post can be lowered by 75cm (30 inch) in the evening sun.
@Tolentino
shadeone by shadesign
@Effe2020
Awnings need a steeper slope, which is why you end up so high near your neighbor.
Regards, Nida
In your floor plan thread, you have a picture of our house with the sunshade retracted. Only two 4mm (0.16 inch) steel cables run from the house to the posts (50 or 60mm (2 or 2.4 inch) diameter). The left post can be lowered by 75cm (30 inch) in the evening sun.
@Tolentino
shadeone by shadesign
@Effe2020
Awnings need a steeper slope, which is why you end up so high near your neighbor.
Regards, Nida
P
pagoni202020 Jul 2020 16:32Nida35a schrieb:
@pagoni2020
In your floor plan thread, you have a picture of our house with the retracted sunshade. Only two 4mm (0.16 inch) steel cables run from the house to the columns (50 or 60mm (2 or 2.4 inches) diameter). The left column can be lowered by 75cm (30 inches) to block the evening sun.
@Tolentino
shadeone from shadesign
@Effe2020
Awnings need more slope, that's why you end up so close to the neighbor.
Regards, Nida Yes, thanks, I remember.
For me, the oversize in my opinion was only limited to an awning.
Also, I am no longer a fan of wind and sun sensors on awnings. Years of experience have shown that they cause more frustration than benefit, at least for me.
If you are home, the awning is out; if you are not home, it stays retracted anyway.
I could have really saved that money back then; after one year, I disconnected it and never turned it on again.
P
pagoni202020 Jul 2020 16:53Nida35a schrieb:
Our sail has no sensors, but it is electrically operated with a remote control. The maximum projection is 4.8m (16 feet), and the larger the sail, the less the person has to move to stay in the shade. Okidoki, now I understand you... Always those cables you keep stepping on. So you don’t have a fixed sail—basically like an awning but guided by a cable and supported at the ends by two posts.
Good idea!
That could also be an option for the original poster (OP); I just didn’t want a large articulated-arm awning of that size. We currently have a bigger cantilever umbrella on the terrace, which moves and tilts with the wind, but somehow you’re always on alert in case it lifts off, even though I’ve taken every possible precaution.
But a cable-guided version wouldn’t be bad if the OP doesn’t want a freestanding solution. As I said, a huge articulated-arm awning—no thanks, whether it could be screwed to the house or not.
We have a 4 × 4 m (13 × 13 ft) cantilever umbrella, concreted in and extremely stable. It wasn’t the cheap option from a DIY store. The advantage is that you can tilt it against the sun, so it also blocks the sun from the side effectively. The fabric is waterproof, so it works well even in the rain. I can recommend it without reservation.
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pagoni202020 Jul 2020 18:04Würfel* schrieb:
We have a 4 × 4 m (13 × 13 ft) cantilever umbrella, concreted in and extremely stable. It wasn’t one of the cheap ones from the home improvement store. The advantage is that you can tilt it against the sun, so it blocks the sunlight coming from the side perfectly. The fabric is waterproof, so it also works when it rains. I can definitely recommend it. My cantilever umbrella is actually great here, but somehow the swaying in the wind worries me... Probably more because of me, since nothing is going to blow away—