Questions about Installation
Q: My deck extends out 12 ft.
from the house. Would you recommend the 9 ft. projection Model 900, or the 10 ft. 2 in.
projection Model 1000?
Answer: Most of our owners prefer the Model 1000, our larger awning, that
extends out from your house a maximum of 10 ft. 2 in. This model gives you
the most coverage and the most shade - at very little extra cost. It's a
SunSetter Best Buy. If your deck is small, or if you're on a budget, you
may choose the smaller Model 900 that extends out a maximum of 9 feet from
your house. This is more than enough to protect a large table and chairs,
several chaise lounges, a deck full of guests, or just about anything you
want to cover. (Remember, a 9 x 12 foot wide awning is 108 square feet -the
size of a small room in a house!) The Model 900's 9-foot projection also
leaves uncovered space on your deck or patio for your outdoor grill, which
should not be used under the awning. We offer both models in widths from 7
to 20 feet.
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Q: Can I install the awning on
vinyl or aluminum siding, stucco, or on masonry?
Answer: Yes. It's easy. All you do is mount a board on the siding first, then
mount the awning to the board. You can paint the board the same color as your house or
trim if you want so it will blend in nicely with your siding or trim.
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 Attach a 1" x
6" board (6" longer than
your awning is wide)to the wall to make installation easy on vinyl, aluminum siding,
stucco, or masonry. |
.Q: It looks as though the
support arm of the awning might block the stairs to my deck when the arm is angled back
against the house. How can I solve this problem?
Answer: Place either or both awning support arms in the vertical position, so
the bottom of the support arm rests on the deck or patio floor, rather than against the
side of your house.
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Questions about
Operation
Q: How does a SunSetter® Awning work?
Answer: The patented SunSetter® Awning stays
conveniently rolled up and retracted against the side of your house until you're ready to
use it. You simply unroll it to the desired position by pulling on the strap provided.
Then extend the support arms. (They can be angled against the side of the house or secured
vertically on the deck or patio.) It takes less than a minute to extend, and is just as
easy to retract.
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Q: Does the awning need
electricity to operate?
Answer: No. It's entirely spring operated. You save the expense of hiring an
electrician.
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Weather Related
Questions
Q: Do I have to take down the
awning and store it over the winter?
 Here
the SunSetter® is shown in the
fully retracted position. It can stay there all winter with no problems. |
Answer: No. Just roll the awning up and leave it on your house all year long.
Our fabric has been designed to withstand the elements year round. You don't have to cover
your awning - but if you prefer to cover it, our optional matching awning cover is
perfect!
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Q: Can a SunSetter®
help keep my home cooler?
Answer: Yes. By keeping the sun from shining in a patio door or window, you save
on air conditioning bills and keep your carpets from fading!
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Questions about Sunsetter® Q: I notice that the SunSetter® Awnings in stripe patterns come on a cream background. Why?
Answer: We experimented with various color combinations to find the best choices
that would both let in sufficient light and keep temperatures down under the awning
canopy. Our solid cream or five accent stripe patterns go well with all types of house
colors and siding styles, and also let in wonderful, soft filtered light - so the living
area under the awning is bright and cheery. The cream color in each striped style helps
reflect sunlight, thus keeping temperatures down in the comfort zone. When the SunSetter® is rolled up, the cream color at the top of each awning
matches the arms of the awning perfectly.Of course, for those who prefer solid colors, we
also offer awnings in solid green, or cream. We've chosen the most popular colors and
produce them in efficient quantities to drive costs down. We strive to keep prices low on
these beautiful awnings and deliver your SunSetter® soon
after you order (generally within two weeks) so you can start to enjoy your awning
immediately.
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Q: Do you sell through outlets
or dealers?
Answer: No. We sell factory direct so you can get a SunSetter®
Retractable Awning at the lowest possible price. Also, we know more about this awning than
any dealer. That means that if you ever have a question or need a part, you can get what
you need immediately, with a Toll Free phone call. A dealer may move or go out of
business, but we'll be here to help or provide warranty service.
Q: How long have you been in
business?
Answer: We've made awnings for over 30 years. Due to soaring demand we have
manufactured home awnings exclusively for the past 10 years.
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Q: I'm not a professional carpenter - I'm not even that handy with tools.
Can I really install it myself?Answer: Absolutely. It doesn't take any special
background or skills to install the awning properly. All you have to do is follow the easy
steps in the handy Installation Video we'll send with your awning. We'll show you
everything you need to know. You can have your SunSetter®
up and functioning in a short morning's work, using a few simple tools. If you don't have
the time or desire to install it yourself, your local handyman can do it for you in
approximately 2 to 3 hours.If you need help, call our Toll Free Installation Hotline. We have experts on hand who have helped homeowners on all skill levels put
up their own awnings. Our staff can have you enjoying your self-installed SunSetter® in no time. We're always there if you need us. Your awning
comes complete with all the mounting hardware you need. The roller with the fabric and
spring mechanism and the two arms come already fully assembled.
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Q: Can I adjust the front height
of the awning?
Answer: Yes. The whole point of the SunSetter®'s adjustable arms is so you can
adjust the front height easily and simply, to suit your preferences or the weather. You
can move it up or down to block the sun, wind, or rain as you wish. You can even adjust
the two arms independently, so that one side is higher than the other.
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Q: I have a Ranch house with low
eaves. Will the SunSetter® fit on my home?
Answer: You can put either model SunSetter® on houses with mounting heights
as low as 7 ft. under overhangs and gutters. The Model 900 can even be
installed under overhangs as low as 6 ft. 8 inches but you need to request
a special hardware set when you order. You can also install either model up
to 10 ft. off the deck floor. For heights above that, give us a call.
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Q: Is the SunSetter® good for use on a garage or mobile home?
Answer: Yes. Many people have installed SunSetter®
awnings on their garages, mobile homes, and other stationary walls.
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Q: Can one person operate it
alone?
Answer: Yes, very easily. That's one of our most important features: simple
opening and closing by one person. The SunSetter® opens
or closes in less than a minute.
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 The
spring-powered SunSetter® Awning opens
and closes almost effortlessly. It's made so
any adult can operate it. |
Q: What about rain? Will I have
problems with leaks?
Answer: No. Unlike canvas awnings, our awning fabric is 100% waterproof.
You won't get a "fine mist" coming through the way you might with other
awnings. Nor will you get water coming in where the awning attaches to the
house - that's a watertight seal. To let rain water run right off your
awning, just lower one side of the awning slightly - or purchase our great
Rainaway Arches! (If a really heavy storm is expected, we suggest you
retract the awning fully.)
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Q: How is the SunSetter® in the wind?
Answer: The awning is quite sturdy and does very well in the wind. However,
we do recommend that you retract it during strong, gusty winds. In fact,
that's an advantage of the SunSetter. Because it retracts, it's great for
windy locales where a permanent awning would be somewhat impractical and
prone to damage.
If you'd like to keep your awning open all the time, even in windy
locales, we recommend that you order our optional Center Brace and Rainaway Arches. These
accessories are designed to make the awning more rigid and keep the awning
fabric at maximum tautness, preventing the fabric from "flapping" in the wind
and creating a gentle "arch" in the fabric so that rain rolls right off the
awning and doesn't "pool", even if you leave the awning open all the time.
With these accessories in place, you can make your awning like a
semi-permanent structure on your home, leaving it open all the time, (except
during severe storms or in winter, when we recommend you roll up the awning
if you live where snow might collect on the fabric.)
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Q: Why does the SunSetter® cost so much less than a custom awning? Will it stand up to
years of service? Will it last?
Answer: The SunSetter® is such a good value
because we sell factory-direct, with no middleman. But when it comes to quality you'll
find you're not sacrificing anything. Your SunSetter®
Awning is built with care right here in our 64,000 sq. ft. factory using only the finest
quality materials. Our struts and supports are made from aircraft-quality aluminum for
superior strength without excess weight. Our spring retraction mechanisms have been tested
for over 20,000 cycles without failure - the equivalent of over 20 years' use. And our
14-oz. fabric is 7 layers (most competitive fabrics are only 4 layers). It's coated on
both sides and has no seams or stitches to wear or leak over time. It's guaranteed not to
fade, crack or mildew for 5 years. Your SunSetter® comes
with a 5-Year Limited Warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. These Quality
awnings are made for years and years of hassle-free operation.
 All SunSetter® Awnings are crafted in our 60,000 sq. ft. factory, under
strick quality control. |
Q: What accessories do you offer
for the SunSetter®?
Answer: Optional accessories include our Screen Room attachment that sets up
or breaks down in minutes. We also offer front and side SunSetter®
Weatherbreaker Panels designed to block sun, rain and wind from coming in
under the awning. We have Rainaway Arches that add headroom while helping
rain run off your awning fabric easily; Power Lifts that let you raise and
lower your awning almost effortlessly; DeFlappers that keep your awning
fabric from flapping in the wind, and Patio Lights that let you enjoy your
awning in the evening. Other optional accessories include our Center Brace
for breezy locales, our Awning Cover for storage, and our Awning Cleaning
Kit.
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