On a hot summer day, sitting on a patio or a deck can get really uncomfortable as you’re sweating away and getting burnt by the sun. It’s nice to relax in the sun at times, but having the option of sitting in the shade is a nice luxury. It can cost a couple thousand dollars to purchase an awning, but if this isn’t your budget, there’s still an option for you! This guide will share with you how to solve this situation by building your own patio awning!
The first step in building your patio awning is making sure you have the proper materials. You’ll need a measuring tape, electric drill, four grommets, four stakes, four sections of rope, two key rings, two screw hooks, two support poles, a sewing machine with a large needle and a large piece of canvas. These materials are extremely cost efficient as well.
Let’s begin building! Step one will require setting up the canvas. One thing you must do is be sure you purchase enough canvas and always get a bit extra since you’ll need to hem it. Sew the hems around the material so the canvas won’t fray. The canvas will be outdoors and with the rain and other outdoor conditions, you need a durable thread. Use a nylon thread for the sewing as it’s on the durable side of materials. On each corner install one grommet.
Take the tape measure and measure one side of the awning. You want to measure from grommet to grommet. Then proceed to drill two pilot holes in the wood siding where the awning will branch out from. Take the hooks and screw them into the pilot holes you’ve just created. If you try screwing the hooks in before the holes are drilled in, you may end up having issues. It’s a much simpler process by drilling 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!
Now it’s time to install the poles to support the awning. Stretch the canvas awning out to determine where to place the supporting poles. The poles should be sturdily placed in the dirt or have a flat base to stand on. Take the poles and place them through the grommets on the canvas awning.
The rope will secure this set up. Take the rope and tie on to the grommets. You’ll want to have two sections for the rope, which will create the most support. Take one rope and direct it straight from the pole and the other on a ninety degree angle. Continue to do this for both ropes and stake them into the ground.
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 writer is a specialist on creating custom home awnings. He’s a big believer in that the right awning fabrics will keep your awning lasting a long time. More information can be found at this authors blog, awningfabric. net.



