Retractable Awnings | Superior Awning

What is a Retractable Awning?

Retractable awnings offer flexible shade on demand without the inconvenience of posts. Superior Awning retractable awnings are German-engineered, built with powder-coated hardware and fitted with premium Sunbrella® outdoor fabrics. Retractable awnings are available in widths up to fifty (50) feet and projections up to sixteen (16) feet.

Hardware You Can Rely On

Forged-aluminum arms, stainless fasteners, and a thick powder-coat finish keep the mechanism operating smoothly at the coast or inland. Internal high-tension springs hold the fabric taut in a breeze, and every frame is cycle-tested before it leaves the factory. Finish colors include white, sand, bronze, or any custom RAL tone to match existing trim.

Generous Size Range

Superior Awning fabricates one of the largest single-piece retractables currently offered in the region:

• Widths to 50 feet accommodate expansive façades or multi-bay entertaining areas.

• Projections to 16 feet create a true outdoor room while staying within most residential building codes.

Because each unit is made to order, intermediate sizes can be specified to the nearest inch, guaranteeing the canopy ends exactly where you need shade and nowhere else.

Operation and Controls

Every awning leaves the factory pre-configured as manual or motorized:

• Manual crank – the simplest, off-grid solution; a removable handle turns a worm-gear that deploys or retracts the canopy smoothly.

• Somfy® tubular motor – concealed inside the roller tube, activated by a wall switch, handheld remote, or phone app for effortless daily use.

Pitch can be adjusted on site (5° – 40°) so the installer can fine-tune shade coverage or promote faster rain run-off on lower elevations.

Fabric Quality

A retractable awning is only as good as the textile it carries. Superior Awning specifies Sunbrella® solution-dyed acrylics for every project. Color is locked into each fiber—not printed on the surface—so stripes, solids, and tweeds resist fading, mold, and UV degradation for a decade or more with basic care. The breathable weave allows heat and moisture to escape upward, helping the area beneath the canopy remain noticeably cooler.

Smart Accessories

Modern electronics extend both convenience and service life:

• Wind sensors automatically retract the awning when gusts exceed safe operating limits, protecting frame and fabric from sudden uplift.

• Sun sensors can extend the canopy when the day heats up, maintaining a consistent patio temperature even if no one is home.

• LED rail lighting offers subtle, energy-efficient illumination that disappears inside the lead bar when not in use.

• Drop-valance screens descend vertically from the front bar to block low-angle glare—ideal for west-facing lounges or outdoor kitchens.

All accessories integrate with the primary motor, so a single remote or app controls every function.

Energy and Comfort Benefits

By intercepting solar radiation before it strikes glass or masonry, a retractable awning can reduce interior heat gain and cut peak-season cooling demand by 20 – 25 percent in many Southern-California homes. Once temperatures drop, simply keep the canopy retracted and allow the winter sun to warm adjoining rooms, a passive-solar strategy that fixed structures cannot match.

Outdoors, surface temperatures under the fabric are typically 15 – 20 °F cooler than unshaded areas, creating a comfortable zone for dining, reading, or remote work even on bright afternoons.

Site-Specific Installation

A successful retractable project begins with an on-site consultation:

1. Assessment – A project manager photographs the façade, checks framing behind stucco or siding, and verifies available headroom.

2. Design – Digital renderings overlay proposed sizes and fabrics on the actual elevation so you can visualize scale and color in advance.

3. Fabrication – Frames are cut, welded, and powder-coated in-house, then fully cycle-tested before shipment.

4. Mounting – Licensed technicians secure structural brackets to studs or masonry, set the awning, calibrate the pitch, and program controls.

5. Handover – You receive cleaning guidelines, warranty documents, and a demonstration of all features.

Most residential installations are completed in a single day, with lead-times averaging four to six weeks depending on fabric availability.

Experience and Warranty

Superior Awning is the largest custom awning manufacturer headquartered in Southern California, serving homeowners, architects, and commercial builders since 1984. The company backs every retractable with:

• Limited lifetime coverage on the frame and arms.

• Ten-year coverage on Sunbrella fabric against fading, mildew, and rot.

Service crews are local, so any warranty work or seasonal adjustment is handled promptly by the same team that performed the original installation.

Begin Your Project

If you are ready to transform an exposed deck, café terrace, or rooftop lounge into a comfortable, shade-rich destination, schedule a complimentary design consultation with Superior Awning. Discuss sizing, motorization, sensor packages, and fabric palettes with a specialist who will guide you from concept through completion.

Enjoy shade exactly when you need it—and an open sky when you don’t—with a custom retractable awning engineered and built in Southern California.