Why Motorized Aluminum Awnings Are the Perfect Addition to Your South Florida Home

Introduction

Luxury pergolas and patio covers have been a popular addition to South Florida homes, restaurants, and resorts for years. However, new technologies have recently come to the market which drastically increase the style and functionality of these systems.  Unlike fabric awnings, these all-metal structures require less slope and therefore less depth, offering new outdoor shade solutions.

Reliable motorized aluminum awnings are a recent invention that allow the user to rotate the blades from an open pergola to a closed roof.  These create a modern and functional addition to outdoor spaces ideal for South Florida’s climate and lifestyle.

What Are Motorized Aluminum Awnings?

• Motorized aluminum awnings are customizable, remote-controlled outdoor structures that provide shade and weather protection.  Adjustable louver pergolas offer the ability to open the louvers to allow more light when openness to the sky is desired.  Retractable aluminum pergolas also offer greater relief of wind pressure to the structure from strong wind gusts.
• In addition to the typical flat roof cabana style, these structures can be built with A-Frame shapes. They can also be designed with a mixture of fixed roof panels, fixed open louvers, and operable louvers because of the size and strength of the support structure. The frames can also support many accessories such as lights, fans, heaters, and retractable, vertical, shade screens.

Key Features of Motorized Aluminum Awnings

1. Durable Aluminum Construction
   • Aluminum is an ideal material for outdoor elements in South Florida because it is rust-resistant, lightweight, and long-lasting.
   • Most durable aluminum awnings are mechanically fastened, but sometimes they are constructed with both structural bolts and fasteners, and welded, specifically at visible corners for aesthetic reasons.
   • The most crucial components to the structural engineering of an aluminum awning are the connections at the structural wall and underground footers. Due to high winds, awnings in South Florida must be designed and built to resist strong uplift forces.    
   • Aluminum can be powder coated, treated with 2-part epoxy paint, typically applied via electrostatic spray, powder coated, or finished with Kynar. (Kynar is less common due to regulations phasing out PFAS, which are harmful chemicals involved in the production of Kynar).
   • The proper finish for aluminum depends on the size, use, and location of the awning. Modern 2-part painting systems have some advantages over powder coating, but powder coating is the industry standard for prefabricated components. Powdercoating comes in different levels of finish, so when comparing products, determine if the powdercoating needs special additives to resist salt air.
2. Motorized Control and Convenience
   • Canopies are designed in modules, or bays, which are limited by the spans of the roof or louvers.  In a motorized louver system, the size of the bay is often dictated by the type of louver.   Larger and stronger double-walled louvers can span longer distances.  
   • Each bay of louvers will have a dedicated motor.  Modern motors are easy to control via remote control and smartphone integration.  These allow for easy adjustment from open to closed, and angles in between.
3. Adjustable Louvers for Customizable Shade
   • Adjustable louvers allow for customizable light and ventilation, making it easy to control the amount of sun or shade.
   • The weather is uncontrollable, but you can control the amount you let in with adjustable louvers.
4. Integrated Lighting and Accessories
   • The size and strength of the structural frame allow for optional features like LED lighting, heating, and ceiling fans. These features can be completely customized to the needs of the user, enhancing comfort and usability for evening gatherings.
   • Outdoor living spaces need to be functional for the intended use.  Luxury pergolas offer a solution for every application, from cooking, to lounging, and even play spaces.  

Benefits of Motorized Aluminum Awnings for South Florida Homeowners

1. Protection from Sun and Rain
   • Motorized awnings provide protection from South Florida’s intense sun and sudden rain showers, making outdoor areas usable year-round.
   • These all-weather awnings offer sun protection, rain protection, and openness when desired.  
2. Energy Efficiency
   • Awnings can reduce indoor temperatures by blocking sunlight, which may help lower energy bills in South Florida’s hot climate.
   • Energy-efficient pergolas will reduce cooling costs, leading to significant energy savings.
   • Modern design practices involve a holistic approach of combining exterior shade with interior shade and HVAC systems.  A proven passive energy practice is being able to limit heat gain during the day and increase openness at night.  
   • If you have an old home, energy efficient shading can make a big difference. These motorized louvers are one of the best new modern solutions. If you are designing a new home, multiple systems can be designed to work together to maximize your home’s energy efficiency.  
3. Increased Property Value and Curb Appeal
   • Luxury motorized awnings can enhance curb appeal and increase property value, particularly in competitive South Florida real estate.
   • An outdoor canopy can be outfitted with an outdoor kitchen, lounge area with fans, lights, and even a heater, and is a fraction of the cost of adding a room.
4. Low Maintenance and Longevity
   • Aluminum awnings are designed to withstand harsh outdoor conditions with minimal upkeep and are low-maintenance.
   • Motorized louvered roof systems were initially introduced in northern climates to solve for building code standards for heavy snow loads. Most outdoor cover systems were impractical from a cost and maintenance perspective due to the engineering requirements to support snow accumulation. By allowing the louvers to remain open during the winter, these outdoor pergolas could be built without meeting the additional snow loading criteria.  In South Florida, this concept works in reverse.  During hurricane season, or whenever strong winds are forecasted, the louvers can be put in the open position.  Thus relieving a portion of uplift force generated by the wind.  It is still important to understand if your outdoor canopy is designed with enough strength to resist high winds in the closed position, but being able to open it will also improve the longevity of the structure.      

Why Motorized Aluminum Awnings Are Ideal for South Florida’s Climate

• Weather Resilience: Awnings withstand humid, rainy, and sunny conditions unique to South Florida due to corrosion-resistant coating and fasteners.  
• Salt-Air Protection: Aluminum resists corrosion, which is essential for coastal areas.  Additional additives can be added to the metal finishing (to both steel or aluminum) to ensure that you have the best available building science material for your location.  
• Protection Features: Key components of a weather-resistant awning include stainless steel fasteners, not zinc plated, and neoprene washers where applicable; special primers for salty conditions added to the paint or powder coat; welds treated with special primers before painting; sealed frame ends, i.e., closure of areas that would otherwise hold or allow water to sit; internal drain pipe, rather than water routed through the structure; single batch painting or powder coating, rather than mixing components that were finished at different times; tight fitting of louvers to frame to minimize gaps for water; and 2 part paint or thicker finish of powder coat.

Popular Motorized Aluminum Awnings

1. Walker Awning Luxury Pergolas
   • Components are supplied from manufacturers that meet our criteria.
     • Structural Aluminum, instead of Architectural Aluminum
     • We will ensure that the structural material we provide meets wind load requirements based on the location through Site Specific Engineering. Although our products will meet Miami Dade NOA, one size does not fit all in South Florida, so we engineer all awnings specifically for the site and exposure of location.
     • Engineering calculations in the closed position.  In order to pass code and survive a potential high wind event, our systems will be designed to withstand high winds in the CLOSED position.  To say that the system is only engineered to withstand 180 MPH winds in the open position is inviting a major potential failure.  Wind sensors can fail and power outages occur. Many lower cost pergolas perform fine in the majority of the country, but here in South Florida, we must account for the potential of much higher winds.  
2. Other Luxury Pergolas
   • Most manufacturers use 6063 Architectural Aluminum, which is suitable for the majority of the country. Structural 6005 T6 Aluminum, with thicker wall columns and beams, is a premium feeling and looking product. It allows for larger spans between columns for more open space and affords high wind resistance in the closed position.
   • Most manufacturers batch powder coating per component rather than per pergola. This means that a beam could have a slightly different shade or sheen than the column that attaches to it. A luxury product should be finished at the same time to ensure consistent finish of the color selected by the customer.
   • Standard Powder Coating is suitable for the majority of the country; however, in salty coastal areas, specific additives are recommended for long-term resilience.
   • Screws are visible where the structural frame members are attached. The highest quality louvered roof systems have minimal exposed fasteners.
   • Water drains down through one or more columns.  Adding an internal drain pipe will protect the inside of the column.
   • A key feature of the motorized louvered canopies is adding custom accessories. Some manufacturers only offer expensive proprietary components.  Walker Awning helps customize the awning with proprietary or universal lights, screens, fans, or heaters, and allows the customer the flexibility to add these accessories in the future.
   • To operate, louvers must attached to the support structure above the gutters.  The standard detail has the louvers overlapping and allows for a gap at the ends, which means that these louvers will never be completely rain tight.  It is important to consider how the manufacturer’s system addresses these leaks, with interlocking louvers, double walled louvers, and minimizing the space at the ends, and your tolerance rain intrusion.  
3. Online Options
   1. Not structural, but decorative.
   2. Glossy and delicate finish that is misleading in promotional pictures.
   3. Unproven or non-UL listed motors.
   4. Lack of customization without major retrofitting.
   5. Limited ability to add lights, fans, or screens without making the structure unsafe.
   6. Reliance on a wind sensor to prevent bending or damage.
   7. Inadequate ability to route storm water and poor protection from rain.
   8. Subject to foreign quality control and tariffs.
   9. Exposed fasteners and ugly connections at floor or wall.
4. Why Choose Professional Installation
   • All conditions are unique.  The professional designers at Walker Awning help customers design and select the appropriate system and components for their needs and ensure the structural elements are specifically calculated for the site and location.
   • Professional installation is crucial for correct setup, warranty compliance, and safe usage.

How to Choose the Right Motorized Aluminum Awning for Your Home

• Factors to Consider: The size of the spans, i.e. space between columns, is the most important design factor to consider.  Most manufacturers provide different size and strength columns, beams, and louvers depending on the desired spans.  Be wary of any one size fits all pergola, as building code criteria vary greatly throughout the country and even the state.  There are only a few manufacturers capable of providing properly sized structural elements that will meet the strict building codes of South Florida.
• Consultation and Customization: Please contact Walker Awning for a personalized consultation. All design, color, louver functionality, and accessories like screens, lights, and fans must be considered upfront.

Conclusion

• Motorized aluminum awnings are ideal for enhancing outdoor spaces in South Florida. They offer the flexibility of open sky and rain protection, along with a modern architectural design featuring integrated screens, lighting, and fans.
• Walker Awning is a licensed General Contractor and licensed Architect. Contact us for a consultation, installation services, or to learn more about the benefits of motorized aluminum awnings.

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