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eb145's avatar
eb145
Explorer II
May 18, 2013

install rv power awning on home?

Has anyone tried installing an RV power awning on a house? I am thinking of putting an awning over my deck. The deck is 14' wide and 12' deep.

I am thinking of getting maybe a 16' awning, attaching it to the house so I can extend and retract with the push of a button. This would let me enjoy my southern-exposure deck more. The awning won't cover the whole depth of the deck but it would be nice to cover the whole width.

I have seen ads for installing retractable awnings on houses. I am wondering if an RV awning would work just as well and possibly be more cost effective.

Thanks,
Ed
Seeking Advice

9 Replies

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  • jetboater454's avatar
    jetboater454
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    Installed the awning from a 5'er we had in Falling Waters,W.V. on the house.We had the camper under a roof at the campground,so no need for it there.Was still on the house and working when I left MD 6 years ago.It was a manual one though.
    To just go and buy an awning,I'd go with Sunsetter,cheaper and way better quality.
  • dons2346's avatar
    dons2346
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    wildtoad wrote:
    I assume an rv awning power supply is 12v so you'd have to handle that. You might go to sunsetter.com and get a free quote...


    Actually my Girrard awning is 120VAC. I have to either be plugged into shore power or turn on the inverter to work the awning.
  • pkunk's avatar
    pkunk
    Explorer
    May 19, 2013
    I have a good friend I talked into a Sunsetter and it is considerably more robust than an RV awning. It's not hard to crank it in-&-out.
  • doxiemom11's avatar
    doxiemom11
    Explorer II
    May 18, 2013
    You will be happy if you install an awning, no matter which type you use. We also had a southern exposure deck and after the awning was installed, the rooms of the house adjacent to that deck stayed 15 degrees cooler than they did without the awning.
  • hershey's avatar
    hershey
    Explorer
    May 18, 2013
    I think the homeowners model would be more economically priced than the one for an RV.
  • deleted-2's avatar
    deleted-2
    Explorer
    May 18, 2013
    LOL

    Strange this question would pop-up.

    This coming week we're having two Durasol power awnings installed on our house.
    (You don't wanna know what the price is)

    Not sure why an RV awning wouldn't work on a house.
    Probably the way they're marketed maybe.

    I know the house awnings have a heavier cross arm structure versus the lighter weight side arms on the RV awnings.
  • tatest's avatar
    tatest
    Explorer II
    May 18, 2013
    A couple of the retractable awning manufacturers area also in the home awing business, so that's what you might be buying in any case.

    I think an awning designed for installation on a house might be more cost effective, and probably more suitable. There are some compromises in getting the weight of an awning mechanism down for use on a RV. My retractable awning at home was built more substantially than any power awning I've seen on an RV, sturdy enough to leave out even during thunderstorms. It was not power, however, a crank mechanism to roll it up proved adequate.
  • wildtoad's avatar
    wildtoad
    Explorer II
    May 18, 2013
    I assume an rv awning power supply is 12v so you'd have to handle that. You might go to sunsetter.com and get a free quote...

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