It's a little brighter in St. Petersburg these days now that we have finished the canopies and awnings at Toucan's.  We began by recovering an existing outdoor seating area with Weblon Coastline Plus vinyl fabric.  The bright yellow fabric really adds a punch of color to the facade of the building.  Once the customer saw our work, they asked us to recover the small awning over their entrance way.  They loved that as well, so they asked if there was a way we could cover an outdoor bar they were planning on building.  Since that happens to be our specialty, we were happy to oblige.  The final trips were made to add drop curtains with clear vinyl windows on both the new and existing canopies in order to provide shade in the summer and keep the cold out in the winter.  They were able to nearly double their seating capacity once both canopies were complete.

Our product of the week this week is a retractable screen from Sunesta called the Sentry.  This captured edge motorized retractable screen gives you the ability to protect your lanai or patio from insects, sun, cold weather, and rain.  As with their retractable awnings, Sunesta offers the largest selection of fabric choices in the industry for their shade screens.  From standard acrylic fabric, as seen in the photos below, to screens with varying degrees of openness.  The openness factor of the fabric you choose depends on the purpose for which you planning on using the screens.  A large openness factor keeps bugs out and allows for a lot of airflow, but it doesn't provide much shade or keep the rain out.  A small openness factor provides greater shade, privacy, and more protection from the elements.  All seams in the fabric are precision welded with one of the smallest weld widths in the industry.  Among other features, the Sentry retractable screen by Sunesta features a revolutionary floating track system that keeps the screen from binding up when operated in adverse weather conditions.  Retractable screens go by many aliases such as privacy screens, solar shades, and roll down screens.  Roll down screens are becoming more and more popular due to the increasing number of applications they can be used in.  If you currently have drop curtains and are looking for a more versatile product, this retractable screen will solve all your problems.

Our featured product for this week is one of our best sellers, the Sunesta Sunlight retractable patio awning.  This retractable canopy is a great choice for residences and businesses that have a standard size patio or deck.  The Sunlight comes is widths up to 24 feet, and can be coupled with another unit to extend up to 48 feet wide.  There are four different projections (distance out from the wall) to choose from with this retractable awning with a maximum projection of 10 feet.  There are three frame colors to choose from as you can see below; white, beige, and clay.  In addition to frame colors, there are over 190 different fabric colors and styles to choose from.  We have found that Sunesta has one of the largest selections of awning fabrics to choose from setting them apart other retractable awning manufactures.  This particular model of retractable canopy has an available Smart Pitch option where the customer can adjust the pitch of their awning to their liking depending on the angle of the sun each and every day.  This awning can be operated using a hand crank or a wireless remote control.  The warranty for the Sunlight is a full 10 years on the fabric and frame, and 5 years on the motor if you choose to have a motorized awning.  All parts are manufactured in the United States or Europe, and they are assembled in Jacksonville, FL.

Are your fabric awnings falling apart?  Is the thread on your seams or binding rotting in the harsh Florida sun?  Maybe it's time for a replacement cover for those tired looking awnings with a fresh new color or style.  Acrylic (canvas) fabrics by Sunbrella and Sattler are better than ever before, now offering warranties up to 10 years.  We have over 300 colors and styles to choose from.  If you are looking for something waterproof, then maybe a vinyl fabric with a 5 year waranty is more your speed.  Ask us about our thread that is guaranteed to outlive the life of your canvas or vinyl fabric.  As seen on the pictures below, fabric canopies can make a real statement on the exterior of your home or business.  Replacement fabric can provide a face lift to residential or commercial properties alike.  Whether you live in St. Pete, Clearwater, or Tampa, we are here to provide the same high quality service we have since 1957.

Our featured product for this week is the Sunesta Shadeside.  The Shadeside is a versatile retractable product that can provide privacy as well as shade in a number of different applications.  For privacy, it is perfect for those of us living in town homes or condominiums that share a common back yard space.  By using two Shadesides, you can instantly turn your patio into a private oasis while maintaining the view out of the rear of your home.  With three, you can have the privacy on all sides when you want it, and retract the curtains when you don't.  The Shadeside can also be used in conjunction with other retractable products such as retractable awnings to provide shade during the winter months where the sun is lower on the horizon.  There are over 200 fabric selections which include both acrylic/canvas fabrics and several different screen fabrics for maintaining airflow.  In addition to fabric choices, there are four different frame colors to choose from in order to match your homes facade.  Each Shadeside is custom made to your specifications here in the state of Florida, and carries long warranties to ensure you of the outstanding quality from which they are built.  We are centrally located in Clearwater to serve your needs whether you are in Tampa or St. Petersburg.

Do you have a pergola that just doesn't seem to get the job done when it comes to providing shade?  If not a pergola, maybe a sunroom that is unusable in the summer months due to the unbearable summer heat?  If you answered yes to either of those questions than you are in need of a Sunesta Suncover.  This ingenious product can make those unusable spaces usable again by providing shade and reducing temperatures by up to 20 degrees.  The Suncover uses many of the same parts as a typical retractable lateral arm awning, but offers extruded tracks down the sides of the farbic in order to provide extra stability as it is extending.  These retractable roof systems come with durable acrylic fabrics such as Sattler and Para which offer a 10 year warranty against rot, mold, and fading.  They are also available in a variety of screen fabrics to provide a compromise between light and shade.  These retractable roofs are mounted to your pergola or sunroom with small "T" brackets and are constructed of all aluminum extrusions for strength and durability.  Contact us today to see how we can help you solve all your shade, weather, and bug needs.

People ask us all the time if we sell aluminum awnings.  We sell several different types of aluminum awnings and shutters so it isn't always an easy question to answer quickly.  One of the most popular type of aluminum awnings is what we refer to as a "clamshell" awning.  When you look at the photos below I think you'll be able to tell why.  Aluminum clamshell awnings are great for providing shade, and can even be pivoted down over the window before inclement weather strikes to provide some protection from the elements.  While not approved by the Florida Building Code for hurricane protection, every little bit helps.  The all aluminum construction of these awnings mean that they will not rust and will last for years to come.  They come in several colors and can even have different slats different colors for a complimentary accent stripe or two.

Rick gets all the credit for this one.  After hours of measuring this complex install, it fit just right.  Amelie's Bakery in the Hyde Park area of Tampa, FL was the recipient of our latest masterpiece.  The complex notches on the wall along with the existing railing we had to follow for the front edge of the awning made this install a challenge.  The several puzzle pieces that made up this awning were covered with black Patio 500 vinyl fabric.  The frame was left to resemble mill aluminum for an industrial look.  All the different angles provide some artistic geometry to the appearance of the top plane of the awning.  This outdoor seating area will be great for snacking on some baked goods and people watching in downtown Hyde Park.

We were blown away when we saw the finished product on our recent job for Boizao Steakhouse in Tampa, FL.  There are three radius marquee awnings facing the street, and three small dome awnings above the entrance way.  The black and white Sunbrella fabric was treated for flame retardancy and then sewn together foot by foot to create the dramatic blocked stripe effect.  Florida Building code calls for flame retardant fabric on all commercial buildings, so be sure your awning provider is providing you with a flame certificate to prove it.  In the event of a fire, the local municipality and insurance company will be looking for places to point the finger and you don't want that to be you.  The graphics were heat applied in order to ensure longevity on the Sunbrella fabric.  White custom flags/penants with a red Boizao logo were added to provide some contrast to the black on the awnings.  Overall, a very upscale look for a great restaurant.

A new physician's office in Trinity, FL was in need of some architectural design elements and rain protection for their front entrance.  They chose to go with two different styles of architectural canopy.  Both have arms that tie-back to the building for additional support.  The differences lie in the pan style on the top of the canopy as well as the water management properties.  The difference in top panels is one is made from large plates of aluminum, while the other is made of several self mating panels which provides additional strength.  One style manages water run-off with scuppers or gutters, while the other style has a drip edge all along the front of the canopy.  In addition to the architectural canopies, the customer requested bahama shutters to provide added beauty and shade.  The fully welded bahama shutters are not only attractive, but can offer hurricane protection in most situations.  All canopies and shutters were powder coated gloss black for a professional look.