Company Reviews

My 20 ft wide Sunesta awning has been in service for a couple of years. When one side began to sag, I tried to adjust the set bolt in the shoulder and discovered it was bent. I tried to order a new one from Sunesta, but they said I needed to replace the entire shoulder….at the cost of $225…not covered by my “lifetime warranty”. I am not impressed.

Purchased a 20’ awning and sunshades on June 30th. Was told they would arrive in 2 weeks, maybe a couple of days later due the July 4th holiday. They finally arrived 1 month later, however, parts were missing and 1 large sunshade did not have the proper parts. Was told everything would be there in 1 week. Over 2 weeks later the parts arrived but nearly another week elapsed before the installation could be completed. We paid a premium price and all the Sunesta Awning factory did was make excuses for the delays. The installers were professional but there was little they could do without the correct parts. There are other awnings out there and I would highly recommend that you do your research before you commit. We went with a local retailer mainly because we had done business with them previously. Don’t buy a Sunesta retractable awning or retractable shades! Very expensive and too many headaches.

Somewhat satisfied with the awning. Try to get it serviced. Over the last month, I have called the installer, Bill Lloyd Awnings in Avalon, NJ 3 times to get it serviced. No return phone call. Called Sunesta office in Florida 2 times, left messages, and no return phone calls. On the 3rd time, a gentleman answered the phone and rudely asked me to call Jonathan, the regional manager to get my problem solved. I have left 2 messages with Jonathan and guess what….He did not return my calls. I am spending more time at this house due to pandemic and I have an awning that doesn’t work!

My new Sunstyle Sunseta awning was great until one of the arms broke. It was kind of my fault since I left it open when we had a bit of a storm but still it was not that bad and I did not think that the arm should break off. Found a replacement arm online for a pretty fair price and I was able to replace it myself. Other than that the awning is pretty easy to use and the parts and the fabric seem to be holding up pretty well even here with wild Florida weather. Unfortunately, since I replaced the arm myself and it was not a Sunesta arm, Suntesta told me the warranty on the entire product is now void. Next time, I won’t buy from a dealer – easy to install the entire unit and replace arms if/when needed.

Overall I can say that I am somewhat happy with the Sunlight by Sunesta. I needed it to cover one half of my makeshift greenhouse/workspace since it can get really hot in the middle of the day. The one thing I have noticed is that even though it is pretty easy to open and close it seems like it can get stuck pretty easily. Not sure if the installation was wrong or that the product is just that way. Also, I was a little disappointed with how short the warranty is. Just worried that if a north Florida thunderstorm comes along when I am not home to retract the awning it could get damaged and I would be out of luck.

The installation process of our Sunesta appeared to be really easy for the Sunesta dealer installation crew – so easy that I wish I would have done it myself and saved $1,200. The warranty that comes with the product is surprisingly pretty thorough and covers everything it seems you would need but obviously we hope we never have to use it. Since we started using awning we have been surprised by how little effort it takes to use it. It seems like the materials they use are pretty good and the installers walked us through what weather we could and could not use the awning in. No surprise that when it gets really windy or starts to rain, it becomes hard to roll it up (thus the 3-star quality rating) but it seems to stand up pretty well to light rain with no issues.

My café has an outdoor sitting area. The Sunstyle by Sunesta fit my requirements. The patio is 40’ by 12’, so I went with two 20-foot wide awnings. I wanted the shade flexibility two offered. Both are manually operated, which can be a workout. However, it’s easier to adjust, and remotes are too easy to lose. The canopies were pricey but expanded my sitting area, so I should recoup the cost. A drawback is that some of my staff find the crank too difficult to work. The fabric on the two awnings is supposed to be the same color, but in sunlight, they look different. I was told they might have been from different dye lots. Hopefully, they last a long time but not so sure they will as the fabric has begun to fade and rot slightly after only 2 ½ years.

The Sunlight model by Sunesta is smaller than their Sunstyle or Sunesta models, and less expensive. We went with a 14’0″ x 10’0″ canopy to cover our deck. The metal is white coated aluminum (supposedly), scratches too easily and is showing signs of pitting. It was professionally installed, which added to the cost. After watching the installers, I realized it was simple to install and I could have easily done it myself. The manual crank is easier to turn when extending the awning than when retracting it. If the fabric cover was larger, I might need to go to fitness classes to be able to work the canopy! The fabric sags when fully extended, and it hasn’t been wet to my knowledge. It does provide shade, but for the price, it could be quieter when opening or closing.

I ordered a 20’ Sunesta retractable awning with a 13’ projection to cover my home deck. The metal frame was brown to match the house trim. I had the pros from a local dealer install it, so if anything went wrong, they could fix it. The install looked easy, and they gave me a quick lesson in how everything worked. The articulated arms look funny opening and closing and are noisier (they make a grinding sound) than I thought they would be, as is the motor. I was shown how to adjust the pitch, but I’m not sure I remember, and the instruction manual doesn’t help me. The fabric is supposed to be colorfast and won’t fade. I’m hoping that holds true, especially for what everything cost – expensive!

I had a Sunesta Sunstyle electric retractable awning installed at the end of last season. It’s mounted on a brick gable wall, so we included the one-piece hood to protect everything from the weather and birds. The white aluminum housing and awning parts go with the trim work better than the other metal colors. My canopy extends or retracts with a remote or an app on my phone. The Sunstyle doesn’t extend as far as other products, and it’s noisier than anticipated. The folding arms creak as they close. I haven’t attempted to use the pitch adjustment yet. I may have to call back the installers and have them do it as it’s not easy to do. Not very affordable for most. Overall average quality, but not great quality for the money!

I read as many reviews and testimonials I could find before purchasing Sunesta’s Sunlight motorized model. A local dealer installed the retractable awning (did a nice job) that my wife and I thought was on the expensive side. We had it mounted to the edge of the soffit to extend it further when open, and make it higher at the front bar. The tweed cover fabric isn’t as bright or as rich as the swatch we picked it from, which is disappointing. The backup manual override crank is stiffer than my neighbor’s retractable awning, and I’ve skinned my knuckles several times. Hopefully, it gets easier, or I learn to keep my hands away from the wall! The best thing is that the canopy extends our outdoor space and time, which is what we wanted.

Our Sunesta motorized retractable awning has been in use for about six weeks. It covers the patio well, but the fabric sags in the middle. The awning operates fairly easy but has a glitch or two when extending. Not sure if it has to do with the folding of the arms and is normal, or if something is wrong and needs to be fixed. I probably should call the installer. The motor is noisier than expected (sounds like gears rubbing), and the metal arms and housing scratch easier than they should for the price I paid. I could complain more but I won’t. It is nice to sit outdoors and not get burnt.

Our motorized retractable Sunlight awning was installed a month or so ago. The install crew did a good job and cleaned up any mess. The canopy covers the patio well and extends our outdoor entertainment time. The awning frame is noisier than expected, especially when retracting the fabric. I’ve also had to put several of the protective plastic caps back on the nuts as they keep falling off. Not sure if I should glue them or not. We don’t leave the awning extended at night or in the rain, so we’re a bit concerned as the fabric now sags when extended. For the price Sunesta charges it shouldn’t sag. I’m was hoping there is a tension adjustment to pull it tighter but Sunesta now tells me the dealer should have ordered a torque sensing motor and not a standard motor. Oh well…….live and learn!

Although my retractable awning purchase was quite expensive, I am somewhat impressed with the quality of the Sunesta motorized patio awning. We’ve been enjoying it for about 6 weeks now. The 18-foot wide retractable awning extends the full 14-feet of our patio, providing shade at the push of a button. The whole operation is quick and quiet! The fabric appears durable and according to Sunesta shouldn’t fade or develop mold or mildew issues for at least 5 years. I appreciated being able to purchase a brown frame which matches the house trim and gutters much better than the white and off-white most other manufacturers offer. The professional installation went quickly, and they cleaned up after themselves! Wish I could get the kids to do that! I also included the wind sensor for added protection. I’m thinking about getting one for my parents now!

I purchased a Sunstyle motorized retractable awning by Sunesta. The hardest part was navigating their site. You have to input personal information before you can even explore the options and potential costs of your customized awning. Each selection affects the price. If my wife weren’t set on the Sunstyle, I’d have gone elsewhere. Installation went well and was done by a local contractor. If anything goes wrong, I’m hoping service is easier than ordering! It was a pricey purchase. It is nice to sit under, and the remote control is nice. Time will tell if it’s worth the high cost.