C Series

I purchased a 12’x10’ C Series for my patio after checking out reviews. I also watched some videos, so I knew what to expect. I wanted a manually operated product so I wouldn’t have to worry about installing an outlet, plus they had a fabric color that would complement my house. It was shipped to my address, and all I had to do was install it. My brother and I spent a Saturday installing it. The hardest part was aligning the brackets and securing them to the brick wall. Once that was done, the rest went as expected. The semi-cassette housing looks just average against the house, and the acrylic fabric rolls out with the turn of the crank. The aluminum arms extend as it rolls out and supports the front bar. It keeps the sun off my patio, and our beverages stay cool longer. Hoping it survives the summer because it is an Asian product and appears cheaply made.

My wife wanted something to keep the sun off the back deck and reduce the heat entering into the living room. I suggested curtains, she told me she found something better, and it was being shipped. She said she’d checked out the product and reviews that were average. My wife bought it due to a low price. It was a 16’x10’ manual awning from the C Series line. It arrived in a long box fully assembled. All I had to do was install the brackets. I watched the installation video and some others I found online. Lining up, leveling, and installing the brackets took the most time. A buddy helped me lift the housing into place and secure it. The product was manufactured with poor paint as it has already begun to chip. This product is just ordinary. The awning is in an aluminum cassette, but the crank is difficult to turn. Be careful that you don’t bang your knuckles. The striped canvas covers the window without cutting off the view like curtains would, so everything is cool. Happy wife = happy life:)

Our summer cabin is small but has a large deck. We didn’t want to get a permit to build a permanent cover over it, so we bought a 16’x10’ Advaning retractable awning. The ratings were just ok though the sale price even better. We liked that it was boxed for shipping and fully assembled ready to hang. The brackets weren’t too difficult to install, and then we just slid the main bar in. The cabin is 16’ wide, so when we open the canopy up, the fabric covers the entire area and keeps the sun off the whole wall, door and windows making it cooler inside. The arms support the front bar at a good angle, and it all retracts into a steel housing to protect the fabric. Actually, this product is not “just ok”, it is downright pitiful in terms of quality. The frame is rusted after being up for less than 6 months and the fabric has begun to rot. Advaning says the rusting of the frame and the rotting of the fabric are not covered by the warranty. We definitely don’t recommend Advaning retractable awnings!

I picked up a 12’x10’ Advaning C Series at my local box store. I’d read the reviews, and it seemed like a decent choice, and the price tag was right. I watched the installation video and some other videos online and then mounted the brackets. Make sure you know where the studs for your wall are and use a level. I didn’t and my awning was installed crooked and then came crashing down. The awning has a metal case that protects the fabric, and everything was assembled ready to go. Have a helper when you go to put the main beam into the brackets, it’s easier. The manual crank is too short but extends and retracts the awning with a lot of effort, and the awning provides decent shade to my outdoor space. It has a pitch feature, but you have to realign it before you retract it, so I haven’t used it yet.

I needed an awning to shade my patio and window sliders. We get a lot of afternoon sun and it really cooks if we’re relaxing outside. I’m not sure about the pricing at my local DIY store, but the 12-foot Advaning C Series model was on sale and only $100 more than the 8-foot one. So I went with the 12-foot. The Asian retractable awning in the C Series has a manual crank and Asian acrylic fabric cover. The fabric isn’t waterproof, which is a disadvantage. The install was pretty much like other customers wrote in their internet testimonials. The aluminum frame is quite light, with very thin extrusions, so I’m a bit worried if it’ll support the fabric like the manufacturer states. It covers the deck and helps keep the sun off the window sliders and deck which was the basic plan. Other than the above disappointments, I’ve not that much to complain about yet. Will be able to give some updates a little bit later.

My parents moved into a smaller home, and their new patio faces west. As a housewarming gift, I got them an Advaning awning. I’d read some mediocre testimonials and figured it would help keep the house cooler and allow them to use their patio furniture more comfortably. It arrived fully assembled in a box, all my brother-in-law and I had to do was mount the 3 brackets and slide the awning bar into place. We tucked it up under the soffit for added protection, even though it has the metal semi-cassette housing. The canvas fabric rolls out and the aluminum arms support the front bar at the pitch we chose. The product reviews I read were correct – this product is mediocre at best! Hopefully, it wasn’t made in a “sweatshop” in China.

We have a commercial property that just opened, a Bistro with a small patio. The proprietor asked if we’d install an awning to cover it. We checked what was available locally, and chose the Advaning model. We do most of the maintenance ourselves, so we wanted something a DIYer could do. The installation was a bit difficult; however, the wall brackets to mount it were included except one was missing so we had to wait for a new bracket to be shipped from China. It opens and closes with the push of a button, and covers the patio protecting patrons from the sun. The color compliments the building and adds a modern touch to the Bistro. The canopy is supported by spring loaded aluminum arms when extended, and it all retracts into a metal cover to protect the fabric from the elements. This model has not stood up to daily use so we will looked on this review site and others and found the best quality to be from RetractableAwnings.com. We will order from them for our other commercial properties.