Jessica Sookram

I was in the market for a retractable shade awning for my back patio. It faces west and can really heat up. I went with the Sunair manual retractable model by Sunair. I didn’t really think about it, just saw it and bought it. It was like shopping for groceries when you’re hungry. I went with the manual model so I wouldn’t have to worry about hardwiring, plus it was less expensive. I’ve since read consumer reviews on the internet, so I’m glad I skipped the motor. It took a while for the dealer to install it, and the housing looks a lot bigger on my house than in the showroom. It shades the deck but I’m not sure how it will stand up to the winds as it seems kind of flimsy, so I retract it when not in use. I have noticed a couple of birds and a tree frog trying to turn the awning housing into a home. Hopefully, that won’t be a problem. I’ll post more in a few months.