Eclipse Awnings

Eclipse Awning Pictures	Screen System Pictures	Commercial Retractables and Fixed Awnings Pictures
Questions to Ask	Features and Benefits

 

WE INSTALL IN NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND ALL OF WISCONSIN

WE SHIP THROUGHOUT THE CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES

Know what to look for in your New Retractable Awning

Retractable awnings are designed to protect you and your family from the harsh rays of the Sun but they provide many additional benefits to their owners. A high quality retractable awning will also keep you dry in a light rain, reduce heat gain in your house, reduce annoying glare, stop interior fabric fading and make your deck or patio a cool, comfortable place to relax.

QUALITY IS IMPORTANT IN A LATERAL ARM AWNING

 A lateral arm awning is a fabric covered electro-mechanical device that owners ask to take more abuse over a longer period of time than any other item that they own.  These units are out 24 hours a day/365 days a year and subjected to rain, sleet, snow, freezing, thawing, and wind.  There are some good units in the marketplace, and a very few that have exceptional durability and strength.  Also there are a number of units with cheap low quality construction, many with components made in the Orient.  The customers' knowledge of how their awning is constructed and the source of the components, especially the frame, is the best way to determine the quality of the product.  We at Apple Annie are happy to disclose this information to every customer on every product we sell.

Torsion or Square Bar: The torsion bar acts as the shock absorber for the retractable awning. When the awning moves, the system transmits the energy of the movement to the torsion bar. Many refer to the torsion bar as the key stabilizer of the retractable awning, yet use inferior thin wall steel or aluminum. At Eclipse we use both steel and aluminum torsion bars, depending on the application. When possible we recommend a steel torsion bar for maximum strength. But alas not all steel torsion bars are created equal. We use 2mm thick walls in our torsion bar. Don't settle for less in your investment. In highly corrosive applications we increase the wall thickness to 3mm and use an aluminum torsion bar for added protection against corrosion.

Arms: The retractable (lateral) arms transmit tension from the internal springs to the front bar to keep the fabric tight. This arm system allows for an awning that requires no poles or upright supports. In a comparison of arms many focus on the system used to connect the spring to the front part of the arm. Many US manufactures are using exposed single or double cables and or chains. At Eclipse, we have employed Advanced Belt Technology or ABT. The ABT system is made up of nine stainless steel cables totally sealed in a poly carbon UV resistant PVC coating. This state of the art tensioning system creates more stability at the front bar resulting in a high performance awning. The ABT system also guarantees a long life for your arm. While cables have been tested to 5000 cycles (a cycle is one time in and out) and chains have been tested to 8,000 cycles the ABT system has been tested to an amazing 60,000 cycles. What this means to you is simply the best looking and best performing retractable awning available.

Arm Assembly (or Shoulders): The arm connects the front bar to the torsion bar; at the torsion bar an arm assembly (or shoulder) is used to connect the arm to the torsion bar. Many companies use less expensive extruded piece bolted together while others use a three or four piece cast aluminum arm assembly. The Eclipse has a two-piece cast aluminum shoulder with a "sure lock pitch-adjustment". The sure lock pitch-adjustment assures your pitch will stay in place, saving the hassle and expense of frequent pitch adjustments.

Front Bar: The front bar is where the fabric is connected to the frame at the front portion of the awning. The valance also connects to the front bar and hangs freely in a decorative manner. As in the previously mentioned components strength is key in the front bar extrusion. Our front bar has a very large perimeter for added strength. Think of roof or floor construction where 2x12 boards are used (not 4x4) because of the strength the 12-inch perimeter lends. This added strength keeps your front bar from bending and combines with a strong roller tube for a great looking and performing awning.

Roller Tube: The fabric rolls around the roller tube when the awning is retracted and unrolls off the roller tube when the awning is extended. The roller tube flexes and returns to form as the awning moves in the breeze. A straight roller tube combined with a straight front bar means a great looking awning, as they maintain the square cut of the fabric. Eclipse features a 78mm steel roller tube for strength and stability.

Fabric: The fabric provides the cool (and beautiful) cover for your retractable awning. Today the high quality retractable awnings us solution dyed acrylic fabrics. These marine grade fabrics have the color embedded in every fiber. This ensures that they won't fade significantly over time. Acrylic fabrics are available in hundreds of decorator patterns and easily match outdoor furniture. Eclipse features Dickson and Sunbrella acrylic fabrics, which carry a 5-year warranty against fading, rotting, mold and mildew. In addition to their beauty acrylic fabrics put the block in sun block. Acrylics block up to 98% of the harmful UV rays of the sun, allow you to use your deck or patio, keep your house cool, save you $$ on air-conditioning, reduce glare, stop interior fading and did we mention use your deck or patio. Acrylic fabrics are used on the upper end retractable awnings for their strength, stability, beauty and extensive selection. Don't settle for less than acrylic on your investment.

Installation Brackets: Installation Brackets are the connection between the awning and the house. Good solid installations brackets can be made from either extruded or die cast aluminum either will work just fine. The key to a solid installation application is the distance between the two lag bolts, which attach the bracket to the wall. Look for installation brackets where there is a good distance between lag bolt-holes.

Hood: The hood protects the awning from the elements when it is retracted and also gives the unit a clean and finished look. While not absolutely necessary the hood is recommended whenever the unit is not installed under some form of protection, like an overhang. We use an aluminum hood for strength and durability.

Motorization: Motorization like awnings is cool. Cranking your awning in and out gets old over time. Our experience tells us that people use and enjoy their awnings more when they opt for motorized units. Simply touch a button and your awning reacts to your every command. Eclipse features Somfy motors and controls. Somfy has a wide array of remote and automated controls including sun and wind sensors.

Dealer Expertise: Our dealers are retractable awning specialists, they hang awnings for a living, and they know what they are doing. Many a handy man has tried to tackle the retractable awing only to become frustrated and call for help. Don't make this mistake; have your investment installed by a retractable awing specialist.

If you must go big go totally big, GO TOTAL ECLIPSE!
The Total Eclipse (13', 14'9", and 16'6" projections) are a whole different ballgame:

Unlike other systems we use different (more substantial) components in every area* for the Total Eclipse. We start with a 5mm steel torsion bar (sorry aluminum is not available). That's 25% larger than other systems. The arms and arm assembly are larger in extrusion profiles and cast parts. The installation brackets are larger and can be used for wall or soffit installation. The arms are assembled with epoxy, to ensure strength rivets are added. The front bar has even larger exterior dimensions for the stability required in a unit this size. The casting in the elbow is larger to transfer more tension to the fabric. The ABT is also larger, nine larger cables for a larger belt.

Thirteen feet is a serious projection and you need a serious awning. Other systems use the same product at 10' and 11'6" as they use for their 13' projection. NOT ECLIPSE! Don't settle. If you need 13 feet or more, you need the Total Eclipse. Call your dealer for a full presentation on the TOTAL ECLIPSE. Don't even think about trying to install the TE on your own.

We use the same 78mm roller tube in the Total Eclipse, but that's it.

Finally: Our goal at Eclipse is to provide you with the finest retractable shading products available anywhere. To ensure Quality Control our technical department relies on a laboratory and testing bank fitted with precision instruments such as mass content meters, x-ray image projectors, spring balancers and calibrators. We are constantly testing our products in order to check performance of the components we use. While there are no US standards for awning quality control we adhere to the widely used European guidelines such as the DIN* guidelines for raw materials and components. For finished product we follow the German TUV* guidelines. In fact all of our products meet with demanding European norms for control and ISO 9001 standards are followed at all stages of component production. (Deutsches Institut fur Normung) (TUV is an international service group, which documents the safety and quality of products, systems and services). For more information on TUV or DIN go to www.us.tuv.com or www.din.com.