How to Add an Awning to Your Patio

Measure the patio to determine the size of your awning. It can cover a portion, or all the patio, if desired. The awning will attach to the side of the house on one side and have poles to support it on the other. The length of the awning should be sufficient to extend from the side of the house over the patio to just about reach the ground around the patio.

Cut your awning canvas approximately 3 inches more than the actual size of your awning. If you are making a large awning and need multiple pieces of canvas, cut each piece an extra inch larger again then sew the pieces together using a 1/2-inch double seam on a sewing machine.

Fold over all of the outside edges of your canvas on a 1/4-inch seam. Sew the seam with a flat stitch setting on the sewing machine. Fold over the edges a second time on a 2 1/2-inch seam and sew it with a double flat stitch.

Press a grommet into each corner of the awning within the 2 1/2-inch seam and cut away the canvas from inside the grommet so you have a reinforced hole. If the awning is bigger than 40 inches in width, use a grommet every 30 to 40 inches along the width edges.

Drill pilot holes sized to the shaft of each eye-bolt into the wall of the house. The pilot holes should be positioned to mirror the placement of the grommets in the canvas edge and at the height that you want the awning to hang. Screw an eye-bolt into each hole.

Lay the awning on the patio as you want it to be positioned for hanging. Connect a turnbuckle to each grommet and unwind the turnbuckle to its longest length. The location where the turnbuckles reach on the awning edge opposite the wall is where you need to install a support pole.

Dig a 2-foot hole at each of the turnbuckle's end points with a post-hole digger.

Cut a metal pole for each hole approximately 2-1/2 feet longer than the height the awning will hang. Use tube cutters or a band saw with a metal cutting blade.

Drill a pilot hole sized for an eye-bolt approximately 5 inches down from one end of each pole then screw in the eye-bolts.

Mix up quick-dry cement, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Insert a pole into one of the holes with the eye-bolt up and facing the direction of the eye-bolt on the side of the house. Fill the hole with the quick-dry cement then lean the pole back slightly away from the patio -- about 10 degrees or so. The cement will set within 10 to 15 minutes, after which repeat with the remaining poles and let them fully cure overnight.

Connect a D-shackle to the end of each turnbuckle on your awning. Attach the D-shackles to the eye-bolts on the poles and on the house, which will lift the awning up. Wind in the turnbuckles to pull the awning taut.