EasyAwn™ Dome Awning Installation Installation, Care, and Maintenance Manual These instructions will make the installation of your new EasyAwn fast and easy.  By taking the time to become familiar with the installation of your EasyAwn before beginning, you will benefit from our many years of experience and input from hundreds of customers and dozens of improvements to these instructions. These instructions address the questions we have received over the years from college students to senior citizens, builders to housewives, and handymen to the mechanically challenged.  The most common questions we receive today are addressed a few pages later in this installation manual. We cannot stress enough the importance of becoming familiar with this entire document BEFORE beginning your installation.  The time you spend doing this is well spent and will make installing your EasyAwn quite simple.  You will also do it correctly the first time and ensure many, many years of enjoyment. Basic Tools Needed for Installation Tape Measure & Pencil                                           Level (Optional but recommended) Drill                                                                             Screwdriver Drill Bits (Depends on Surface)                              Ladder                        General Comments Wash your hands before installation and be sure they are clean when handling the fabric. Always be careful of the fabric during installation.  Drills, screwdrivers and other items can puncture the fabric.  This and other customer installation damage is not covered by the warranty. A second person to assist in holding the front bar up and the fabric back when fastening your dome awning to the wall is recommended Take your time in planning and installing your new awning.  It is very simple to install and the results are excellent, but rushing will make things much harder. List of Parts See the list in Figure 1 become familiar with each part before you begin. FIGURE 1 Planning and Layout of the Installation Location The first step in installing your EasyAwn is to determine where you will mount the head bar.  It will need to be installed level and centered over the window or door.  If the door or window opens outward, the awning must be high enough to provide clearance with the door or window in the open position.  In some cities and counties there are building codes that specify how awnings can be mounted.  Please check with local authorities for clarification. Dimensions of the EasyAwn Dome Awning: Size A - Height B - Projection C - Width D – Valance 4’ 19 24 4’-0” 6” 5’ 23 30 5’-0” 6” 6’ 27 36 6’-0” 6” Examine where you will be mounting the awning.  If you are mounting to any surface that is not concrete, refer to Figure 2 for typical locations of studs and headers.  The framing members outlined in Grey will provide an appropriate anchoring point for the fasteners.  This is what you would see if you removed the siding from a framed wall. FIGURE 2 On masonry walls drill and insert anchors for the mounting screws.  For other surfaces, locate the studs for anchoring the supplied screws.  If the locations of the predrilled holes do not match your stud locations, drill new ¼” holes in the back bar of the frame to match your stud locations.  If you have planking or another thick surface over the framing, you may need to use longer screws than those supplied to ensure a secure fastening. Assembly of the EasyAwn Open the dome to a clamshell configuration as shown below.  Combine the two sections of the back bar and front bar.  Feed the fabric into the aluminum frame channel while GENTLY pulling on the ends of the fabric in the channel. Secure the sections with one of the small screws in the predrilled holes DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN AS THE ALUMINUM CAN STRIP OUT.  Note the larger bar on top in Figure 3; this is the front bar of the awning.  The lower bar is the back bar which will be fastened to the wall. If the fabric comes out of the ends of the channel, simple rotate the fabric and feed it back into the channel.  When you are done with this step, the awning should look like Figure 3 below: Figure 3 Use the smaller screws to attach the crown ring to the back bar as shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 Mount the EasyAwn to the Wall The bracket included in the hardware package is used to hold the awning in place on the wall during installation.  This is fastened to the wall at the center of where the awning will be located. Figure 5 Place the EasyAwn into the bracket as shown in Figure 6.  This may require a second person for larger models.  NOTE:  This picture is a final assembly and yours will not have the rafters installed at this point as shown in Figure 6. FIGURE 6 Fastening to the Wall Finish fastening the back bar to the wall using the supplied screws in the predrilled holes.  You may need to drill new ¼” holes in the back bar as described above.  BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT DAMAGE THE FABRIC MAKE SURE THE WIDTH OF THE FASTENED FRAME IS CORRECT AS PROVIDED IN FIGURE 2. A second person to lift the front bar and make sure the fabric is back from the drill will make this step easier. Installing the Ribs Installed the ribs by placing the ends of the rib over the corresponding pegs and rotating the rib into place.  Be careful to not push the ends of the ribs against the fabric. Start with the center ribs and continue until all ribs are in place.  Align the ribs as close as possible with the seams and it is normal for these to not match exactly. Securing the Ribs Tie the alignment cord off at one end of the awning at the back bar as shown on the right hand side of Figure 7. Figure 7 Hold each rib in place and wrap the cord THREE times around each cleat to keep the ribs from moving.  Keep tension in the cord during installation.  When all the ribs are secured, tie off the cord to the cleat on the other side of the back bar. Congratulations - Your EasyAwn installation is now complete! If you would like a waterproof seal at the wall, use a non-adhesive caulk to seal the aluminum channel to the wall.  This is not recommended if you will be removing the awning each season. Care and Maintenance One of the best ways to keep your EasyAwn fabric looking great is to hose off the fabric on a monthly basis with clear water.  This practice will help prevent dirt from embedding in the fabric and reduce the need for vigorous cleanings.  In most environments, a thorough cleaning will be needed every two to three years.  When it's time for a thorough cleaning, the EasyAwn fabric can be cleaned on the awning frame or easily removed for cleaning in your washing machine. If you are cleaning your EasyAwn on the frame follow these simple steps: Brush off loose dirt. Hose down. ·        Prepare a cleaning mixture of water and mild, natural soap (no detergents). Use a soft bristle brush to clean. Allow soap to soak in. Rinse thoroughly. Air dry.  If you are removing the cover and using a washing machine, these steps should be followed: Use only natural soaps.  No detergent. Wash and rinse in cold water. Air dry.  Never put EasyAwn fabrics in your dryer. After a thorough cleaning, EasyAwn fabrics should be treated to re-establish water repellency.  Your EasyAwn fabric is treated with fluorocarbon-based water repellency chemicals during manufacturing, and it is recommended that a pretreatment with ScotchGard® or similar product is done following cleanings.  General Care Tips   Keep trees and shrubs trimmed back from all canvas awnings Do not use harsh chemicals or bleaches for cleaning. Insect repellents and other chemicals can damage the fabric Do not hang from the awning, it will damage the fabric and the frame Remove awnings for painting Snow accumulation will stretch or tear the fabric Remove awnings during snow conditions Do not let water pool on the frame.