Awnings in Lake Mary, FL

Awnings in Lake Mary usually start with paperwork rather than a tape measure. Many homes here sit inside subdivisions with an architectural committee, and that committee wants to see color, size and mounting before anything goes on the house. We build that review into the job from the first visit, so the plan you submit is the plan we install. The city incorporated on August 7, 1973, sits about 19 miles from Orlando, and roughly 62.9% of its homes are owner-occupied, according to Census estimates.

What a committee usually asks to see

Every association writes its own rules, but the submissions we prepare tend to cover the same ground:

• A product sheet or fabric swatch with the exact color name
• A drawing showing width, projection and mounting height on the wall
• Where the motor, wiring and switch will go if the awning is powered
• Photos of the wall or roof edge where it attaches
• For aluminum covers, the roof panel color and post locations

We assemble this as one packet you can forward, which tends to cut down the back-and-forth with the board.

What Florida law says about that review

Florida Statute 720.3035 limits an association's architectural authority to what its declaration or published guidelines state or reasonably infer. Its standards have to be applied equitably to every owner, and a denial must come in writing, naming the specific rule and the part of the plan that does not conform. The statute also bars an association from requiring a building permit before it will review your request, so the two approvals can run side by side. The section's hurricane-protection language lists items such as shutters and impact-resistant windows; awnings are not named, so we do not assume a board is obliged to approve one.

Layered associations

Heathrow, an unincorporated gated community in Seminole County on the I-4 corridor, was founded in 1985 and has about 30 sub-developments under the Heathrow Master Association, each also belonging to its own homeowners association or sharing one. In layered communities like that, an exterior change may need sign-off at more than one level. Ask both boards early; we can format the packet for either.

Awning types that suit Lake Mary homes

• Retractable awnings over lanais and back patios, motorized with a wind sensor so the fabric rolls in when a storm front arrives
• Aluminum patio covers for owners who want year-round rain cover over an outdoor kitchen or dining set
• Window and door awnings for west-facing rooms; committees often prefer a solid color matched to the trim
• Commercial awnings for offices, medical suites and shops that want covered entries or patio seating
• Repair and fabric replacement when an older awning has faded but the frame is still sound

Wind and the building code

Central Florida's afternoon storms build quickly in summer, and Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Answering a 2010 petition about a retractable awning (DCA10-DEC-182), the Florida Building Commission said the code's fabric-structure design criteria apply whether the awning is open or rolled up. So we choose hardware suited to the wall it mounts on and still recommend retracting before high winds. Whether a permit is needed depends on the awning type and how it attaches; we confirm with Lake Mary's building staff for your address.

Lakes, open lots and sun

The city's motto is "City of Lakes," and it is named for Mary Sundell, who settled on the northern shore of the lake. Waterfront and near-water homes often have a patio facing open sky, with no trees to break the late sun or the wind. On those lots we lean toward motorized retractables and solid mounting, and we talk through how far the awning should project so it shades the table without cutting off the water view.

Free estimates

Call (689) 229-2337 or

Get a Free Estimate

. We measure, photograph the mounting surface, note which way the patio faces and give you a written quote, along with the documents your committee will ask for.