Awnings in Longwood, FL

Awnings in Longwood are mostly about the backyard. Around 69.4% of homes in the city are owner-occupied, households average about 2.46 people, and 88.3% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier. Those are families settled in for the long run, and the usual goal is simple: make the patio usable in July.

Permanent cover or flexible shade

The big decision for most Longwood families is between an aluminum patio cover and a retractable awning.

• Aluminum patio covers stay up year-round, keep rain off the grill and table during afternoon storms, and need little care. They are a structure attached to the house, so a permit is commonly part of the job; we confirm what the city requires for your address.
• Retractable awnings give shade when you want it and sun when you do not, which suits a pool deck or a yard where kids play in the winter sun. They do need to be rolled in when wind picks up, and a motor with a wind sensor takes that job off your list.
• A combination works well on larger yards: a fixed aluminum cover near the door for dining, and a retractable farther out for flexible shade.

Playing it safe in summer

Central Florida summers bring near-daily afternoon thunderstorms, and hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 with a peak in early September. For families, that means picking shade that does not depend on someone remembering to crank it in at 3 p.m. Fixed aluminum covers and sensor-equipped retractables are the two options that suit most busy households. For fixed fabric awnings, we make the cover removable ahead of a named storm.

The historic district

Longwood traces its establishment to 1878, and the Longwood Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 5, 1990. It covers about 19 acres bounded by West Pine Avenue, South Milwee Street, Palmetto Avenue and CR 427, and contains 37 historic buildings, including the Bradlee-McIntyre House and the Longwood Hotel. For homes and businesses in or near the district, we keep awnings modest: fabric over windows and doors sized to the opening, colors that suit older wood and painted siding, and mounting that can be removed later without damage. We check with the city about any review that applies before installation.

Other ways we help

• Window and door awnings for bedrooms and front entries that take the afternoon sun.
• Fixed awnings over side doors and the walkway to a detached garage or shed.
• Commercial awnings for businesses along State Road 434 and US 17-92.
• Repair and fabric replacement for awnings that came with the house when you bought it.

Neighborhood associations

Many Longwood subdivisions have a homeowners association. Under Florida law, an association's architectural review must rest on authority stated or reasonably inferred in its governing documents, the standards must be applied to every owner the same way, and if it denies your request it must say in writing which rule it relied on and which part of the plan does not conform. The association also cannot require a building permit before it reviews your plans, so you can seek HOA approval and the permit in whichever order suits the schedule.

Start with a visit

Call (689) 229-2337 or

Get a Free Estimate

. We will look at how your family uses the yard, which direction the patio faces, and what the back wall or roof edge can support, then put it all in a written quote.