Awnings in Sanford, FL

Awnings in Sanford often go on buildings that were standing long before air conditioning. The city incorporated on September 29, 1877, became the county seat when Seminole County was created in 1913, and keeps a large collection of older commercial and residential architecture on streets shaded by live oaks. On those buildings a well-proportioned awning does what awnings were first made for: keeping sun off the glass and rain off the doorway.

Downtown storefronts

The Sanford Commercial District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 15, 1976, covers parts of 1st, 2nd and Commercial Streets between Palmetto and Oak, with 29 historic buildings in Classical Revival and Romanesque styles. For shops, restaurants and offices in and around those blocks we focus on:

• Fixed fabric awnings sized to each storefront bay, so masonry and transom windows stay visible
• Valance lettering for the business name, kept within whatever sign rules apply
• Retractable awnings over sidewalk seating that can roll back on mild winter afternoons
• Fabric replacement on existing frames, often the simplest way to refresh a facade

The residential historic district

The Sanford Residential Historic District, bounded by Sanford Avenue, 14th Street, Elm Avenue and 3rd Street, joined the National Register on December 15, 1989 and takes in 432 historic buildings. On houses there we keep awnings light: window and porch awnings in canvas-look fabric, frames anchored into trim boards or mortar joints rather than through decorative details, and colors that sit well against painted wood. Historic properties may face design review, so we check what the city requires before anything is ordered.

On the shore of Lake Monroe

Sanford sits on the southern shore of Lake Monroe, an 8,771-acre lake in the St. Johns River system, at the head of navigation on the river. Open water lets wind travel a long way before it reaches a building. For lakefront patios and waterfront businesses we favor motorized retractables with wind sensors or sturdy aluminum covers, and we size the projection with gusts in mind instead of only shade.

Planning for storms

Sanford's wet season runs from June into September, overlapping the start of Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10). A storefront awning faces every squall line head-on. We select frames and fasteners for the wall they mount to, and for fixed fabric awnings we can design covers that come off ahead of a named storm. The Florida Building Commission's 2010 statement DCA10-DEC-182 found that a retractable awning is subject to the code's fabric-structure design criteria in the retracted position as well, so rolled up does not mean exempt.

Timing for business owners

Commercial awning work often involves drawings, a permit and an inspection, and commercial review generally takes longer than residential. If the awning has to be up for an opening day or a lease start, tell us at the first visit. We take the measurements, prepare the drawings and explain up front what the city is likely to ask for.

More for Sanford homes

• Aluminum patio covers for backyards that need dependable rain cover
• Window and door awnings for rooms on the west and south walls
• Awning repair for torn fabric, bent arms and failed motors
• Retractable awnings for decks and lanais

Free estimates

Sanford is about 20 miles northeast of Orlando and well within our service area. Call (689) 229-2337 or

Get a Free Estimate

. We measure, photograph the facade or patio and give you a written quote.