Sometimes it's the invisible details that matter the most! 
When constructing a steel frame it is very important that all tubes are capped and the welds are ground smooth. Once your new awning is up on the wall or over your patio you may never see these details. Is your contractor being sure to close all tubes before painting your new frame? If they don't, the frame will start rusting from the inside out. Rust that forms on the outside of a steel tube can be sanded off and painted over perhaps saving an older frame from deterioration. However, once that rust starts forming inside the tube, there is no stopping it!

Here are some frames from our welding shop - no open tubes!

Another invisible area that some companies will cheat on is the number of stitches on their seams. Are they passing these seams through their machines once to save money or twice to insure their covers will be durable? Awning fabrics are pretty remarkable materials - they can withstand the elements for 10 years or more! But they are only as good as the quality of the sewing holding them together. We always double stitch the top seams and sides on our awnings.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor dining is a necessity and keeping your customers shaded and happy means return business and likely, better sales for your restaurant. Installing a custom slide wire awning is not only an attractive, eye-popping addition for your business that can attract customers, it’s also a good way to encourage customers to come back again and again. 

So why buy a slide wire awning from us at American Awning and Blind Co.? To start, American Awning and Blind Co. has been in business for more than 110-years and we’ve completed projects for hundreds, if not thousands of businesses and homes. This means we have the experience to help you with your project, no matter the size or type. Here are just a few more reasons why installing a custom slide wire awning from us is beneficial. 
 

• Turnkey Operation – Our custom slide wire awnings come ready to install and use. We make sure when we arrive with your slide wire awning, it’s set to go.
• Customizable – Our custom slide wire awnings are made to your tastes, preferences, and sizes. We don’t limit your options and instead, let you make the decision on what your slide wire awning will look like.
• Permitting Service – Often, this is the difficult part of installing a slide wire awning or any awning on a home or business. That’s where American Awning and Blind Co. steps in and helps you through the process so you don’t have to worry. We’ll get you through permitting so you can start installing your custom slide wire awning sooner rather than later. 
• Rendering Service – Before you install anything, you will want to know what it might look like. That’s why at American Awning and Blind Co. we provide rendering services so you can get a general feel for what your project will look like. That way, if you have any changes, you can make them early on and avoid costly design changes down the road. 
• Quality – Our awnings and other products are made with quality fabrics and materials. We use the best, so you save the most in the long run. Using cheaper, poorer quality fabrics and materials can lead to replacements that end up costing you more. 
• Support – We’re here for our customers and we answer your questions and support you through the whole project. From rendering, permitting, to general inquiries, we’re here to help you find the best custom slide wire awning or other shade structure for your home or business. 

 
As you can see, we’re here to help you make your business stand out with top quality products and services. At American Awning and Blind Co. we help you choose the right awning or other shade structure for your location. We’re an all-in-one awning company; from design, permitting, architectural rendering, and more, we help you every step of the way. Contact us today for your free consultation. Visit us online at American Awning & Blind Co. at http://www.americanawningabc.com. (Our California Contractors License is #999050). Or give us a call at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com. 

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Help is available for restaurants! Under the new American Rescue Plan Act passed in March 2021, restaurants now have access to the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The funds are available for businesses in the food industry and cover the cost of outdoor dining construction and more. 
    
So, what else does this mean for your restaurant business? It means if the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected your food business, you have access to $28.6 billion in funding designed to help you. Those funds, administered by the Small Business Administration, will be distributed in the form of a grant, tax-free. The amount of the grant is calculated based on gross receipts, equal to the amount of revenue lost during the pandemic. Businesses that can apply include:
 

• Restaurants

• Food stands, food trucks, food carts
• Caterers
• Bars, saloons, lounges, taverns
• Snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars
• Bakeries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Brewpubs, tasting rooms, taprooms (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Breweries and/or microbreweries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Wineries and distilleries (onsite sales to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Inns (onsite sales of food and beverage to the public comprise at least 33% of gross receipts)
• Licensed facilities or premises of a beverage alcohol producer where the public may taste, sample, or purchase products

Certain restrictions and caps do apply. Check with the Small Business Administration and read the fine print. Grants are limited to no more than $10 million per business. Applications are now open. Check the SBA web site for more information. Keep in mind, the funds are limited and once they run out, that’s it. So hurry and apply.

The grant you receive can be used for multiple purposes including covering the costs of payroll, rent, and maintenance, including construction to accommodate outdoor seating. If you installed or are planning to install outdoor dining areas, now is the time to do so! The Restaurant Revitalization Fund is designed to help your business recover from the pandemic. Act now by going to the SBA website at: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund to find out how you can apply and for more information.  

​At American Awning and Blind Co. we help you choose the right awning for your location and weather needs. We’re an all-in-one awning company; from design, permitting, architectural rendering, and more, we help you every step of the way. Contact us today for your free consultation. Visit us online at American Awning & Blind Co. at http://www.americanawningabc.com. (Our California Contractors License is #999050). Or give us a call at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com.

We at American Awning continue to take this pandemic very seriously. Unfortunately some of our team member's friends and family have been negatively impacted by this virus. Our hearts go out to them and their loved ones. 

While many of us at the company have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, we are still diligent about wearing the appropriate PPE in our shop and at our job sites to help stop the spread of this virus. We do this out of concern for our staff, our clients, and our community at large. 

We also encourage everyone to remember that racism, discrimination, and any other form of hate towards the Asian-American community (or anyone for that matter!) is not a productive or reasonable response to this pandemic that we are all dealing with. At times like these it is important for the members in our community to support one another.

We are hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is now behind us and with everyone's continued diligence to stay safe, we will get through this together.

Right now, it’s all about saving a buck. However, sometimes saving a dollar now means spending hundreds of dollars later, and in the end, you didn’t save anything at all; you ended up spending more. That’s the case when it comes to professional awnings versus a store-bought or online purchased awning. 
There’s a difference in the quality, installation, and aesthetic of a professional awning over a store-bought one. You might be asking, but aren’t they made the same way? How big could the difference be? Well, you’ll be surprised to find out that there’s a HUGE gap between the two. Here’s a comparison list:
 
Professional Awnings    

• The Fabric won’t fade quickly. High quality, professional awning fabrics come with colorfast, anti-tearing, and ripping weaving, are water repellent, mold, and mildew resistant, come with more options for colors and designs, including valances and more. The fabric is also designed to withstand the elements and hold up in sunlight, rain, and wind. 
• The Frame is made with coatings and designs that make it strong, durable, and long-lasting. Frame options are expanded to include various materials like aluminum, polycarbonate, plastics, and other metals. 
• The Quality of the awning is superb because it’s designed, installed, and developed to match your home or business’ aesthetics, location, and weather conditions. The quality of your awning makes it last for years and years whereas a cheaper version won’t stand the test of time much less the elements. When you invest in a quality, professional awning, you get longevity, confidence, and more bang for your buck.
• ​The Design of a professional awning is rendered, calculated, and developed with all your tastes and needs in mind. The design is meant to enhance your building’s look and feel and add an element to your home or business that stands out and likely increases the value of your structure. 
• Installation of a professional awning by professionals last longer. Professionals properly measure the tension, weight, length, height, and more of your awning. They also render it to make sure it fits before physical installation occurs. 

 
Store-Bought Awnings

• Poor quality fabrics are often used in store-bought awnings and don’t last; you will be replacing your awning sooner rather than later which will cost you more in the long run. Some cheap awnings only last a couple of years or less. The fabrics used aren’t the best on the market and will tear, rip, or grow mold or mildew. Investing in a professional awning will save you all the grief and hassle of replacing an awning for years to come. 
• Flimsy frames and materials of cheaper, store-bought awnings can cause problems with your shade structure. The frame can break, crack, or worse, just fall apart.    If you install an awning yourself, you run the risk of damaging your building. You also run the risk of improperly installing your awning and thus, damaging it.
• Poor quality of store-bought awnings includes lack of instructions on installation, poorly constructed frames, and low-quality fabrics. The quality of store-bought awning is much worse than a professionally developed, designed, and installed awning. In the long run, you end up paying more for a store-bought awning than a professional one because of the replacement costs, repairs, and other issues that arise. 
• The design of a store-bought awning is fixed. You can’t change the colors, the style, or the frame. Whereas with a professional awning, you can have your design rendered and play with your options before you purchase.
• The installation of a store-bought awning is all on you. That means you have to know how to install an awning, what measurements, angles, and tools are used. Etc. If you mess up, there’s no warranty or policy or person to consult to help you.

As you can see, the differences between store-bought and professional awning are huge. If you invest in a quality, professional awning, you don’t have to worry about the details because your professional has done that for you already. You’ll have the confidence, support, and information you need to ensure your awning lasts with a professional, quality awning manufacturer and installer like us. For more than 100 years, American Awning and Blind Co. has professionally developed, designed, and installed awnings and shade structures in the greater Los Angeles area. Our projects cover home, office, industrial, and business structures. We also help you through the whole process, from design, permitting, architectural rendering, and more. 

​Call us today for your free consultation with our patio, awning, and shade experts. For more information about what we do and other shade structures, visit us online at American Awning & Blind Co. at http://www.americanawningabc.com. (Our California Contractors License is #999050). Or give us a call at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com.

Awnings and shade structures aren’t just for use during the summer. In fact, awnings can be used year-round in sunny and rainy weather. Professionally designed and installed awnings are created to stand up to the tests of time and the elements.
So, let’s talk about how and why an awning can stand up to the elements and the test of time. First, consider the fabric of your awning structure. Next, think about the frame of your awning. Finally, look at the awning as a whole structure designed to shelter you from not just the sun, but from rain and at times what the wind might be blowing around.

• Fabric: The fabric of your awning is made of a specialty textile that is developed to repel water, withstand the sunlight’s harmful UV rays, and stay bright and colorful. The fabric also protects you from the sun, inclement weather, and the random branches and objects that blow around in the wind. 
• Frame: The frame of your awning is also designed to withstand the elements. The frame can be made from aluminum, wood, and other materials. The frame is made to withstand winds – it shouldn’t fall down – and take the heat from the sun and the moisture from rain or humid weather. The frame is designed to last and stand the test of time. Keep in mind though, that as with everything, at some point, you do need to have your frame inspected and possibly replaced if there is damage, which can occur over time. 
• Structure: The awning structure as a whole is designed to withstand wind, rain, and sunlight. The structure’s design is created so that it not only stands firmly in wind but also in rain. When moisture collects, the awning’s angle lets excess water roll-off or, the sides of the awning’s frame have outlets to allow for water to drain away. The awning structure as a whole is meant to stand up to Mother Nature’s daily forces. 
• Elemental Forces: Protection from the wind, rain, and sunlight are what an awning is designed to do. Providing shade and cover from the sun and rain is the awning’s basic functions. The elemental forces are no match for a quality, designed awning that’s meant to last you for years. 
• Awnings and other professionally designed shade structures are created with fabrics and materials that are specially developed to withstand the elemental forces. Fabrics are made with colorfast technology so that the color stays vibrant even though the sun’s rays hit it every day. The frame is also designed to withstand wind and rain as well as heat and sunlight. Thus, awnings are perfect for year-round use and when coupled with other shade structures like drop screens, mesh screens, curtains, and vinyl windows, can be an excellent addition for any home or business. 
  

At American Awning and Blind Co. we help you choose the right awning for your location and weather needs. We’re an all-in-one awning company; from design, permitting, architectural rendering, and more, we help you every step of the way. Call us today for your free consultation. 
For more information about awnings and other shade structures feel free to contact us. For more information about what we do, visit us online at American Awning & Blind Co. at http://www.americanawningabc.com. (Our California Contractors License is #999050). Or give us a call at 800-654-5933. You can also email us at info@americanawningabc.com.