Awning know‑how from NW Nela Street
Notes from the people who sew, weld and install Portland’s awnings: what’s inside a retractable, which awning suits which window, and the odd story from a shop that’s been at it since 1954.
Latest from the shop
Types of Awnings: Retractable vs. Fixed vs. Metal, Compared for Portland
Retractable, fixed fabric, metal or freestanding: the four types of awnings compared on rain, wind, upkeep and looks, with a side-by-side table for Portland homes.
Rose City Awning & Flag
More from the journal
How to Clean an Awning: Fabric, Mildew and Winter Care in Portland
Brush, hose, mild soap, rinse, air-dry. The fabric maker’s method for cleaning an awning, the mix that lifts mildew, and how to get one ready for a Portland winter.
Storefront Awnings in Portland: Signs, Permits and Design
A storefront awning is shelter, shade and a sign in one. Frame types, how lettering is made, Portland’s 8-foot sidewalk clearance and permits, and what a bid needs.
Patio Enclosure Ideas for Portland: Screens, Covers and Permits
Zip screens, drop screens, a cover overhead or full walls: five patio enclosure ideas, how each handles rain, wind and bugs, and when Portland wants a permit.
Patio Cover Ideas: Fabric Canopies, Pergola Covers and Awnings
Six patio cover ideas: retractable awnings, fabric canopies, pergola covers, shade sails and cabanas. How each handles Portland rain, and which ones need a permit.
Flag Etiquette: U.S. Flag Code Rules for Homes and Businesses
Flag etiquette made simple: when to fly the U.S. flag, how to hang it on a wall or in a window, where a state flag goes, half-staff and retiring a worn flag.
Retractable Awning Motor Not Working? What to Check First
Awning won’t open, close or stop in the right place? Safe checks for a retractable awning motor, what each symptom usually means, and when to call for repair.
Do Window Awnings Reduce Heat? What Portland Homeowners Should Know
Window awnings stop the sun before it reaches the glass. How much heat they block, why Portland’s summer sun angle helps, and which windows to shade first.
Shade Sails in Portland: Do They Work in Our Rain and Wind?
A shade sail is the lightest way to shade a patio. How custom shade sails are anchored and pitched for Portland rain, mesh vs. solid fabric, and when to skip one.
Awning Fabric Replacement: When to Recover or Replace
Most awnings outlive their fabric. Signs it’s time for awning fabric replacement, what happens in the shop, how to measure, and how to keep the new cover clean.
Canvas vs. Acrylic Awning Fabric: What a Custom Awning Is Made Of
People still say “canvas awning,” but most custom awnings are solution-dyed acrylic awning fabric. What that means for color, wear and cleaning, and how we choose it.
The Oregon State Flag: History, Symbols and Why It Has Two Sides
The Oregon state flag has 33 stars and 1859 on the front and a beaver on the back. How a Portland postmaster prompted it in 1925, and what every symbol means.
Why We Use Stainless Steel Chains in Our SummerSpace Awnings (and Why It Matters)
The drive inside a retractable awning decides whether it lasts twenty years or slips in year three. Why every SummerSpace awning we install runs on a steel chain.
Patio and Porch Privacy Screens: Outdoor Shades for Portland Weather
A patio privacy screen that rolls away when you want the view: outdoor roller shades for privacy, low sun and wind, plus how to choose the fabric and fit them.
Stationary Awnings Explained: Welded Frame, Pipe Frame and Rope Pull-Up
Fixed awnings stay up all year. The three kinds of stationary fabric awning we build, welded frame, pipe frame and rope pull-up, and how they differ in look and upkeep.
Retractable Awnings in Portland: A Homeowner’s Guide to Shade on Demand
Shade when you want it, open sky when you don’t. Are retractable awnings worth it? Motor or crank, wind sensors, fabric, how long they last and honest downsides.
Exterior Solar Shades vs. Interior Blinds: Keeping a Portland Home Cool
Interior blinds stop light after the heat is inside. Outdoor solar shades stop it outside the glass. How they work, how to choose the fabric, and where they pay off.
Oregon Made Today: Steve Marcy on the Ideals Behind the Shop
Owner Steve Marcy was the first guest on Oregon Made Today, a podcast about Oregon makers and manufacturers. A ten-minute listen on a shop founded in 1954.
