Movie of Aruba screen

bungalow fixing, pink stripy fabric

NB. Look how taut the fabric is...

Patience is a virtue

'Treat others how you would like to be treated' is a great mantra. It's probably the mantra that I follow the most as I'm working. I hate hard sell, with a passion. If what you're selling is good, and your pricing is correct, then the customers will come to you. Why on earth anyone falls for the pressure sell is beyond me, it just sets off alarm bells.

Mr R is a great example. He contacted me in 2006 for a quote and I heard nothing more. In August this year (2009) he came back to me and within 3 weeks the awning was up. Provided customers understand that it may not always be possible to hold a quotation for 3 years, then it's always better to give them the space and time that they need. It may have lost me work over the years, I'm hoping that I don't come across as too blase, but I'd rather be relaxed in my selling than come across as desperate.

white awning, yellow/orange fabric

7m wide white awning, cream cover

white awning, snazzy green cover

The customer uploaded some amazing photos of us at work on Flickr, I googled 'A25 Awnings' and was surprised how many images they had taken!

The Courtyard Cafe - W. Molesey

Working abroad two weeks running!

Ha ha, slightly less glamorous than Modena this time.

The awning's worst enemy is the delivery driver. Thornton's branch in Ryde on the Isle of Wight has suffered it's fair share of run-ins with trucks. To their defence, the trucks that is, it is a narrow street.

The 10 year old awnings were as good as new and easy enough to get back in to good working order

Bungalow fixing

I've often wondered how steel brackets support so much weight. It was recently that Ying explained to me that a weld is stronger than the original steel that my mind was put to rest somewhat.

Ying's my steel fabricator, and a thoroughly nice guy.

I pity Italian awning fitters!

My sister in law and her family have recently moved to a new house on the outskirts of Modena. They asked my father in law if he'd go out and install an awning on their place but he was too busy and suggested asking me. I couldn't think of any reason why not to and so went over for a day trip in July.

Wow, I couldn't have chosen a hotter day if I'd tried! Modena was in the midst of a heatwave and we had the sun on our backs all day. The finished job was great though and they treated me to authentic pizza in nearby Nonantola. It was the local summer festival and we sat watching fireworks at midnight with the children, a lovely end to an arduous day. Maybe I don't pity those Italians after all

Gurkha Oven - Staines

Waitrose - N Finchley

Belmont Bakery - Teddington

Wedge canopies

Lightweight wedge canopies are gaining popularity every year. They're undoubtedly good value for money but I'd like to think that customers would consider other options when installing on to a classic facade.

Two awnings, 30 years apart

This job brings a real glow of pride to me. Mrs H contacted me to ask if I could refurbish her old awning and convert it to electric as it was getting a bit too much for her to wind in and out. When I visited her it was an awning that we'd installed 20 odd years before, and it was immaculate. Not only that but where she wanted a new awning was an old wooden box-lot awning installed by us some 50 years ago. Three awnings from three generations of Marshes!

They don't make them like they used to....

Firstly, what a load of twaddle that phrase is. Yes, I agree that things used to be built to last and that traditional awnings are in existence that were around before I was born, and may out live me but, there's no way that you can say that a new fully enclosed remote controlled awning on a house is not as functional or attractive as it's traditional wooden counterpart. They are.

Having said that, I do like traditional awnings. I like the heavy feel and sturdiness of the wooden lathes and I think they compliment a traditional shopfront far more than a modern aluminium awning ever could. There's a definite art to it, it's very much 'build on site' which can be difficult and there's far more that can go wrong. If only someone would invent another way to attach the fabric to the front, we'd all have easier lives...

Vertical screens - Wimbledon

I like the weinor Aruba (formerly FEMA - short for fenster-markisen) and the finished product always looks stunning for somthing so simple. I just wish the market for the product was larger

Mac's - Beckenham