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

Parr Butchers - Hayes