Awning & Sentry Screen Packages for Gardner, KS
A lot of Gardner work is fresh new-construction — homes finishing in the last three years with builder decks already framed and waiting for shade. We schedule those installs alongside the deck contractor's final punch so you're not opening a finished surface twice.
The package: awning plus Sentry, single install day
Most Gardner clients want both a retractable awning above the deck and a Sentry vertical screen on the open side facing west. We package them — one estimate, one electrical run, one install day. The savings versus separate installs run about $1,200 because the truck visit, permit, and inspection costs roll into a single transaction.
Coordinating with builder warranties
If your home is under the 12-month builder warranty, any exterior penetration we make can void specific portions of that warranty. We coordinate with the builder before drilling — most send us a brief written acknowledgment that our install doesn't affect their warranty, and we keep that on file. If the builder won't sign off, we wait until month 13.
Standard new-construction siding: Hardie versus LP
Hardie cement board is the easier mount — pre-drill 5/32" pilot, lag through to the framing with EPDM washers. LP SmartSide is wood composite; takes lag bolts beautifully but needs a stainless lag, not galvanized, because the resin in LP eats zinc plating within five years. We've pulled out failed galvanized lags from competitor jobs and replaced with stainless on three Gardner houses this year alone.
More about installations in Gardner
Builder deck framing inspection — what we look at before quoting. Many builder decks in Gardner are framed to minimum code: 2x10 PT joist on 16" centers, double rim joist, 6x6 posts on 12" sonotube footers. That's enough to support a retractable awning, but the rim joist often has a single nail-laminate seam right where we want our middle bracket. We field-locate that seam and shift the bracket pattern to land on solid lumber, not the seam. Five-minute inspection on the front end saves a callback two years out.
Why pole-barn-style backyards matter here. Gardner has a meaningful number of homes with detached pole-barn workshops or pole-frame outdoor kitchens. Mounting a Sunesta to a pole-frame structure requires a fabricated steel plate spanning two posts — same approach as on a Spring Hill outbuilding. We've done four of these in the past year. Pole-barn awnings are visually striking — the black 320734 or charcoal frame against red metal cladding looks intentional.
Motor pairing across two units. If you order two awnings (front and side patios, common request) we can pair both motors to a single multi-channel Telis remote — channels 1 and 2 control independently, channel 'all' opens or closes both at once. Same approach for an awning + Sentry combo: awning on channel 1, Sentry on channel 2, all-zone on channel 3. Setup takes 10 minutes after install.
Seasonal storage approach. We don't recommend removing or storing a Sunesta in winter. The frame is rated to permanent outdoor exposure; the canopy is designed to live retracted from December through March. What we do recommend: a final extension and rinse on a dry day in late October to wash off the fall pollen and tannin, then retract and leave it. First spring extension, hose-rinse again, lubricate the arm bushings — done.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you install before my builder warranty expires?
Yes, with builder coordination. We get a written acknowledgment from your builder that our install doesn't void any portion of the structural or weatherproofing warranty. If your builder declines, we recommend waiting until month 13.
Why stainless lags on LP SmartSide?
The phenolic resin in LP composite siding chemically attacks galvanized zinc plating within about five years, leading to premature lag failure. Stainless 305 or 316 is unaffected. We've replaced multiple competitor installs that used galvanized.
Do I save money buying an awning and Sentry together?
Yes — about $1,200 on a typical package versus separate installs. Single permit, single electrical run, single day's labor, single truck dispatch.