Hello, Ann from ERS Shading in San Jose, CA here. Disclaimer - we manufacture and install retractable awnings so we may be biased but we're also quite informed. Retractable awnings are excellent at providing shade for patios/exterior spaces and the interior spaces. Like many have said, you get what you pay for as far as quality goes. Most reputable manufacturers and installers will provide a warranty. Our warranty is 5 years and if you select an awning fabric from Sunbrella, it is covered for 10 years. And we're always looking at new materials and structuring to improve the durability of our awnings for stronger winds and rain. You may read more about our retractable awnings here

Okay - I had not heard that so had to look it up. This is from some laser hair removal site: Hair Color The second factor that helps to determine the outcome of you laser hair removal procedure is the color if the hair to be treated. Let�s take a look at each hair color type and the result it is most likely to produce. Dark hair - Dark hair, such as black or dark brown, is going to be the easiest to treat because it contains the most pigmentation which allows the laser light to be absorbed to a greater extent. Also, dark hair tends to be more coarse which will produce a better result. Medium hair - This is most often light or medium brown hair. This hair type is going to be easier to treat than lighter hair colors, but may require more procedures than candidates with very dark brown or black hair. Also, not all medium hair is also coarse, some can be very fine and thin, so it goes without saying that those with coarse medium hair will produce better and quicker results than those with fine medium hair. Light hair - There are many varying degrees of light hair, more than any other hair type. Overall, light hair is the most difficult to treat and will require more time, money, and procedures than candidates with other hair color types. The easiest to treat would be dark or medium blonde hair, with light blonde and red hair both being the hardest to treat. This is because they contain phemelianin pigment which makes them less able to absorb the laser light. White or grey hair - It may be almost impossible to treat those with grey or white hair. It contains no pigmentation and therefore can not absorb the laser light enough to heat the hair follicle. -------------------------- Maybe the number of treatments has something to do with the hair color? tina

Vampiress: Check out the Pate-Meadows pics and patterns that Graywings suggested. The way they have attached the top of their awnings to the wall with the drapery hold-backs is very cute. THANK YOU for the "how-to" link. That makes me feel a little better about tackling this project. I would try the Sunbrella idea, but around here all Sunbrella awnings are custom made. As I said, this master suite will have a garden theme. The material I am going to use (I think!)is at JoAnn.com. It is a Robert Allen for DwellStudio® Fabric in the Botany Flora Leaf # 2305985. The monitor does not do the color justice,but it is bright and just the color I need. Does anyone think that this will be ok for an awning? Any other ideas? Thanks! ,

HKO HKO - this is my... 3rd or 4th post on this website. I didn't realize this website was manned by 'retired professionals donating their time to help the poor surfs building in the lower class sectors'. I had no idea the same 5 'retired' architects and designers would reply multiple times with insults about features of a house I'm building that I never asked advice for to begin with. I do NOT share their obsession with windows. I politely stated that on their first round of comments. And hey, I get it. I get on forums to help in my profession (web development). I certainly don't get on there offering to help someone get a script running and then totally rip apart the look of their website. Kind of goes back to "if you don't have anything nice to say...", eh? This post, for example, was about fishing for options for the cantilever. Not being a builder and trying to Google it is what did lead me to the term "EYEBROW PERGOLA" when really what I was reaching for was corbels or brackets/braces. What would have been nice was "Hey, did you consider dentil blocks if you want something to look at in that area?" When I met with one of the guys from the builder he sympathetically offered that and pointed out examples. Wonder why I'm a bit, ungrateful? I had one of the 'helpful retired professionals' here tell me because my husband and I both WANTED our laundry in the garage that "Any new house that has the laundry in a garage, is a poorly designed house. It’s not responding to what you need. " (Thanks, Sophie Wheeler for knowing what my husband and I need, without even meeting with us! You Rock!) I never asked about the bloody windows. And this post was back in May. Move on.