Keeping an awning taught enough?

Martynt74 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:06

We bought one of those rectangular awning type things with a D clip at each corner. I initially bought some fabric rope, but that snapped when the wind caught it. I swapped out to some Nylon rope which seemed to be a lot better, but i'm struggling to pull each corner tight enough whilst also tying a knot. Whenever i pull it nice and tight, then start tying the knot it starts slipping and then the awning ends up being a bit drooping and just sways around in the wind.

I noticed the local hardware shop had some galvanised cable. This would be perfect and avoid it snapping. However i'm struggling to work out how i can fix it to either the D Clips or the hooks on various walls etc.

There's also the thinking that i could do with at least 2 winch/ratchet type thing to enable me to pull the thing as tightly as possible. However given it's on the outside of the house, could do with something which looks relatively minimal.

This looks like it'd do. Just curious on other peoples thoughts

https://www.amazon.es/Inoxidable-Suspensi%C3%B3n-Revestido-Alambre-Trepadora/dp/B0B63GVGQF/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.mj5CzP7dVfcGNkDuKGh0gdq2fS77J5Hw1bkYER3HlyX3F-5cDSxVhhkUPmaFnP24s__6drqCKUWaBPyZBqZdd3atdZVA-dLIf6z-e7S-Yk580_AEfoHph9P-Fc_ttP9Tk_hTothebm3xRZOkaa6Qhipo-lsy87xCwP0JeT-Gk79Z-vTAolFAxJhcUSt0Vo4woRN7AtUUoOgNSZudePfEdZgCLyV_GZB32DYxu53TD9tMDIyV7IP9bvwLJzAa8xnN7M7Wp3rNmwEG_DakwM03xatKUi92P7J-yN8jC7gyK1I.w14yRm402V3gf7_wT-siBcMGb0zkhP-DQGA-rXn4958&dib_tag=se&keywords=steel+rope&qid=1722434787&sr=8-4-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Anyone got any suggestions?

cheesyboy · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:12

Tried using a trucker's hitch knot?

d_brennen · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:13

What about a couple of manual winches? Bit overkill maybe but it sounds like a big awning

Martynt74 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:14

cheesyboy said:
Tried using a trucker's hitch knot?

I've not. To be honest my knot tieing ability falls apart at shoelaces!

Martynt74 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:16

d_brennen said:
What about a couple of manual winches? Bit overkill maybe but it sounds like a big awning

They'd be ideal, but just struggling to find something easy enough on the eye, whilst also keeping costs down. It's a temporary solution until we put a proper pergola type thing into place. I found these on Amazon but unsure the wife would want them attached to the side of the house!

https://www.amazon.es/Ribimex-1101-Cabestrante-operaci%C3%B3n-capacidad/dp/B008ETH9SA/ref=sr_1_11?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fUj6eHMZbk6gGjAyOmX9IQk38pwogyQ78da0WfaD2BmjFMdpIHfntzp823Lz_2POGzQhUrAmQJuUI0tNGxoX65_ZlY8WZIz64P8awo3g6ntO5ZvADM6WjOZF9S6tNnIQiFEgYQu_7YlFTTf6FUHPk-uIEnElUbxLZactxpLjfFJR00zA5Yh49coKN0jVUHea5q3jYZ1_i7KWQhWQ_sPhaKDhVFONdXwX_yRe5-uXEVgchAwFZs5gQ5ho6ji9poIAdvgabMJY6I3PIJLYUUVOdzXBmwln-FcWp4mxJM9Zjbk.XFk0on9JjleZFFxc06eeFQSkgjRAsj6wk8XwBIeeGTE&dib_tag=se&keywords=winch&qid=1722435268&sr=8-11&th=1

cheesyboy · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:16

Martynt74 said:
I've not. To be honest my knot tieing ability falls apart at shoelaces!

They're really good for tying something down tight, and aren't complicated once you understand the concept.

Worth googling it

Martynt74 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:17

cheesyboy said:
They're really good for tying something down tight, and aren't complicated once you understand the concept.

Worth googling it

Yeah, will do some reading.

I don't think it helped that the first rope i got was slightly elasticated.

d_brennen · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:23

Martynt74 said:
They'd be ideal, but just struggling to find something easy enough on the eye, whilst also keeping costs down. It's a temporary solution until we put a proper pergola type thing into place. I found these on Amazon but unsure the wife would want them attached to the side of the house!

https://www.amazon.es/Ribimex-1101-Cabestrante-operaci%C3%B3n-capacidad/dp/B008ETH9SA/ref=sr_1_11?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fUj6eHMZbk6gGjAyOmX9IQk38pwogyQ78da0WfaD2BmjFMdpIHfntzp823Lz_2POGzQhUrAmQJuUI0tNGxoX65_ZlY8WZIz64P8awo3g6ntO5ZvADM6WjOZF9S6tNnIQiFEgYQu_7YlFTTf6FUHPk-uIEnElUbxLZactxpLjfFJR00zA5Yh49coKN0jVUHea5q3jYZ1_i7KWQhWQ_sPhaKDhVFONdXwX_yRe5-uXEVgchAwFZs5gQ5ho6ji9poIAdvgabMJY6I3PIJLYUUVOdzXBmwln-FcWp4mxJM9Zjbk.XFk0on9JjleZFFxc06eeFQSkgjRAsj6wk8XwBIeeGTE&dib_tag=se&keywords=winch&qid=1722435268&sr=8-11&th=1

That's exactly what I had in mind. Don't think they look too shabby to be honest.

What about a rachet style thingy? https://www.amazon.es/dp/B00GE9Q2IU?ref=emc_s_m_5_i_atc 2.2M, something along those lines?

Martynt74 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:28

Yeah, the one i posted isn't "that" ugly.

I'm wondering it it's better to sack off and just build the pergola. It's probably ~€300 in timber and i'm thinking by the time i buy anything else then it makes sense to just go with what we want. I thought i'd mount the awking we have on some kind of steel pole to allow it to be retractable.

We've also been saying it'd be nice to have something to cover the pool, so putting it on some heavy castors to allow us to wheel it over the pool would be handy.

coupe69 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:29

We use turnbuckles on our garden sail. Attach and then tighten up to the necessary tension. Something like these - link

Martynt74 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:30

coupe69 said:
We use turnbuckles on our garden sail. Attach and then tighten up to the necessary tension. Something like these - link

Awesome. I'd seen them a lot on Amazon but wasn't sure how decent they'd be. There's a kit with steel rope and 4 of these for €20 so might give it a go.

coupe69 · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:42

I installed a couple of fence posts into the garden at the correct spacing for a 4x3 metre sail then screwed a couple of eye plates to them - link Another couple of eye plates attached to the wall and we now have a nice taut sail! We use a combination of carabiners and the turnbuckles mentioned above to connect the sail to the eyes.

Gammawolf · 31 Jul 2024 at 15:51

Probably not a sleek as you'd like but you can create tensioning systems with just two rods/sticks and some loops of rope. Good for temporary setups and easy enough to retension.

Two Sticks Rope Tensioning System An Incredible Tension System You've EVER Seen

Rope Tensioning System with Two Sticks - Outdoor Wilderness Tips - Building a ShelterMaterial is from @https://www.paracord.eu◾️ https://www.paracord.eu/para...

www.youtube.com

jpaul · 31 Jul 2024 at 16:10

Martynt74 said:
I noticed the local hardware shop had some galvanised cable. This would be perfect and avoid it snapping. However i'm struggling to work out how i can fix it to either the D Clips or the hooks on various walls etc.

can use some of these https://www.gsproducts.co.uk/egg-shaped-steel-wire-rope-grip/
had purchased stuff from them for rowing machine cable, but probably cheaper just to use nylon cable with a sheep-shank say, you use on guy ropes

3mm Stainless Steel Wire Rope End Stopper (2 Grub Screws)	SSWRS03	2	£3.32
3mm - 4mm Clear Nylon 11 Coated Galvanised 7x19 Steel Wire Rope Gymnasium Cable - Per Meter	TGYM080	3	£3.72

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 31 Jul 2024 at 16:56

You may be able to use a come along to tension them more but I agree the thing to use is turnbuckles

BigBoy · 31 Jul 2024 at 22:24

I have two of these holding up our sun sail https://www.gsproducts.co.uk/bzp-hook-hook-turnbuckles/ its triangular so the middle corner is held using a carabena clip two corners on the longer side I have turnbuckles never had an issue with it.

Molep · 1 Aug 2024 at 15:12

cheesyboy said:
Tried using a trucker's hitch knot?

Thought this was for securing hitch hikers.

Richie · 2 Aug 2024 at 11:16

cheesyboy said:
Tried using a trucker's hitch knot?

Yeah this will work.. used to use this all the time at hay baling time as a kid. You get a lot of leverage with it and it doesn't loosen off unless you want it to