STEELAID Manual Retractable Awning – 118” Non-Screw Outdoor Sun Shade – Adjustable Pergola Shade Cover with UV Protection – 100% Polyester Made Outdoor Canopy – Ideal for Any Window or Door

This awning collapsed after only being up for a few nights and after a light rain last night, we woke up to it collapsed. We have it propped up under our upstairs neighbors balcony to block rain and whatever else from dripping on us, but even that didn't stop it from falling apart.It was a huge pain to put together, definitely a 2 person job. When it was up, it worked great. But now it's next to useless.

We've been living in an apartment with a patio that gets a lot of sunlight. Usually, that's a good thing, but we were getting tired of being baked (or rained on) when we sat outside. This unit provided a solution - an actual wind-up awning that isn't screwed into the building's structure, therefore allowing us to set it up and, when the time comes, take it down without leaving holes (and impacting our security deposit). We bought the 118" wide unit since it most closely matched our 129" wide opening.The assembly was very straightforward; all of the pieces were bagged and labeled, and the instructions were clear. Everything snicked together nicely, and the occasional bit of screwing-together was no problem at all. All of the holes lined up, and it was a very quick affair, thanks to the instruction booklet.Tools needed were a philips-head screwdriver, a pliers, an adjustable wrench, and a level.Note: the step where the awning is slid into the groove on the assembled top bar is a lot easier if the end cap on the bar is removed prior to trying. It's only two screws - easy stuff. You might also want to detach the winding wand from the crank assembly while you're at it. That'll keep it from clanking around while you maneuver the awning into place.Taping the stabilizer rods to the main uprights once they're in place is another good idea; leaving them loose and swinging around during assembly can invite breakage of the plastic clamps. Once the uprights are set up, undo the tape and fasten them as per the instructions.Overall - super pleased with the result. Our patio is now a more usable, more comfortable space - and we won't be surprised if we see a lot of these on other tenants' decks in the coming weeks!

First the pros....it provides a nice shade. Easy to operate and looks nice. Cons....you need at least two people of average intelligence. My partner was lacking in this area. Not good to extend out while raining. Water will build up and weigh it down. It's very light weight and only made for shade.

I ended up needing to return this because my measurements were off, but I was impressed with the product quality. It seemed sturdy and not so cheap it would bend or fail in a bit of wind. I would have kept it if I hadn't mis-measured. I'm not super handy but it was pretty easy to put together but did take a bit of time.

My apartment patio gets intense sunlight from 12PM to sundown, and faces a busy parking lot. I bought this for some shade cover and privacy and I love it so far. My dog hates the rain but now she can enjoy our patio rain or shine. I built it by myself, but I needed an extra pair of hands to stand it up and get it in place. The instructions suck, but was able to figure it out after some trial and error. It’s pretty sturdy and one of my neighbors has already asked where she can find one.