Materials you'll need:

· Kit-form aluminium awning
· Instructions
· Carpenter's pencil
· 5mm round head nuts and bolts
· 25mm screws.

Tools you'll need:

· Measuring tool
· Level
· Awl
· Screwdriver
· Nail punch
· Hammer
· Pliers
· Wrench

Whether they are hinged, fixed or roll-up style, and made from brightly striped. Canvas or durable aluminium, awnings are an investment in decorating as well as protecting your home from extremes of weather. Don't just slap any old awning on the front of your home - choose the colour and style so it harmonises with the style of the house itself. This ensures you will have the weather protection you want without spoiling the architectural beauty of your home.

Most awning suppliers can arrange to have your choice of awning measured, custom made and fitted to your home. However, you can save money by purchasing your awning in kit-form, and doing the installation job yourself. This is sound thinking, especially if you only need an average-size awning with no complicated extras.

Most kits include all the components you will need in the pack – except possibly, a helper to assist you in putting the awning up. Here are the steps involved in erecting a kit-form awning.

1. Unpack all parts. Note where they go in the assembly by referring to a sketch of the finished awning. This will be on the pack or the instruction sheet.

2. Position the fixing strip on the wall so it is straight and level. Mark the hole Positions and prepare them for the screws. Start the screws through the fixing strip into the holes and screw them halfway in. Do not tighten them yet.

3. Wall bracket screw holes are located next, no more than 30cm in from the end of the fixing strip and 22cm down (13cm down for a 61 cm awning). Using the bracket as a template, mark and prepare the holes but do not fix brackets. Measure between the brackets. This will be the distance between the rafters, which hold the support arms.

4. Assemble the awning panels, usually by sliding them together with colour side down. Cheek the arrangement against the maker's instructions then slide the gutter onto the last panel and align all edges.

5. Fix rafter hooks to rafters using 5mm round head bolts and nuts. Tighten firmly. Rafter hook should now fit over first panel.

6. Hook the rafters over first panel and set them the same distance apart as the wall brackets. If a third rafter is supplied it is fixed between the other two. Hold the gutter bracket firmly on the gutter, locate the nail in the hole then punch the nail through the bottom of the gutter. Withdraw the nail and bolt the bracket to the gutter with a small bolt and nuts.

7. Panel clips are used to attach the rafters to the panels. Hook the curl on the clips under the panel joins and locate the rafter between the upright lugs of the panel clip. Bend the lugs tightly over the rafter by using the wall bracket as a tool.

8. The wall brackets are now screwed to the wall using two 25mm screws per bracket. Attach the arms to the brackets with 5mm round head bolts.

9 Fix the awning to the wall. Have an assistant help you lift the awning up to the wall so the first panel engages under the fixing strip then tighten several screws to hold the awning in place. Raise the front edge of the awning then swing the arms up to meet the rafters. Bolt the arms up to meet the rafters with 5mm bolts and nuts.

Even it the kit-form awning you buy does not exactly correspond to the example, you can now see how the components work together. Always check the instructions and sketches with your product and make sure you understand all the steps clearly before you start work.