Company:
RetractableAwnings.com Inc.

Project Details

Fabric 1

Valmex
Producer/Manufacturer: Mehler Texnologies GmbH
Primary Use: Main Fabric


Engineer Name 1
Nathan Porter

Engineer Company 1
Leavitt Engineering

Design Name
Eric M. Scop

Design Company
RetractableAwnings.com Inc.

Architect Name
Jeremy Moffett

Architect Company
SBCH Architects

Fabrication Name
RetractableAwnings.com Inc.

Fabrication Company
RetractableAwnings.com Inc.

Subcontractor Name
Darren Sayer & David Blaylock

Subcontractor Company
Sayer Group LLC

Project Manager Name
Barry Rutherford

Project Manager Company
Hotel Indigo

Installation Name
Rocky Clavelo Jr.

Installation Company
RetractableAwnings.com Inc.


Please describe the project specifications

Hotel Indigo, Athens, Georgia contacted our organization to propose a solution for covering their rear patio area and provide sun and rain (either light or heavy) protection. The area in the rear of the hotel is used by restaurant and bar patrons and guests for events including BBQs, parties, and weddings. The hotel is very close to the University of Georgia and so a great location for parents or friends to stay when visiting the University for local Georgia Bulldog football games.

The width of the area was large and out of specification for one unit, so two side by side, butting motorized retractable fabric pergolas were recommended and used. The projection for both units was 30 foot and therefore the guides/beam extrusions had to have a large width and large mil thickness to prevent bowing. Very few vendors in the world can offer a retractable pergola at 30 foot plus projection. The client chose RAL 9011 black for the frame color and a semi-transparent black for the fabric in keeping with the color scheme of the hotel. Our company offers a proprietary system to prevent leaking of water between to side by side, butting units.

All components used for the frame including beams, posts, and accessories were marine grade stainless steel and aluminum thus preventing rusting issues. Hood/covers were used in the rear to prevent rain, leaves, and debris from collecting in the folds of fabric when not extended. Both UL motors were installed inside an aluminum extruded safety box to protect them from the elements.


What is unique or complex about the project?

This project has two challenges and since our company welcomes challenges, we gladly accepted the project. Challenges were as follows:

1. The client wanted to front posts to rest on the top of an existing 7-foot wall so water could exist from the small holes at the bottom of the posts/columns and drip onto the other side of the wall (a parking lot). Since the posts had to sit on top of the existing wall, projection dimensions for fabrication had to be perfect. They were!

2. The second challenge was that the pergola could not be attached to the building in the rear since the building was constructed using a method that if you were to drill into the building, the building could collapse. Therefore, a local general contractor was hired to install posts in the rear that the installation brackets could attach to thus alleviating the issue of having to attach to the building.

The functionality of the retractable roof pergola covers now allows Hotel Indigo to generate much more revenue than previously, especially for weddings and events. The payback time was estimated at less than 2 years using our proprietary ROI calculator.

The general manager stated “our owners and thrilled with the outcome including product quality, installation and service received from your company and we will definitely refer you to others that ask where we purchased this wonderful product. In fact, we have provided your contact information to Hotel Indigo corporate so your products can be used at other Hotel Indigo locations”.


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