BENGALNATIONDAILY

Awnings, porches, and patios add beauty to your home. They provide a retreat from hot sun and shelter from rain and snow. Prompt maintenance for awnings, carports, and patio roofs prolongs the life and beauty of these accessories.
Every spring and fall, when you’re inspecting the roof anyway, look at the seals where your awnings or patio top attach to the roof. Clean away weathered caulking. Tighten mounting screws. Then reseal. Polish the rust from steel support poets with steel wool. Protect the posts with a coat of rust-deterrent paint.
Freezing and thawing rots cement. It also crumbles as it ages. That’s why the support footings should rest at least 3 inches inside the perimeter of the cement pad. Clean away the loose chunks. Peg a board along the edge of the pad, so your patch work comes out with a straight edge. Fill the gaps with an easy-to-use mortar premix, such as Bloc-Bond. Tighten loose footing bolts as often as necessary.
Awnings and carports damaged by wind probably need parts only your dealer can supply.