Custom Retractable Awnings for Chicagoland Homes

Sun when you want it, shade when you don't. Motorized and manual retractable awnings designed, installed, and serviced by Chesterfield Awning. Custom-fit for patios, decks, and backyards across Chicagoland and the greater Midwest since 1958.

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Total Control Over Your Outdoor Space

A retractable awning gives you full control over how you use your patio, deck, or backyard. Open it up when the sun is beating down and you want instant shade. Retract it when you want full sun, when the wind picks up, or when you’re closing things down for winter. Sun, shade, and everything in between, all controlled by the flip of a switch or the turn of a hand crank.

At Chesterfield Awning, we design retractable awning solutions with you, from measurement and specification through to installation and long-term service. We work with industry-leading retractable awning manufacturers whose products we’ve been installing and standing behind for years. Every retractable awning we install is sized and configured for your specific space, matched to the architecture of your home, and installed by our own team.

Why Homeowners Choose Retractable Awnings

A retractable awning does something no other outdoor product does quite the same way. It gives you complete control over sun and shade on your patio, deck, or outdoor space, moment by moment. Here’s what that flexibility actually delivers.

Sun and Shade Flexibility

Extend for shade, retract for open sky. Adapts to how you actually use your outdoor space.

Real Energy Efficiency​

Shading windows and doors before heat reaches the glass keeps rooms cooler and cuts cooling costs.

Protection for Your Outdoor Investment

Shields cushions, decking, and floors from UV and rain when you need it, not when you don't.

Extend Your Outdoor Season​

Use your patio comfortably from spring through fall, not just the perfect days.

A Cleaner Look When You're Not Using It

Cassette-style models fully enclose the fabric when not in use.

Manual vs. Motorized Retractable Awnings

The first big decision is how you want to operate the awning. Both options are built to last, and both work well. It comes down to how you want to use it day to day.

Manual Retractable Awnings

Hand-cranked, mechanically simple, and built to last. A great fit for smaller patios, budget-conscious projects, or homeowners who prefer no electrical components. If you’re going to use the awning a few times a season and know you’re the type of person who wouldn’t mind cranking a mechanical mechanism, manual is a solid choice.

Motorized Retractable Awnings

Push-button operation with wall switches or wireless remotes. The most popular choice for homeowners because convenience translates to actual use.

Motorized systems from the industry-leading manufacturers we work with can also be paired with:

  • Wind sensors that automatically retract the awning when gusts pick up, protecting the awning and the mechanism
  • Sun sensors that automatically extend the awning during peak heat, keeping your rooms cool without you having to think about it
  • Smart home integration for control through your phone or through your existing smart home system

Fabric, Color, and Design Options

Once you’ve chosen the operation and cassette style, the fun starts. Retractable awning systems come in hundreds of fabric and color combinations, so your awning becomes a design feature of your home, not just a shade cover.

  • Over 30 solid color options
  • Classic and modern striped patterns
  • Textured weaves and tweeds
  • Custom-printed patterns if you have something specific in mind
  • Coordinated framing colors to match your home’s exterior
  • Solution-dyed acrylic and vinyl-coated fabric options rated for Chicago weather


We bring sample books to every consultation so you can see and feel the fabrics in the light of your own home before you commit.

Looking for a Retractable Awning for Your Business?

Retractable systems work as well over sidewalk cafes, pool decks, and storefronts as they do over a backyard patio. Restaurants stretch their outdoor dining season. Hotels cover lounges. Retail draws foot traffic.

The consultation, installation, and service process is the same as residential. What changes is the scale and the commercial-grade hardware built for daily use.

A Note on Permits and HOAs

Two different approvals may apply to your project: city or municipal permits, and HOA or condo board approval. We handle each differently based on how the process actually works.

City and Municipal Permits. We manage the full permit process for most retractable installations across Chicagoland and the greater Midwest. Applications, follow-up, approval — handled.

HOA and Board Approvals. These are typically the homeowner’s responsibility, but we provide all the drawings, specs, and material documentation your board needs to review. You handle the submission; we handle the questions.

How the Process Works

1. Free In-Home Consultation
We visit your home, take measurements, and walk through how you want to use the space.

2. Custom Design and Specification
We help you choose the system, cassette style, fabric, color, and operation that fits your home and budget.

3. Order and Preparation
Your awning is ordered from our trusted industry partners and prepped at our South Holland facility.

4. Professional Installation
Our own team installs, tests every function, and walks you through operation.

5. Ongoing Service
Cleaning, motor service, adjustments, and seasonal care available for as long as you own it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How wide can a residential retractable awning be?

Widths vary by product line and manufacturer, and modern retractable systems can be built at a range of sizes to suit different spaces. For larger patios or decks, multiple units can be installed side by side for continuous coverage. We recommend a configuration and width based on your specific space during your consultation.
Total project time from consultation to installation typically runs six to nine weeks. Timing depends on the specific system you choose, current vendor lead times, and our team’s production and install workload. If there are any vendor backorder issues, timing may extend slightly. We’ll give you a clear estimated timeline once your order is placed.
Yes, when used correctly. Retractable awnings are designed to be extended when the sun is out or in fair weather, and retracted when heavy wind, storms, or snow move in. Motorized models with wind sensors retract automatically when conditions change, so you’re protected even when you’re not home.
Retractable awnings should not be left extended during snow accumulation. Retract the awning before winter weather to protect both the fabric and the mechanism. Full-cassette models keep the retracted fabric fully enclosed and protected through the winter.
With proper care, the mechanical components typically last 15 years or more. Fabric life varies by material, color, and sun exposure but commonly runs 10 to 15 years. Fabric can be replaced or re-covered in a different color as a product update when the time comes, extending the life of your overall system.
For most homeowners, yes. Motorized awnings get used more often because they’re easier to operate, which means you get more value out of your investment. They’re also easier on the mechanism over time than repeated hand-cranking.
In most cases, yes. We offer motor service, cleaning, adjustment, and seasonal care for retractable awnings throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest, including systems installed by other companies. If you want a fabric replacement in a different color, that’s a product update we can quote.
Most homes can accommodate a retractable awning, but the installation depends on the exterior wall surface, the structural framing behind it, the width you need, and how the awning will tie into any nearby features. We evaluate all of this during your free consultation.
For city and municipal permits, yes. We manage the entire process from application to approval. For HOA or condominium board approvals, the homeowner typically handles the submission with our support. We provide the product specs, drawings, and documentation your HOA requires.

Ready to Take Control of Your Outdoor Space?

Tell us about your patio, deck, or backyard and how you want to use it. We’ll come to you, walk through your options, and design a retractable awning that fits your home and your life. Free consultations. No obligation.

Trusted Across Chicagoland Since 1958

From the homeowners who’ve counted on us for generations to the businesses whose storefronts we’ve helped build, our customers keep coming back.

The Chesterfield Maintenance Program

The Maintenance Program bundles cleaning, seasonal storage, priority repair scheduling, and inspections into one relationship. For homeowners protecting an investment and property managers coordinating across sites, it’s the smart way to keep every awning sharp without the coordination burden.