Lenexa, KS Retractable Awnings & Sentry Solar Screens
Lenexa's housing mix runs from 1980s ranches off Pflumm to brand-new builds in City Center and Falcon Ridge. Each generation of construction needs a different mounting approach. We don't sell from a brochure — every quote comes after we've stood on your deck.
When a Sentry retractable screen beats an awning
If your Lenexa patio is already covered by a builder pergola or solid roof but takes blistering low-angle sun from 5 p.m. on, you don't want an awning. You want a Sentry — our motorized vertical screen, max width 18', max drop 12'. The Sentry rolls down the open side of the structure, drops to grade, and seals against a captured edge rail. Bug-proof, 90% UV-blocking, and you keep the view through 5% open-weave fabric.
City Center patios and the modern flat overhang
The contemporary builds in Lenexa City Center have a flat 2-foot soffit over the patio — perfect for a soffit-mount awning. We use a continuous aluminum sub-rail bolted up into the soffit framing, then suspend the Sunstyle from the rail. Looks intentional, not added on. The same approach works on the post-2015 builds in Falcon Ridge.
Why we install electrical separately from the awning
On every motorized install, our awning crew handles the awning. A licensed electrician (we partner with two in Johnson County) handles the 120V drop. They arrive the same morning, finish in the same window, and sign off jointly. Lenexa's inspector wants a final electrical inspection on any new exterior circuit; we book it at the time of install, not after.
More about installations in Lenexa
Frame color matching for Lenexa exteriors. The 14 standard Sunesta frame colors cover most situations, but the new earth-tone Hardie palettes don't always match. For a custom powdercoat we send the manufacturer a 6" siding sample and they spray-match to within ΔE 2.0 — visually indistinguishable. Adds about 14 days and $600 to a typical order. We've matched the popular Iron Gray and Aged Pewter Hardie tones four times this year.
How we measure for a Sentry vertical screen. Width is the easy part. Drop is where most spec mistakes happen — we measure from the underside of the proposed headbox down to the lowest point we want the screen to seal. On an out-of-level patio (common with poured concrete that's settled) we shim the side rails to plumb so the screen tracks straight. A 14'-wide Sentry that's 1" out of plumb will jam at the bottom of its travel by year two. We won't install one that's not shimmed.
Fabric weave on the Sentry. We carry three: 1% open (near-blackout), 3% open (the most common), and 5% open (most view-through, least UV blocking). For Lenexa west-facing patios I default to 3% in a charcoal or bronze; you can read a phone screen at 6 p.m. without glare and you still see the yard.
Maintenance schedule we actually want you to follow. Hose-rinse the awning canopy every quarter. Wipe the Sentry rails with a dry microfiber once a month — that's where airborne dust collects and makes the zipper edge bind. Keep the headbox vents clear; they're how the motor dissipates heat on a hot July afternoon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a Sunesta awning powdercoated to match my Hardie siding?
Yes. Send us a 6-inch sample of your siding and the manufacturer spray-matches to ΔE 2.0 — visually indistinguishable. About a 14-day production add and $600.
What's the price difference between a Sunlight, Sunstyle, and Sunesta?
Roughly: Sunlight starts around $3,800 installed for a 14-foot motorized unit. Sunstyle is the popular middle tier at $5,500-$7,500 for the same width with more upgrade options. Sunesta tops out the line at $8,000+ for the heaviest construction and largest spans. All include in-house installation.
Will a Sentry screen keep mosquitoes out?
The 1% and 3% open-weave fabrics block mosquitoes. The 5% open-weave does not. Specify 3% if bug protection matters; you sacrifice almost no view.