Customizing Your Full Cassette Awning: Valances, Graphics, and Side Screens

A full cassette awning off the shelf is a solid product. But the clients who get the most out of theirs customize. I've spent over a decade installing and retrofitting awnings, and the difference between a stock unit and a thoughtfully customized one is a patio you use in July versus one you use ten months a year.

Here's what I recommend, what I'd skip, and what each upgrade costs.

Valance Styles
The valance is the fabric strip hanging off the front bar. Four main styles:

Straight cut: Clean, modern, no fuss. Best for contemporary homes. Pros: zero maintenance, crisp look. Cons: visually plain on traditional homes.

 
Scalloped: The classic wavy edge. Pairs with traditional and colonial. Pros: timeless, adds character. Cons: catches wind, so I add a couple inches to the drop.

 
Wave: A gentler, longer curve than scalloped. Works on Mediterranean and Craftsman homes. Pros: looks custom and high-end. Cons: fewer fabric options come pre-cut this way.

 
No valance: Minimalist. Pros: cleanest modern look, easiest to clean. Cons: loses about 15% of side-angle shade, which matters in late afternoon.

 
Custom Graphics
If you're a business, this is a no-brainer. Logo printing runs 200−500 depending on complexity and runs the length of the valance or the main fabric panel. I did a cafe in Milwaukee last year — single-color logo on a sand-colored fabric — and the owner said foot traffic jumped because people could finally read the name from across the street.

For homes, house numbers and simple decorative patterns run 150−300. One warning: avoid light-colored graphics on dark fabric. UV exposure fades them unevenly within 3-4 years.

Side Screens
Vertical drop screens mount to the cassette arms and roll down to block wind and low-angle sun. They run 400−800 each, and most awnings take one or two. For exposed patios, they're transformative.

Pros: cuts wind by roughly 70%, blocks low-angle sun, extends usable season. Cons: adds moving parts, needs occasional track cleaning, motorized versions need power routed to the arms.

A Chicago client — let's call her Karen — had a west-facing patio brutalized by wind off Lake Michigan. We added two motorized side screens and a pair of infrared heaters. She went from using the patio 4 months a year to 10. The screens killed the wind, and the heaters handled evenings down to about 45 degrees.

Privacy Screens
Different from side screens. These are mesh fabric panels, usually zip-guided, blocking 70-90% of the view while letting air pass through. Good for tight lots where the neighbor's kitchen window is 12 feet from your dinner table.

Pros: real privacy without feeling walled in, airflow preserved. Cons: pricier at 600−1,200 per panel, and zip-guided systems can jam if debris gets in the track.

Heating Integration
Infrared heaters mount to the cassette or arms and radiate heat downward. Figure 300−600 per unit, and most patios need two. Pros: extends season into fall and early spring, instant heat. Cons: 240V units need a dedicated circuit, so factor in an electrician, and they draw serious power.

Color Coordination
Two schools of thought. Match the valance to the main fabric for a unified look. Or contrast it — a charcoal fabric with a sand valance adds visual interest and can echo your home's trim. I lean toward matching on traditional homes and contrasting on modern ones. Either way, order both fabrics from the same dye lot. Mismatched lots look like a mistake you can't unsee.

Custom Frame Colors
Any RAL color is achievable through custom powder coating. The premium runs 100−300 over standard options, with a 2-3 week lead time. Markilux and Weinor offer the deepest customization menus in the industry — frame colors, arm colors, cassette finishes, even contrasting end caps. Lesser-known brands lock you into 4-6 colors and call it a day.

Limitations and Total Cost
Not every manufacturer plays nice with customization. Budget brands often skip side screens or custom graphics entirely. If customization matters, start with Markilux, Weinor, or Somfy and work backward.

Full customization — custom color, side screens, heaters, graphics — typically adds 500−2,000 to the base price. On a 3,500awning,, it's the difference between a product and a system you'll actually use.

FAQ
Q: Can I add side screens or heaters to an existing awning?

Sometimes. It depends on the manufacturer and whether your cassette has the mounting points. Weinor and Markilux are usually retrofit-friendly. Budget brands often aren't. Check before you buy.

Q: Will custom graphics survive winter?

Yes, if you use solution-dyed acrylic fabric and UV-stable ink. I've seen graphics hold up 7-8 years. Cheap inkjet prints on polyester won't make it two seasons.

Q: Are infrared heaters safe under a fabric awning?

Yes, when they're the right type and mounted at the correct distance. Look for radiant heaters rated for covered outdoor use, and follow the manufacturer's clearance minimums