Central Virginia’s Trusted Awning Company Since 1899

When you’re choosing an awning company, you’re trusting someone to design it right and stand behind it for years. For more than a century, homeowners and business owners across Central Virginia have trusted Roberts Awnings to do exactly that.

We’ve been crafting custom awnings since 1899, operating out of our own facility in Petersburg, where our team designs, fabricates, powder coats, and installs every awning we make. That end-to-end control is how we’ve built a reputation across Richmond, the Tri-Cities, and the surrounding counties as the awning company people call when they want it done right the first time.

As a SWaM-certified, BBB A+ rated company, we’re trusted by homeowners, businesses, schools, and municipalities, and we back every awning we build with a 10-year workmanship warranty and local support from the same crew that installed it.

When you search for an “awning company near me”, the only name you need to know is Roberts Awnings.

What to Look for in an Awning Company

In a market full of general contractors, handymen, and dealers who resell someone else’s product, knowing what to look for can save you a lot of money and frustration.

In fact, searching for “awning companies near me” will turn up everything from custom manufacturers to product dealers, general contractors, handymen, and lead-generation websites

Here’s what matters when you’re choosing who to trust with your project.

Do They Build In-House, or Subcontract the Work?

This is the most important question. You’ll also notice that a lot of awning companies don’t want to discuss it. If you don’t get a straight answer, you can almost certainly expect the work to be done by a subcontractor.

In fact, many “awning companies” are really middlemen. They are more than happy to take your order, then farm out the fabrication to a factory and the installation to a subcontractor.

The problem with that is when something goes wrong, you’re left chasing three different parties, and we can almost guarantee each will be pointing the blame finger at the other.

At Roberts Awnings, every step of the process happens under our own roof in Petersburg.

Are They Licensed, Bonded, and Certified?

At minimum, your awning company should be properly licensed and bonded.

Ask for the company’s contractor license information and verify that the license classification and specialty are appropriate for your project. You should also request current proof of insurance and ask whether bonding applies.

Roberts Awnings is SWaM-certified through the Commonwealth of Virginia, carries an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and is a member of the Industrial Fabrics Association International.

Those certifications are non-negotiable for commercial, institutional, and municipal projects.

What Kind of Warranty Do They Stand Behind?

A warranty is only as good as the company backing it. Ask whether the workmanship is guaranteed and whether the people honoring that warranty are the same ones who did the install.

We back our work with a 10-year workmanship warranty, and because we’re a local company that isn’t going anywhere, our crew that stands behind it is the same crew that built your awning in the first place.

Can They Handle Permits and Engineered Drawings?

Permanent awnings and commercial canopies often require building permits, and many jurisdictions across Central Virginia require engineer-stamped drawings before work can begin. A company that doesn’t handle this leaves the paperwork and the liability on your desk.

Roberts Awnings pulls the required permits and provides engineer-stamped drawings when local code calls for them.

Do They Have Real Local References and a Track Record?

Anyone can claim quality. Look for a company with a verifiable history in your area and real projects you can point to.

Is the Awning Made In-House or Ordered From Somewhere Else?

Some awning companies take measurements and order a standard system from an outside manufacturer. Others subcontract fabrication or installation to separate crews.

Roberts Awnings keeps the phases of the project with one local team.

Roberts Awnings has been serving Central Virginia since 1899, with awnings installed on homes, restaurants, storefronts, schools, and public buildings throughout Richmond, the Tri-Cities, and the surrounding counties.

One Awning Company for Every Project You Can Think of

Roberts Awnings does every type of awning. Our Petersburg shop is equipped for any project throughout Central Virginia.

Residential Awnings

Our residential awnings are custom sized to complement the home and provide shade where it is needed most. We manufacture door awnings, window awnings, and patio awnings that make outdoor living areas more comfortable.

Homeowners who want control over sun and shade can explore our retractable awnings, including manual and motorized systems. For more permanent coverage, we also design and install deck and patio covers.

Not sure which option belongs on your home? Our guide to the different types of awnings can help you begin comparing materials, shapes, and operating styles.

Commercial Awnings, Storefronts, and Entry Systems

As a full-service commercial awning company, Roberts works with:

• Restaurants
• Retailers
• Offices
• Hotels
• Schools
• Churches
• Healthcare properties
• Industrial facilities
• Public organizations

Our commercial awning installation team can also coordinate field measurements, drawings, permits, attachment details, installation schedules, and inspections.

Businesses that want their awning to support visibility as well as shelter can add custom names, logos, colors, or messaging through our in-house awning graphics capabilities.

Fabric, Aluminum, and Standing-Seam Awnings

Material selection affects how an awning looks, how it performs, and how it should be maintained. Roberts manufactures fabric awnings in a wide range of colors, patterns, and shapes for residential and commercial properties.

For customers who want rigid coverage and a more architectural appearance, we also build standing-seam aluminum awnings.

Canopies and Large-Scale Shade Structures

Some properties need more coverage than a traditional wall-mounted awning can provide. Roberts Awnings designs and installs custom canopies for entrances, outdoor work areas, and other applications that require a larger or more permanent structure.

We also build walkway covers. These systems can help protect groups moving between entrances, parking areas, and separate buildings during sun or rain.

For playgrounds, courtyards, pool areas, parks, restaurants, and open gathering spaces, custom shade sails provide shade without everything feeling enclosed.

Solar Control & Privacy

Roberts offers Bahama shutters for windows that need exterior solar control and a distinctive architectural feature.

Our custom outdoor curtains can help manage low-angle sun, glare, wind, rain, and privacy.

For customers who want a more complete outdoor-living addition, Roberts Awnings can also build screen rooms that provide fresh air with protection from insects or glass rooms.

Awning Cleaning & Refinishing

A full-service awning company should handle the other services beyond installation. Roberts Awnings provides professional awning cleaning services to remove accumulated dirt and organic buildup.

When an existing frame remains serviceable, we may also be able to recover it with new fabric.

Roberts Awnings also operates an in-house powder-coating facility for durable finishing. Keeping that capability in Petersburg gives our team greater control over preparation, color, finish quality, scheduling, and the completed product.

The Right Awning Company Understands How You Plan to Use Your Property

Roberts Awnings plans each project around the differences that make your property unique. Here’s how we go above and beyond for you:

Residential Shade That Follows You as You Move

The first thing we ask a homeowner is, “When and where does the sun make this part of the house difficult to use?”

During the planning process, it helps to think through:

• When direct sun reaches the area you usually are in at a specific type of day
• Whether you want permanent shade or seasonal flexibility
• Which doors, windows, views, and walking paths must remain clear
• How much rain protection you realistically expect
• Whether the awning should blend into the home or become an architectural feature
• Any HOA, historic-district, or property-specific restrictions

Those conversations often reveal that the first product a homeowner pictured is not necessarily the best one.

Commercial Awnings Placed Around Your Business Hours

For a business, the awning is part of an active property. We are local business owners too, so we understand that we need to work around your hours.

An experienced commercial awning company should also ask operational questions before finalizing the design:

• Can work be staged before opening, after closing, or during a slower period?
• Will lifts interfere with customer entrances?
• Does the landlord have an approved standard?
• Can an existing frame be recovered and rebranded rather than completely replaced?
• Will the awning need to remain consistent across several locations?

A beautiful awning is not a successful commercial project if installation disrupts the business unnecessarily.

Institutional Projects With a Facility-Level Plan

Schools, churches and healthcare need shade on an operational scale. For example, a walkway cover may serve hundreds of students each day, and an entrance canopy may need to support patient drop-off.

For these buyers, the awning contractor may need to help address questions that do not arise on a typical residential project:

• Can the work be divided into phases?
• How will pedestrian access be maintained?
• Can the system be repaired in sections?
• Are finishes and components suitable for repeated public use?
• How will future maintenance be handled?

Our SWaM certification shows that we are a certified Central Virginia vendor to consider when a project includes SWaM participation or supplier-diversity goals.

Serving Homes & Businesses Across Central Virginia

Roberts Awnings is headquartered in Petersburg, and from there our crews cover a wide stretch of Central Virginia. Because we’re genuinely local, we know these neighborhoods, the local building codes, and exactly what the Central Virginia climate demands of an awning.

We design, build, and install awnings throughout:

• Petersburg — our home base, and where every awning we make is fabricated
• Richmond — from Carytown storefronts to Jackson Ward rowhomes
• Chesterfield County — including Midlothian, Brandermill, Woodlake, and the surrounding communities
• Mechanicsville & Glen Allen — serving Hanover and western Henrico County
• Powhatan, Bon Air & the western suburbs
• Colonial Heights, Hopewell, & Prince George — the heart of the Tri-Cities we’ve served for generations
• Dinwiddie, Fort Gregg-Adams & the surrounding counties
• Charlottesville and points across Central Virginia

No matter your project, we bring the same local knowledge and in-house craftsmanship to every job. And because we offer free on-site estimates throughout our service area, getting started is as simple as reaching out for a consultation.

Don’t see your town on the list? Give us a call — our service area extends across much of Central Virginia.

Frequently Asked Questions About Awning Companies

How do I choose the right awning company?

Here’s a 4-box checklist to help you choose the right awning company for your project.

• Ask whether they build in-house or subcontract — a company that designs, fabricates, and installs under one roof (like we do) gives you a single point of accountability
• Confirm they’re properly licensed, bonded, and certified — Roberts Awnings is SWaM-certified and carries an A+ BBB rating.
• Ask what their workmanship warranty covers and who honors it
• Look for a real track record in your area — we’ve been serving Central Virginia since 1899 Check out our proof.

If a company can’t clearly answer those four questions or try to give you the run-around, keep looking.

What is the best type of awning?

There’s no single “best.” That is because every project and every shade goal is different. These are some of the scenarios we most commonly come across and some general recommendations.

If you want shade on demand and the flexibility to let sunlight in during cooler months, a retractable awning is usually the best fit.

If you want year-round protection from rain and snow, an aluminum or standing seam awning is a durable choice.

Fabric awnings offer the widest range of colors, and they’re ideal for storefronts and branded commercial spaces.

What’s the difference between buying from a local awning company and ordering a pre-made awning?

Off-the-shelf awnings from big-box retailers and mail-order brands can work if your space happens to match a stock size and you’re comfortable with a generic look and a DIY install.

So, before you order from a box-store, ask yourself if you can handle the install. You’ll also need to take your own measurements and match those to the measurements of the prefabricated awning.

If you can handle all of that, a prefabricated awning could work for you.

However, what you give up is custom sizing, a full range of fabric and frame color choices, hardware engineered to a performance spec, and local accountability and knowledge.

When you buy from a local company like Roberts Awnings, your awning is measured and built for your exact space.

Does Roberts Awnings handle commercial and municipal projects?

Yes! Commercial and institutional work is a core part of what we do. We build and install awnings for all types of businesses, schools, non-profits, and government agencies. Because we’re SWaM-certified through the Commonwealth, you know we can handle the institutional and government projects that have procurement standards.

Talk to a Central Virginia Awning Contractor

You do not need to know the exact awning style you are searching for before you call. Just tell us about your goals and your needs. For more than a century, Roberts Awnings has been the name Central Virginia turns to for custom shade. Our Petersburg-based team can evaluate the property and help you determine the right next step.

If you have been comparing awning companies near me, choose a company that can stay involved beyond the initial estimate. Contact Roberts Awnings today to schedule a consultation with a local awning contractor.