Insights & Ideas
The ASG Blog
Tips, inspiration, and industry insights for your outdoor living project.
How to Install an Awning into Hollow Brick
Hollow brick will not hold an expanding anchor. Here is how a chemical anchor and a sieve sleeve fix that, what you need to buy, and how long to leave it before you hang anything on it.
How to Install a Retractable Awning into Solid Brick
The seven steps from our installation manual, in order: measure the arm spacing, mark a level line, fix the brackets, lift the cassette on, pair the remote, set the pitch, check everything twice.
Do You Need an Installer for an Awning?
Two people, a drill and about an hour covers most retractable awnings. Your wall, the width and the nearest power point decide whether you need a professional.
Do You Need a Permit for an Awning in Melbourne?
Most retractable awnings on a private Melbourne home need no building permit. Heritage overlays, encroachment over public land, commercial premises, Owners Corporations and fixed-roof awnings are the five exceptions.
Do You Need a Permit for a Pergola in Melbourne?
In most cases, yes - you need a building permit for a pergola in Melbourne. But there are exemptions for small, freestanding, open-frame structures under 20m². Here's a plain-English guide covering VIC permit rules, the Australian Standards a permit must meet, the permit process, costs, and how ASG's supply-only service fits in.
Louvered vs Retractable Pergolas - Which Is Right for Your Home?
Louvered pergolas seal shut for rain protection and precise light control. Retractable pergolas slide open for full sky views at a lower price. Here's how to choose the right one for your Melbourne home.