How to attach a side awning to a terrace roof?

Hi,

we have just received our canopy with side awning. It was mounted on one side to the house wall and on the other side to the roof post (steel pipe). So the few small sheet metal screws really cannot weaken the massive roof post.
I wouldn’t like the version with the rivet nut because then the vertical strip of the awning would not lie flat against the post and due to the gap – which is unavoidable by design with a rivet nut – the whole thing could become a bit wobbly.

Would you perhaps upload 1-2 photos?

That would really help me.

Ok, you will definitely have a small (1-2mm gap, depending on the size of the rivet), but wobbly? Since most side awnings are attached with wall brackets, a small gap will occur anyway. If necessary, a mat made of rubber, foam, or similar could also be attached behind the wall brackets, which would also serve as scratch protection between the bracket and the post. But it is certainly a matter of taste whether you prefer to trust a "few small sheet metal screws" (M6 or M8?) in 2.5mm aluminum posts, or whether you accept a small gap and can use 10-15mm threads depending on the rivet used. Since side awnings are often also intended to be used as wind protection, I would personally prefer the rivets. Both options are possible.

Of course, it must be clarified beforehand whether such rivets are allowed statically. I would rather not have the laminated safety glass fall on my head afterwards!

Well, if it is statically acceptable to make 40mm holes for LED spots in the support beams, 4-6 ~8MM holes for the rivets should not be a problem. For my canopy, same profiles as among others Schweng but a different installer, something like that is also included in the statics. Essentially "x drillings of max. Y mm diameter do not lead to any significant impairment of the statics". If you have the statics for your canopy, you should check if something like that is stated there as well.

I have no structural calculation for my Schweng canopy. But I also think that it will hold. The rivets do not yield to any pressure once installed. I will still ask the installers again when the glass is placed.