Direct answer: a QHA measurement pack should connect the clean facade line you want with the physical facts that make it possible: wall condition, usable width, projection, height, doors, windows, obstructions and operating access.
Photograph the complete opening
Take a straight-on elevation, two angled views and a close image of every possible fixing surface. Include the wall finish, joints, beam, gutter, downpipe, lights, signage, window head and door frame. Keep the camera far enough back to show the relationship between the opening and the surrounding facade.
Add one seat-level photograph when the sun is difficult and one image with the door or window open. These show whether the issue is overhead shade, side glare or a clearance that a retracted cassette must respect.
Measure the opening and the cover zone
- Measure usable wall width between corners, openings and permanent obstructions.
- Measure target projection to the table, seating or storefront threshold.
- Record mounting height at both ends and any slope or level change.
- Measure door and window travel in every position used by occupants.
- Mark the front edge and the minimum clear route beyond it.
- Record the retracted line you want to keep clear of signs, lights and sightlines.
Label every dimension as approximate or confirmed. A measurement pack starts a review; it is not a production drawing.
Note access, controls and service space
Mark the position where a person would operate a manual direction and the power or control path for a motorized direction. Show where service access would occur without blocking the door, table or pedestrian route. If the opening is used by guests or customers, note the operating moment when the shade changes.
Capture the finish context next to the opening: frame color, wall tone, glazing, signage and adjacent lighting. This makes a later visual comparison more useful and prevents the aesthetic discussion from floating free of the site.
Finish the checklist with a decision note
Write one sentence that states the priority, such as “Keep the retracted line compact above the sliding door while shading the table after 15:00.” Add the condition that cannot move and the photograph that proves it. If side glare or privacy remains after the overhead direction is reviewed, note a vertical screen as a separate question.
Before sending the pack, check that every photograph has a position, every dimension has a unit and every route is drawn in both operating states. Add the name of the person who will operate the awning and the time of day the opening is most difficult. These small labels prevent a reviewer from guessing which wall, window or chair the number describes.
QHA measurement FAQ
Should the cassette be measured separately from the opening?
Measure the opening and the surrounding facade together. The retracted line, fixing surface and clearance are part of the same review.
What if one end of the wall is different?
Photograph and measure both ends, then split the elevation into zones. Do not average a changed wall condition into one number.
What should I do if the desired projection crosses a path?
Mark the route and the conflict. The reviewer can then compare a different projection or another shade direction with the real constraint visible.
Product paths for QHA patio shade
Use the active QHA full-cassette retractable awning and the QHA Series collection as the product reference. The measurement guide provides a broader worksheet, while the balcony and window shade collection is useful if the remaining problem is a vertical opening rather than overhead sun.
Submit the QHA measurement pack
Send the complete opening photos, annotated plan, measurements, access note and decision sentence. A focused pack keeps the QHA review tied to a real facade and makes the next product conversation more efficient.
