Canvas retractable awning blinds

We have a 1920s weatherboard house in Ballarat.

When we bought the house, all windows had retractable awning blinds on the outside, mounted to the timber window frames. Striped canvas which retracts into a sheetmetal box at the top of the window - very common around these parts. They're great for keeping the heat out in summer.

We modified the back half of the house last year. I kept the blinds from the old windows. They're about the right size for the new window... but...

...the new window is Aluminium framed.

How does one attach such an awning blind in this instance? The storage box looks as though it attaches just with a couple of wood screws at either end, and the guide rails have two screw holes at the bottom.

If I was to attach it direct to the weatherboards, I suspect it would pull out in no time at all. I doubt I'd be lucky enough that the width of these existing awnings would match the stud spacing of the new wall... and I don't know how I'd find the studs through the weatherboards anyway.

Should I build a timber surround for the window and attach to it? At least that would allow me to spread the load on the weatherboard out.

It's heating up down here, and the Minister for Defense and Home Affairs wants an awning on that window... yesterday...

Thanks for any suggestions,
Tim

Just screw them in... if they come adrift then use cavity fixings...

Or fasten them to the aluminium windows - using rivets.

Ed

Cavity fixing thingies!

Why didn't I think of that