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Category: In the shade

5 Benefits of Interior Shades for Your Home

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

Curtains and blinds are becoming a thing of the past. They can be a hassle, having to clean dust off blinds and old, musty odors coming from curtains. Perhaps, you are considering getting rid of your home’s curtains and blinds. Installing interior shades can be a great option for many reasons. Interior shades and shading give homeowners control of the interior of their home. They also increase comfort of the home. Here are the top five benefits of having interior shades in your home.

Protection from UV rays
Interior shades stop up to 99% of ultraviolet (UV) rays from entering your home. Natural sunlight produces UV rays, which are invisible to the naked eye, and can be dangerous in large doses.

Protection from light glare
Homes with large windows receive an enormous amount of natural sunlight, which often creates a glare. In certain rooms, such as the office or living room, excess light is bad for working on or watching dark screens. Interior shading filters the light for the ultimate viewing experience.

Help keep interiors beautiful
Natural sun light can be bad for your most precious decor items. With time, beautiful hardwood flooring, carpets and even furniture can fade from longtime exposure to the sun. Interior shades are valuable because they reduce the amount of sunlight, protecting your furniture, flooring and carpets from fading.

Help save money on energy bill
Interior shades can greatly reduce home electric costs. Having an interior shade in your home helps reduce the interior temperature by up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Added privacy
Homes situated in high visual areas, such as in a city’s downtown, or in close proximity to neighbors tend to lack privacy from peering eyes. The inside of some rooms should not be visible to outsiders, such as bedrooms or bathrooms. Interior shades can be placed over any window, to add privacy and security to your state of mind.

If you are considering interior solar screens and shades for your home in the Fort Collins, Colorado area, look no further! At Peterson Canvas, we have a large variety of products that will increase the comfort of your home. We also provide other products, such as Patio Covers, Retractable Awnings and Sail Shades. Contact us today at 970-493-4033!

Tips to Keep Your Awning Safe and Secure During the Winter

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

Peterson Canvas Awnings are a fantastic addition to any residential or commercial space. Whether it cozies up your back porch or your outside seating, keeping your awning pristine is a task that requires a lot of care. Here are some recommended treatment methods and tips to consider to keep your awning fresh.

 

Look for Mildew

Mildew is the primary killer of fabric awnings. It can appear quickly and without consistent inspection can cause serious damage to your awning. You should inspect your awning for mildew buildup once a month, twice a month if you live in a humid climate and during the colder months. If your awning has cleaning directions from the manufacturer, follow them! Otherwise, use a low strength liquid soap and lukewarm water. Soak the top of the awning from the lowest end to highest, letting the soap work the dirt out slowly. Then, rinse the awning from the highest end to the lowest.

 

Consider storing inside

Some may find their awnings useful in the winter, especially in rainy climates. However, a buildup of cold water and snow combined with harsh winds can rapidly age and damage awnings, especially if they see regular usage. Consider storing your awning in a garage or otherwise protected area.

 

Repair tears immediately

If you notice a tear in your awning when inspecting it, DO NOT USE IT. Even a small tear can rapidly grow in harsh weather conditions, eventually ruining the awning entirely. Make sure to stow the awning immediately and call Peterson Canvas and Awning for repairs.

 

Watch the forecast

Keeping an eye on the forecast is a great way to ensure the long-term health of your awning. Consider staying inside and keeping your awning closed on windy days to lower the odds of stray debris costing you big time. If you tend to leave your awning open (or it is not retractable), make sure to get it out of harm’s way before any major snowfall might jeopardize its health. 

For more information about awnings and maintenance, call Peterson Canvas & Awning  at (970) 493-4033 today! We carry a large variety of residential retractable awnings, commercial awnings and sail shades.

How Awning Color can Help Your Business

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

Have you ever walked into a store and noticed posters and signs in a significantly bold color that attracted your attention? That is because certain colors can affect a customer’s mood and spending behavior. Brands use psychology to appeal to their potential customers.

Having a custom awning created for your business will lead to more new customers walking through your door. The perfect awning design and color will send a positive message about your products and services, and could ultimately help you increase sales.

Colors:
Green is the color of money, health, and nature. Customers usually feel comfortable seeing green outside or inside a store.

Red is the color of power. Its boldness attracts customers’ attention and is the most popular color for marketing any business.

Orange can mean many things to people. It can evoke a feeling of power, energy or even fun. It is an attracting color for young children.

Blue signifies trust and wisdom.

Pink tends to attract females, and usually signifies sales of feminine products and services catering to women.

Yellow is also a power color. It can also exude confidence and fun.

Purple is the color of royalty and can symbolize luxury products and services.

Gold also is a royal color that denotes elegance and wealth.

Brown signifies nature and Earth. It can also be used for stability and relaxation.

Black can signify elegance and is great when used as a contrast color.

Whatever color you choose, your business will greatly benefit from a custom awning that fits the message you want to convey to your customers. Peterson Canvas offers a variety of colors and styles to consider. Contact us today at 970 493 4033.

How to Clean An Awning Made of Sunbrella Fabric

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

It’s the perfect time to take out your awning, but what if it is dirty? Cleaning your retractable awning made from Sunbrella acrylic fabrics can be easy with these tips.

While the awning is on the frame, you can conduct light cleaning. Brush off loose dirt with a soft bristle brush. Hose down fabrics on a monthly basis with clean water, which helps prevent dirt from becoming deeply embedded in the fabric and eliminates the need for more thorough cleaning. Typically, a thorough cleaning of your awning will be needed every two to three years.

For tough cleaning jobs to get rid of dirt and mildew, prepare a cleaning solution of water and mild soap or dishwashing liquid. Use a soft bristle brush to scrub away dirt and debris. Allow the homemade cleaning solution to soak into the awning fabric. Rinse thoroughly until all soap is removed. Let the wet awning air dry. If you are dealing with stubborn stains that don’t seem to go away, you can use a diluted bleach/soap mixture for spot cleaning of mildew. For roof run-off or other similar stains, a strong degreaser may be required.

Peterson Canvas cares about the environment! Please be careful with the surrounding area when cleaning with bleach. Bleach can have harmful effects on nature and wildlife. If you are surrounded by a body of water or in area with protected wildlife, avoid using bleach.

We have many years of experience working with Sunbrella fabrics and knowledge of cleaning and re-treatment requirements for retractable awnings.

For more information about awnings and maintenance, call Peterson Canvas & Awning  at (970) 493-4033 today! We carry a large variety of residential retractable awnings, commercial awnings and sail shades.

 

Common Awning Installation Issues & Solutions

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

If you are looking to spend time outdoors with family under a retractable awning, this is the perfect time! During nice, warm and sunny weather many homeowners choose to sit under an awning or shade to enjoy their outdoor living areas. Yet, after many months of not using it, you may come across some problems when trying to take it out. Here are some common awning installation issues and solutions.

 

Issue: The awning makes a knocking or cracking noise when extending or retracting

Solution: The awning brackets have not been tightened completely. Be sure the square torsion bar is completely seated in the back of the mounting bracket and tighten the mounting bolt until the locking lip on the inside of the mounting bracket is drawn down over the torsion bar.

 

Issue: The fabric sags and is not tight

Solution: The arms are locked out (over extended), causing the fabric to sag. Reverse cranking direction and retract the awning in until the fabric is taut. Important: The fabric should always rollover the top of the roller tube, not from underneath.

 

Issue: The motorized awning stopped working while you were rolling in and out

Solution: Your awning motor has a built-in thermal override to prevent overheating. Prolonged use, in and out several times in a row can cause the motor to temporarily shut down. Let the motor cool down for 10 to 15 minutes and try the remote again. The unit should begin to operate again.

 

There are also some things to be aware of to ensure the beauty and strength of your awning.

 

DO NOT leave the awning extended when you are not home. Strong winds may damage your awning and this is typically not covered by the warranty.

 

DO NOT hang plants or small children off the front bar for the safety of your family members and the safety of your awning. Hanging heavy items may cause the awning to collapse and break.

 

DO retract the unit when not in use or if severe weather is predicted.

 

DO occasionally clean your awning as described in the care and maintenance section.

 

DO retract your motorized awning with the manual override feature if you lose power.

 

At Peterson Canvas, we offer many styles of awnings and shades for the Fort Collins area. Our experts can recommend the perfect solution to any awning need you may have. Contact us today at 970-493-4033.

How to Prepare Your Retractable Awning for the Fall and Winter

Posted on by Meghan Lalonde

As we say goodbye to Summer, there are preparations we need to make in order to get our homes ready for the colder months. Your retractable awning has served you well in keeping you and your family cool and comfortable in the hot summer, now it’s time to properly stow it so it can continue to serve you for summers to come. Here’s how you can prepare your retractable awning for the Fall and Winter months.

Clean Your Retractable Awning Fabric

The first step to preparing your retractable awning for the colder months is a deep clean. Use a hose to clear off any leaves, dirt and debris that have accumulated on your awning. Then use mild soap and warm water along with a soft-bristled brush to get rid of any stubborn stains. Make sure to avoid any harsh cleaning agents during this step to avoid permanent damage to the awning fabric. Finally, give your awning a thorough rinse to avoid any unwanted streaks on the fabric.

Let the Awning Fabric Dry Thoroughly

It’s crucial to let your awning fabric dry thoroughly prior to storage as the growth of mold and mildew is detrimental to your awning fabric. On a sunny day, after you’ve cleaned off the awning fabric, extend your awning fully to let it dry naturally in the sun. 

Stow Your Awning Fabric

Once the fabric is clean and dry, you are now ready to store. You can choose to retract your awning or store it separately from its frame. If you are storing your fabric on the frame, retract the awning and cover with a winter cover. If storing separately, make sure you are storing the fabric in an area that is cool and dry in order to avoid mold and mildew growth during storage. 

Looking for residential door awnings in Colorado? Since 1957, Peterson Canvas & Awning has been dedicated to providing our customers with attractive and practical mounted shading systems for home and commercial use. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us today or give us a call at 970-493-4033.

As we say goodbye to Summer, there are preparations we need to make in order to get our homes ready for the colder months. Your retractable awning has served you well in keeping you and your family cool and comfortable in the hot summer, now it’s time to properly stow it so it can continue to serve you for summers to come. Here’s how you can prepare your retractable awning for the Fall and Winter months.

Clean Your Retractable Awning Fabric

The first step to preparing your retractable awning for the colder months is a deep clean. Use a hose to clear off any leaves, dirt and debris that have accumulated on your awning. Then use mild soap and warm water along with a soft-bristled brush to get rid of any stubborn stains. Make sure to avoid any harsh cleaning agents during this step to avoid permanent damage to the awning fabric. Finally, give your awning a thorough rinse to avoid any unwanted streaks on the fabric.

Let the Awning Fabric Dry Thoroughly

It’s crucial to let your awning fabric dry thoroughly prior to storage as the growth of mold and mildew is detrimental to your awning fabric. On a sunny day, after you’ve cleaned off the awning fabric, extend your awning fully to let it dry naturally in the sun. 

Stow Your Awning Fabric

Once the fabric is clean and dry, you are now ready to store. You can choose to retract your awning or store it separately from its frame. If you are storing your fabric on the frame, retract the awning and cover with a winter cover. If storing separately, make sure you are storing the fabric in an area that is cool and dry in order to avoid mold and mildew growth during storage. 

Looking for residential door awnings in Colorado? Since 1957, Peterson Canvas & Awning has been dedicated to providing our customers with attractive and practical mounted shading systems for home and commercial use. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us today or give us a call at 970-493-4033.

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