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Tag: awning maintenance

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 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.

 

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