How to prolong the life of your awning | |
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A correctly tensioned awning will last far longer than an awning which has been assembled without due care and attention. There is every reason, therefore, for new owners of awnings to spend a little time learning some of the first rules of maintenance. Tensioning is so important because an incorrectly tensioned awning is far more likely to suffer wear and tear, and because any folds in the canvas and the windows will collect dirt, which contributes to the decomposition of the material. Not only will your awning last longer if correctly tensioned, it will also look better and perform better. It is a good idea to carefully read the instructions provided with your awning. You may also like to take a look at Isabella’s video demo, available at www.isabella.netl “Tensioning your awning correctly needn't take any longer once you've had a bit of practice. It’s important to tighten the frame of your awning in the right order as detailed, and it’s a good idea to use the Hercules tensioning tool, which makes the job much easier,” explains Tommy Boisen, Sales Manager at Isabella Denmark. It is also important to remember that a correctly tensioned awning may not remain so forever. It will need to be checked at regular intervals to ensure it remains correctly tensioned. If you want to extend the lifetime of your awning even further and keep it in pristine condition, there are a few simple maintenance rules to be followed. Rinse external surfaces using cold water, possibly aided by a soft brush. Remember never to use detergent or other cleaning agents as these may damage the waterproofing. Sweep the inside of the awning once a week to remove | |||||
dust, which may attach to damp stains. Regular sweeping and good ventilation is particularly important if you use gas-fired or liquid fuel heaters since these heat sources generate additional moisture, which, combined with dust, may lead to mould. “Finally, it’s a good idea to apply an additional coat of impregnator every two years if you use your awning the entire season. This is relatively simple with a five-litre can of impregnator and a garden spray, which may be used to distribute the sealer evenly on the awning. Although the impregnator will not damage the windows, I would recommend giving them a good wipe before the liquid dries,” concludes Tommy Boisen. | |||||
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“The canvas itself should be around 10-12 centimetres off the ground for maximum tensioning,” says Tommy Boisen, Sales Manager at Isabella. | |||||
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Click the picture to download a hi-res CMYK picture | |||||
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