Welcome to Part III of our Undercover’s Boss Tell-All interview. Today we are covering (pun intended) Chris Reynold’s top tips about maintaining your folding arm awnings in Melbourne and  the Mornington Peninsula.

How long does a folding arm awning last? ?

At Undercover Blinds & Awnings we sell quality built European-designed awnings projected to last 30+ years. That said, awning fabrics do not have the same durability, and will likely need replacing after 10-15 years. More specifically, the longevity of the fabric of a folding arm awning actually has a lot to do with that stitching thread we talked about earlier.

The fabric will always outlast the stitching. If the thread is not the best quality, (because this is the part left up to the reseller in Australia, it is not mandated or guaranteed by the awning manufacturer) then it is usually the thread that starts to decay and disintegrate before any other part. For this reason, the awning fabric will need to be replaced well before the awning mechanism has reached its end of life.

How long does the fabric of a folding arm awning last?

Traditionally, awning fabrics were made from cotton canvas with cotton thread. But cotton being an organic product is subject to rot and mildew and therefore subject to breakage. These days awning fabrics are made from highly synthetic acrylic canvas which is less susceptible to mould and mildew. So at Undercover Blinds and Awnings Melbourne we use a very high quality synthetic thread that’s cotton-like in its appearance and cotton-like in its touch, but has a much, much higher level of UV protection. So that’s very important, the quality of that stitching definitely enables the awning fabrics to last a lot longer.

We’ve noticed that our thread is lasting between 10 and 15 years, which is why we give the fabric a life span of 10 to 15 years. And that scale is quite variable only because of how people use their awnings. Some folding arms are used everyday – people wake up in the morning and press the button and the awning goes out. At the end of the day, press it again and the awning comes back in. So those with awnings getting daily use, they’ll get ten years out of them, whereas less frequent use will get 15, so that’s why we offer that range of lifespan.

Can I leave my awning out in the rain?

We do see a lot of weather in Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Folding arm awnings (both semi cassette & full cassette awnings) are able to handle a light drizzle of rain, but water should not pool on the fabric. It is important that the awning be at an angle for the rain to run off so that water doesn’t pool. This will be part of our consultation with you as well. Remember these awnings are a shade solution, not a weatherproofing solution. (For weatherproof solutions, see retractable roof systems).

What should I do if my awning gets wet from the rain?

The manufacturers would suggest that you allow your fabric to dry before you retract it. But it’s important to note that our fabric today is a lot better than the traditional cotton canvases of old. So in those circumstances where the awning is out and it starts pouring rain and/or there’s high winds, shake off any puddles and retract the awning, then let it air out as soon as possible for a few hours when the rain subsides. It’s a lot like you might do if you were camping and bringing down your tent in the rain, then getting home and airing it out again. 

So do I need to clean my awning?

I’m sure it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear that most people never even think about cleaning their awnings. But as an awning aficionado, it would go against my nature to suggest that a customer doesn’t need to consider some form of maintenance. Like anything in life, if you care about something, it is a good idea to take care of it. For folding arm awnings, maintenance is minimal, especially if the fabric has had low exposure to water. What I’d recommend is simply giving the inside and outside of the cassette a sweep every few months with a light bristle broom. Then once a year, extend the awning to give the fabric a soapy wash. Just fabric soap and a sponge will do the trick, a quick rinse with the hose, then let it dry open in the sun before retracting it.

Does Undercover replace awning fabric for its customers and non-customers?

You know, we’ve been in business for a very long time, so we really have the luxury of seeing the quality of our workmanship in play in the market. When it is finally time for our customers to get their awnings re-covered, they give us a call, and we’re on it! We actually keep our clients’ orders on file for 15 years, so we can easily pull up all the previous measurements and get the fabric cut and sewn quite quickly for another perfect installation.

And we do get calls from people who had their awnings originally done by another company. Maybe that company’s not around any more or the customer likes our fabric selection or heard about our stellar service. In any case, we are happy to help, sending out a team member to measure and consult for the new fabric installation.

Thanks, Chris, for another great instalment of our Undercover’s Boss interview series. We think no truer words could be said: “If you care about something, it is a good idea to take care of it.” Stay tuned next time for tips on selecting a folding arm awning based on what requirements your environment might necessitate. Or, contact the friendly team at Undercover now and book in a personalised consultation and quote for folding arm awnings or any other outdoor blinds or awnings to suit your home or business in Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula.