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Visit Us At:
The
Elizabethtown FAIR
August 18 - 23,
2008
And
The York Fair
September
5 - 14, 2008
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Although your retractable awning is designed to be easy to maintain,
there are a few tips for maintaining a healthier awning.
One of the best ways to keep acrylic fabrics looking good and to delay
the need for deep or vigorous cleanings is to hose fabrics off on a monthly
basis with clear water. This practice will help prevent dirt from becoming
deeply imbedded in the fabric and eliminate the need for more frequent vigorous
cleanings.
When cleaning acrylic fabrics, it is important to
observe the following:
- Always use a mild soap i.e. Ivory Snow, Dreft or Woolite. Never
detergent.
- Water should be cold to lukewarm. Never more than 100 degrees.
- Air dry only. Never apply heat to acrylic fabrics.
If you are cleaning acrylic fabric while still on an awning frame, follow these
simple steps:
- Brush off loose dirt.
- Hose down.
- Prepare a cleaning mixture of water and mild soap (no detergents).
- Use a soft bristle brush to clean.
- Allow soap to soak in.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Air dry.
If stubborn stains persist, you can use a diluted chlorine bleach/soap
mixture for spot cleaning of mildew, roof run-off or other similar stains.
Prepare a special cleaning mixture:
- Four ounces (half cup) of chlorine bleach.
- Two ounces (one-fourth cup) of mild soap.
- One gallon of water.
- Clean with soft bristle brush.
- Allow mixture to soak for up to 20 minutes.
- Rinse thoroughly.
- Air dry.
- Repeat if necessary.
Remember to protect the area around your awning if using a bleach
solution. Carpet or other fabrics that are not acrylic may have an adverse
reaction to the bleach.
Re-treating the Fabric
As part of the finishing process, acrylic awning fabrics are treated with a
fluorocarbon finish, which enhances water repellency. This finish is designed to
last for several years, but must be replenished after a thorough cleaning. Based
on test results, Glen Raven* recommends
303 High Tech Fabric Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for
Sunbrella fabrics. Fabrics should be retreated after thorough cleaning or after
five years of use.
Applying 303 High Tech Fabric Guard™
303 should be applied to Sunbrella fabrics after each thorough cleaning, which
typically removes the original fluorocarbon finish and reduces the fabric's
water repellency. After cleaning the fabric, allow it to air dry completely and
then apply 303 in a thin, even coat. After allowing the first coat of 303 to air
dry, apply a second thin, even coating of 303. Two light coatings are more
effective in restoring fabric water resistance than a single heavy coating. A
15-ounce bottle provides coverage of up to 50 square feet of lightweight fabric.
Always apply 303 to clean fabric.
Professional Awning Cleaning Service
Conservation Concepts provides a professional
cleaning service for awnings. For more information contact us at
1-800-755-2405.
*- manufacturer of
Sunbrella acrylic fabrics
Removing the valance for the winter will keep it clean and in good shape.
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Extend your awning all the way out (this way
you do not need to use a ladder). |
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From either end of the front bar, remove the
small screw (s) and plastic end cap. |
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Loosen the two fabric valance locks located at
ends of the front bar. |
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Slide the valance out (this should slide
easily). Be sure to replace the valance locks, end caps and screw (s).
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Roll up your valance, and place it inside for
winter storage. |
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Extend your awning all the way out (this way
you do not need to use a ladder). |
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From either end of the front bar, remove the
small screw (s) and plastic end cap. |
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Remove valance from storage and unroll.
Slide the valance into the awning front bar (this should slide easily) and
reposition and re-tighten the valance locks on the
front bar. |
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Replace the end cap and screw (s). |
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Enjoy your awning ! |
First and foremost, retract your awning with your manual back-up override.
This will protect your awning from possible damaging weather conditions.
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Check your electrical connections: |
1. If your awning is a
"plug-in" make sure it is plugged in.
2. If your awning is
connected to a ground fault protected circuit, make sure your ground
fault interrupter (GFI) is in the working position.
3. Check the circuit
breaker connected to the appropriate circuit.
4. Check the battery in
your remote control (if applicable) and replace if necessary.
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Look for obstructions that may keep your awning
from retracting or extending. |
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After you have checked the above, call the
Conservation Concepts office at 1-800-755-2405 to schedule a service call. |
Awning
fabrics are manufactured to high-performance standards.
Irrespective of the high standard of production when manufacturing awning
fabrics, a number of unavoidable phenomena will exist, which have occasionally
given the consumer cause for complaint. In order to pre-empt any complaint, we
should like to draw your attention to the following phenomena:
Crease marks and Crazing
Crease marks This can occur during the
manufacturing process of the awning cover. Crease marks are more noticeable
on lighter striped and solid fabrics. When looking up at the fabric in
the sun light, the fabric may appear darker where it was originally folded.
These crease marks neither diminish the awning's value nor reduce its
effectiveness to shade and protect you.
Crazing
These are
thin white lines or patches, which can also originate during the production
process. Crazing is most noticeable on darker colors which, even when
using the greatest of care, cannot be completely avoided. Crazing will
not effect the performance of your awning.
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Waviness
is caused by the material being layered on top of itself and
consequently being wound in on the roller in unequal thickness. The tension
this causes in the material may result in waviness (leaving a checkered
or herringbone pattern on the material). This is usually noticed when
the awning is extended. Waviness usually occurs, but is not limited
to, areas near a seam. This phenomena may come and go depending on
several elements such as heat, if the fabric was rolled up wet, or if the
awning has been retracted for a long period of time. Waviness does not
effect the performance or longevity of your awning.
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In
essence these phenomena occur to a differing degree in nearly all awning
covers. They do
not, however, diminish the quality of the cover.
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Water Resistance
Acrylic awning fabric is impregnated with
a water-repelling finish and can withstand short periods of light rainfall.
To use your awning in light rainfall without excessive wind, the awning should
be tilted at an angle of at least 15 degrees or greater pitch. Retractable
awning covers which have been rolled up wet should be extended again at the
earliest opportunity so then can be allowed to dry.
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Conservation Concepts, Inc.
