Awnings are a great addition to your home, however they do require some regular upkeep to keep them looking and functioning at their best. Did you know that awnings are vulnerable to fading, corrosion and heat damage when used incorrectly and not maintained regularly. Fortunately there’s plenty of ways to prevent this from happening. Here is everything you need to know about maintaining your awning…
Limit exposure to direct sunlight. The sun is one of the most harmful things for awnings as it causes them to fade over time. So it’s important not leave your awning out in direct sunlight too often as it will cause paint on the front and back of the awning itself to become brittle, crack and peel away. It will also fade the material of the awning- that’s why it is important to retract the awning when it is not required.
Move the awning when not in use. If you can’t retract your awning, even if it is out of direct sunlight, make sure to move it and turn it around so that there isn’t just one side always facing the blistering sun.
Retract or remove your awnings at night . It’s no secret that strong winds lead to wear and tear on any outdoor equipment such as gazebos and patio furniture. A gust of wind can potentially damage an older awning, with weak hinges and joints. It makes sense for this reason to keep your awnings retracted at night so they are safe from strong winds which may occur during stormy weather. An easy way to do this is by making it part of your evening routine.
Whilst awnings are made to protect you from wet weather, by providing additional covering to a patio area, it is also important to allow the awning material to dry adequately to prevent the material from rotting of getting mould if it is closed away whilst damp.
With the changing seasons it is vital to clean the awning- clearing it of any leaves that may have collecting in the frame or material. This will ensure the awning will operate correctly when you are using it.
If there are strong winds present, it may be worth checking to see if your awnings require re-tensioning. This is where excess material is taken in slightly to allow the frame to move with ease and not become undone suddenly. You can easily do this yourself by pulling excess material over itself and then pushing down on the top of the structure firmly.
This also allows you to check for any damages or deterioration which may lead to breakdowns later in time. If your awnings are looking rather bright due to exposure from sun or rain, it might be an idea to consider painting them with outdoor paint especially if they are made of metal as this can rust and age over time. Paint will help keep electric awnings looking great all year round.
Another tip is if you have a manual awning installation it is important to make sure that all screws and fixings are always tightly secured as this will help to maintain the structure of the awning. We recommend that you check your awning regularly for any signs of wear and tear or ageing parts which may cause problems especially with electric awnings as they may stop working due to incorrect wiring.
In terms of maintaining an electric powered structure, it is important not to leave out when you are not using them as this can render the electrics useless and can also lead to overloading issues which could be dangerous. In order to avoid this from happening we recommend unplugging your structures after use at least once every couple of months.
Whilst there are many ways to help maintain your awning- these tasks can be done quickly if done regularly. Leaving the maintenance to once a year could mean you have a big task on your hands trying to fix and upkeep the awning. We hope this blog post helps you maintain your awning and helps make the job easier when it comes to maintaining your garden structures.
Maintaining an electric awning in your own home can be made simple by following these easy tips.
With the most important being to close the awning away when it is not in use, during winter or summer months it may be advisable to remove and re-attach the awning manually rather than using an electric winch system. This will avoid unnecessary strain on the electrical equipment and ensures that your investment is safeguarded against damage.