How To Replace Awning Canvas?

How to replace awning canvas? Awning canvas is a term commonly used to refer to a cotton sheet that has been treated with a water-repelling wax. It is typically made from 100% cotton and can be used on small boats to RVs. This type of fabric should not be confused with boat canvas, which refers to tarps or sails for larger watercraft.

Maintenance and cleaning of awning canvas

Awning canvas, when properly taken care of, is fairly weatherproof. Since it can get dirty over time, however, it will need to be cleaned every once in a while. To do this, simply use a stiff brush or scrubbing pad to scrub off any dirt or debris. It is recommended to hose it down in a shady area.

If the stains cannot be removed by a stiff brush, add some mild soap and water into a spray bottle and then spray the 50/50 mixture onto the stained area.

Let this sit for ten minutes before scrubbing again with a scrubber. Rinse off the soap mixture with clean water, and then allow the awning to air dry. Be sure to do this in a shaded area or during the cooler parts of the day – it can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day for your awning canvas to fully dry.

How often should you replace your awning canvas?

Typically, an awning canvas will last for many years; only after it gets dirty or stained, that will you have to consider replacing your awning fabric. If a stiff brush cannot remove the stains, add some mild soap and water into a spray bottle and then spray the 50/50 mixture onto the stained area.

Let this sit for ten minutes before scrubbing again with a scrubber. Rinse off the soap mixture with clean water, and then allow the awning to air dry. Be sure to do this in a shaded area or during the cooler parts of the day – it can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day for your awning canvas to fully dry.

If you have replaced your awning fabric, you need to maintain it properly to not get damaged. If the awning is left out in the sun or exposed to direct sunlight for long periods, it may fade over time and require replacement. It is also recommended to keep your awning fabric as dry as possible to prolong the life of the fabric.

Water damage can be one of the most detrimental things that can happen to awning fabric. Being exposed to large amounts of moisture over a long period will break down and ruin any kind of awning canvas, whether it is treated.

Steps for replacing awning canvas

Step 1. 

Get Ready! Prepare to take the canvas out of the frame and onto the ground. You will need room to lay it out flat, with all the corners spread apart so you can work on it.

Before you start, make sure you have all of the tools you will need for this project. You will want a pair of shears, a staple gun, and some new heavy-duty aluminum drywall tape.

Step 2. 

Remove old canvas pull the whole canvas out of the frame as a piece. This is helpful because you can lay it across your picnic table and work on it there. After pulling the stitching at the corners, where it attaches to the frame, you should see some staples inside that hold everything together.

The first thing we want to do is remove those staples. Place the blade of the shears below where the staple goes. Then, close them and snap them off). You can see that we keep everything organized by laying it out on a picnic table. I like to make sure I put all of my pieces in their pile, so they go back together easily.

Step 3: 

Prepare Frame Next, we will want to go ahead and clean the frame. If your awning has seen any weather, you can probably tell by how dirty it is. Use some soap and water, and then rinse it off with a hose. Wash the entire thing front and back (the entire surface).

Step 4: 

Tape corners We need to tape the corners of the frame. This is very important because water will start to pool up in there and damage our expensive canvas if we don’t. Lay the aluminum drywall tape under the fabric. Make sure you do all four corners on both sides of your awning.

Step 5: 

Staple new canvas Now, it’s time to pull the new canvas over the frame. Lay it out on your picnic table (or similar surface) with all corners facing up. See how there are all kinds of ways you can lay this flat? When our guests see us starting to do this, they will come over and ask what we are doing!

After you have it laid flat, pull your aluminum tape off of the old canvas. You can use that same tape with the new one. Take your time with this next step because I’ve seen people staple it all wrong and then have to start over!

Pull each corner tight with about 8 inches of extra fabric on each side. Then, staple it in the middle of each side (about 20 inches apart). You should be able to staple an entire side at a time. After you have it all stapled, do the same thing on the other three sides.

Step 6: 

Hold tight and fasten those corners again. After pulling it tight, staple it halfway into that corner. If you haven’t done this before, I highly recommend practicing on an old canvas. This part can be tricky if you are not accustomed to doing this. However, it is worth the effort because it will save your awning from falling apart if you let those corners loose!

Now go on and fix that broken awning! You will be really glad you did!

How To Replace Awning Canvas? – Conclusion

Now that we’ve come to the end of this article – “How To Replace Awning Canvas?” we hope you have learned something new! If you need an awning, roofing, or roller blind installation service, feel free to contact us and we are here for you!