You may be in the market for perfect and durable awnings for your home use. Due to environmental awareness, the treatment of awning fabrics has undergone multiple changes. Some of these changes include the elimination of arsenic, mercury and formaldehyde use. These elements are responsible for anti-stain, mould resistance and anti-crease properties. With the removal of such items, you should, therefore, expect various characteristics from your awning fabric. Note a few common things you may come across as you utilise your awning.
Growth of Mould
The anti-moulding elements used may not be that effective, especially if conditions for mould growth are present. Awning fabrics at high risk of mould will be those installed near roads, tall trees that produce resin and air conveyors. Additionally, if there is acid rain or harmful pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere, mould will likely grow.
What can you do to control mould growth? Regular cleaning is the solution. Also, do not wrap up the awning fabric when wet. Wait for it to completely dry.
Embossing/ Honeycomb Effect
When you roll up your awning fabric, you can expect to see some weave-like patterns, particularly near the side edges and seams. This is because of the double thickness of your awning fabric. Overlapping the fabric causes some tension that results to embossing.
The thickness and tension of the fabric may also cause flickering or lateral edges, particularly for cassette awnings.
These effects may not affect the routine use of your awning and can be ignored. They are not considered as faults but things that you may notice as you use your awning. They also do not alter the quality or value of your awning, and you may also not be able to avoid them.
Fraying and Abrasion
Make sure that when you put up your awning fabric, it is tightened to prevent it from moving around during strong winds. Strong winds can cause wear and tear and lead to fraying and abrasions, particularly on the valances.
Micro-holes
Strong winds and constant folding can also cause some micro-holes to form near the folds of your fabric. As you cannot avoid this, you can try and ask your awning company to get you a material that will be more resistant to the folds.
The use of a protective product on your fabric in the name of improving rigidity and stability can also cause micro-holes. You can ask the awning manufacturer on the correct products to use. In most cases, water and regular cleaning detergent are enough.
Keep these tips in mind and speak with a supplier of luxaflex awnings for more information about caring for your awnings.
