Did you know that just like relaxing under a big shade tree it often feels 20 degrees cooler under an awning? That’s feeling like it’s 70 degrees on a 90 degree day!
The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation
The Skin Cancer Foundation is the only international organization devoted solely to education, prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment of the world’s most common cancer.
The Skin Cancer Foundation grants its Seal of Recommendation to products that meet the Foundation’s specific criteria for effective UV sun protection. The Seal program covers many categories of sun protection, each with its own specific standards.
For fabrics, the testing requirements include a ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 30 or higher.
We are proud to use Sunbrella Sun Protective Performance fabric that has a UPF of 50+ and has been awarded the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation.
Hurricane Preparation
Hurricane Preparation For Your Awnings
What To Do In The Event Of A Hurricane Warning
We do not recommend taking down your awning unless there is a hurricane warning with the probability of winds over 85 miles per hour, in general.
Atlantic Hurricane &
Tropical Storm Center
Track the weather and most recent hurricanes in the Atlantic >>> HERE.
Since we have been in business for over 50 years in Florida we can not possibly do hurricane service on all of the awnings we have installed. Instead, we would like to be of service to you and go over the procedure, prior to any storms approaching, to remove (if needed) the fabric cover from the framework with a service person that does hurricane preparation for you.
Removing your awning should only be done
if it is imminent that a 85 mile per hour
(or greater) wind creating storm is
coming your way.
Awning Removal Steps
- Should a storm be imminent, we recommend taking some pictures of your awning so you have a record of what it looked like installed (from the outside and from the underneath of the awning.)
- The next step is to cut all the ropes where they attach the fabric to the frame, which can be done above the grommets (brass or nickel eyelets). The rope will need to be replaced so don’t be concerned about saving it.
- If your awning is attached to your home or building, after you cut the ropes you may be able to slide the awning out of the slotted awning track attached to your building.
- If you can not slide the awning out of the track, roll it up to the top and also tie it securely to the frame. If you have a freestanding awning or canopy, cut the ropes (same as above) and roll the awning up while it is on the frame (to make it easier to tie up and move) or pull it to the ground, fold or roll it up before moving. Note: Awning fabric that covers a large area can weigh a lot (get a friend or helper to give you a hand moving.)
- The final step is to store your awning in your garage or building.
If your area does get a hurricane, failure to take these steps may result in damage to the awning frame and/or your building.
Remember: Please do not remove your awning unless your area is under Hurricane warning and it is imminent that a hurricane is headed your way!
After a storm has passed, reinstallation of awnings and canopies can begin. If you have contracted with Delray Awning to uninstall and reinstall your awnings we will begin by reinstalling our hotel and business customers first, so they can reopen to the public, so please be patient.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, or for further advice.
Awning Fabric Maintenance
Please follow these tips to extend the life of your awning fabric:
Hose down the awning regularly and allow to dry completely so dirt will not accumulate on the awning. Brush the underside of awning regularly with a household broom to remove any spider webs or insects.
Do not allow twigs, leaves or other organic debris to remain on awning fabric. Keep shrubs, vines and trees trimmed to avoid matter getting onto fabric.
Do not over spray fabric with insect repellants, as some insecticides will stain.
Do not pressure clean the awning fabric. It will invalidate our fabric warranty. It may or will damage the cover, heat sealed or sewn seams and stitching.
If you are going to clean your awning fabric, wet ropes and binding first with plain water, then use a soapy solution and a light abrasive brush. You will need to add a small amount of laundry bleach to the solution if there is mildew. Rinse thoroughly and allow to air-dry. It is critical to make sure you rinse it thoroughly to remove all bleach and solution as ropes absorb cleaning solutions, which can lead to frame corrosion.
An awning cleaning service is available thru our office. Call 561-276-
Sunbrella Cleaning Tips
For products with Sunbrella® fabric please follow their cleaning tips below.
One of the best ways to keep Sunbrella fabrics looking good and to delay deep or vigorous cleaning is to maintain the fabrics correctly. This can be accomplished by simply brushing off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabrics, wiping up spills as soon as they occur or spot cleaning soon after stains occur.
General or Light Cleaning
To clean Sunbrella fabric while still on an awning frame:
- Brush off loose dirt.
- Hose down.
- Prepare a cleaning solution of water and mild soap such as Woolite or Dawn dishwashing liquid.
- Use a soft bristle brush to clean.
- Allow cleaning solution to soak into the fabric.
- Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
- Air dry.
- May not require re-treatment depending on the age of the fabric.
If stubborn stains persist, you can use a diluted bleach/soap mixture for spot cleaning of mildew. For roof run-off or other similar stains a strong degreaser may be required.
Heavy Cleaning for Stubborn Stains and Mildew
Sunbrella fabrics do not promote mildew growth. However, mildew may grow on dirt and other foreign substances that are not removed from the fabric.
To clean stubborn stains:
- Prepare a solution of 1 cup of bleach and 1/4 cup mild soap per gallon of clean water.
- Allow mixture to soak into fabric for up to 15 minutes.
- Clean with soft bristle brush. (Note: This step should be avoided when cleaning the coated side (Back side) of Sunbrella Plus, Supreme, or Clarity.
- Rinse thoroughly until all soap residue is removed.
- Air dry.
- Repeat if necessary.
- Re-treatment of fabric for water and stain resistance will be necessary after using bleach solution.
Note: Use caution when cleaning the coated (underside) of Sunbrella Plus, Supreme, or Clarity with the recommended bleach solution. The coated side of the fabric should only be sprayed with the recommended bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly.
Remember to protect the area around your Sunbrella if using a bleach solution. Carpet or other fabrics that are not Sunbrella may have an adverse reaction to the bleach.
Re-treating the Fabric
As part of the finishing process, Sunbrella 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® Fabric Guard™ as the preferred re-treatment product for Sunbrella fabrics.
Fabrics should be re-treated after thorough cleaning or as needed.
For more information on re-treatment products, please visit www.303products.com.
Applying 303 Fabric Guard
303 should be applied to Sunbrella fabrics after each thorough cleaning, which typically removes the original finish and reduces the fabric’s water repellency.
- Clean Sunbrella fabric, using one of the cleaning methods.
- Allow Sunbrella to completely air dry.
- Apply 303 Fabric Guard in a well ventilated area following instructions on the container.
- Apply 303 in a thin, even coat and allow fabric to dry completely.
- Apply a second thin, even coating of 303. (Two light coatings are more effective in restoring fabric water resistance than a single heavy coating.)
- Note: A 16-ounce bottle provides coverage of up to 75-100 square feet of fabric depending on material and application method.
Additional Cleaning Instructions
Helpful Hints
Protect the area around the Sunbrella fabric when using a bleach solution
– bleach may discolor non-Sunbrella fabrics. Always rinse Sunbrella thoroughly to remove bleach completely.
Please be aware of the environment when cleaning with bleach. Bleach can have harmful effects on the natural environment around you. We do not advise using bleach if you are surrounded by a body of water or other environments that could be affected.
Sunbrella should only be allowed to air dry.
If the fabric has some wrinkling, use an iron, if necessary, but only on the synthetic setting. As some irons exceed the recommended temperature on the synthetic setting, test a small inconspicuous area before ironing entire piece. DO NOT use a steamer or iron set to steam setting!
Use of bleach on advanced aged fabric applications may impact the deterioration of the sewing thread and other non-Sunbrella components.
For more information, call Sunbrella at 336.221.2211
