Staying Cool, Shady, And Clean - Tips For Maintaining Your Custom Canopy

6 April 2015
 Categories: , Blog

Share

Whether you're looking to protect a long line of customers outside of your business or merely create a comfortable shady spot on your home porch, a custom canopy can go a long way toward fulfilling those goals. Once you've made the investment in such a canopy, however, it's important that you take all necessary steps to keep it in its best condition.

Below, you'll find a guide to maintaining your custom canopy after it's installed. Following these suggestions will maximize the longevity of your canopy's life and guarantee that it's always able to meet your protection needs any time you may need it.

Clean It On The Frame

One common mistake many people make when cleaning their canopy is to remove it from its frame before attempting to scrub off dirt and other damage. Rather than being easier to access, this strategy actually tends to cause shrinking and wrinkling that makes it difficult to reach every bit of the canopy's surface.

Without the canopy being stretched over its frame, you're also more at risk of mold and mildew buildup. Cleaning the canopy while it's applied to the frame will guarantee that it's stretched to its maximum surface area, allowing it to dry fully, which prevents dark, wet spots from becoming trouble spots.

Maintain Frame Hardware

The frame itself is an important aspect of your custom canopy that you may not consider in need of consistent oversight. However, if screws or washers become loose, your canopy can be at risk of collapsing. This can both severely injure people standing underneath it as well as risk tearing the canopy's fabric.

You should be sure to conduct consistent inspections to make sure your canopy's hardware is tight and properly secured. You should also look for potential spots of rust and other trouble, as preventing these from spreading is an important part of maintaining your canopy's structural integrity.

Consider Ballast

If your canopy is going to be deployed in windy conditions, it's important that you take steps to make sure it isn't caught up in dangerous gusts. One way to secure you canopy is with ballast. Tying weighted bags to the attachment points of your canopy will provide an additional level of security and can help guarantee that your canopy's fabric stays firmly fastened to the frame. This will allow your canopy to appear solid and safe while also being subtle enough to avoid notice and any subsequent concern.