Awning Fabrics
Within the Awning industry the fabric is generally standard, meaning that just about every awning company offers the same fabrics and does not hold a proprietary line.
In general, these fabrics can be broken down into a few categories;
1)
Vinyl Awning FabricThe type of fabric is chosen based on use and weather conditions.
All of the above referenced fabrics are engineered to withstand various climates and have good abrasion resistance and have a lifespan of between 5 to 15 years.
Vinyl Awning Fabric
Vinyl fabrics can be broken down into two main manufacturing processes; 1) laminated and 2) coated vinyl.
Laminated Vinyl Fabrics
Considered the standard go to fabrics industry wide. With their proven performance, laminated vinyl's are strong, waterproof and durable enough for medium to large size awning projects. In general, laminated vinyl's are warranted for five years.Coated Vinyl Fabrics
Thought to be of higher quality and the most durable of the vinyl fabrics Like laminated vinyl's, coated vinyl are also very strong, waterproof, stain resistant and extremely durable which makes them suitable for any size project. Most laminated vinyl's are warranted for eight or more years.Acrylic Awning Fabric
Acrylic fabric is generally considered to be an upscale material.
Acrylic Fabric
Has an aesthetic softness and feel all its own. Higher quality acrylics are very resistant to UV light, mildew and water. The properties of acrylic fabric allow it to be highly breathable, so hot air and moisture will not be trapped.During the solution dyeing process (Higher Quality), color pigments are added to the acrylic fibers while the fibers are in a semi-liquid state. As a result, the color becomes an integral part of the fiber, and unlike piece-dyed acrylic, won't wash out. Solution-dyed acrylic fabric is translucent (depending on the color), typically weighs 8 to 10 ounces, can experience some shrinkage in cold weather, some stretch in hot weather and is extremely water resistant (not fully waterproof). Standard warranties are ten years.
Visit the Sunbrella Awning Fabric Page
Vinyl-laminated Polyester Awning Fabric
Vinyl-laminated Polyesters are strong, quick-drying, and tend to have wrinkle resistance and crease retention both wet and dry. Some vinyl-laminated polyesters, fabricated specifically for backlighting, are highly translucent.
Fabrics meant for standard uses are more translucent depending on their color (Lighter colors are more translucent then darker colors). Vinyl-laminated Polyester fabrics weigh between 16-24 ounces, are resistant to UV light, mildew, water, and are recommended for use in areas of sustained high humidity. Polyester based fabrics are available in solids, stripes and custom patterns. Standard warranties range from five to ten years.
Cotton Duck Fabric for Awnings
Cotton, or commonly referred to as cotton duck, is a
heavy plain woven fabric. Although not commonly used nationally for awnings
today, cotton duck is extremely durable and excellent in cold weather
climates on smaller scale projects. Cotton duck is strong and flexible with
unique self-contouring characteristics. It is water and mildew repellent.
Standard warranties range from three to five years.
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