Repairing Guides

how to repair a torn awning

by Marianna Altenwerth Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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For both tears and holes, follow these steps to repair an RV awning:

  1. Access the Damage You can’t fix the awning if you can’t safely reach the area of damage. ...
  2. Clean the Edges You must clean off any dirt, sap, or grease from the fabric edges so your repair products can adhere properly. ...
  3. Apply the Patch

Full Answer

How can I take down an awning?

  • Hammer
  • Screwdriver
  • Two or more sets of hands
  • Cherry picker
  • Support scaffolding
  • Nylon rope
  • Bungee cords

What are the best tips for awning repair?

Step 3: Mend Any Small Tears and Holes

  • Remove the dirt and debris. First, we will need a cleaning solution. ...
  • Allow the awning to dry. Let it dry for a few minutes. ...
  • Repair the torn fabric. Use a repair tape to join the torn fabric. ...
  • Ensure firmness of the tape. To keep the adhesive tape sticky for a longer time, remove any bubbles and air pockets from the repair tape by hand.

How to manually close awning?

Opening An RV Awning

  1. Find A Good Spot For Your RV And Get It Into Position. ...
  2. Remove The Travel Locks And Loosen The Knobs. Once you’ve settled in, it’s time to remove any travel locks and loosen the awning knobs. ...
  3. Use Your Awning Rod To Unlock The Sheet. ...
  4. Open The Awning Carefully. ...
  5. Lock The Rafter Arms Into Place. ...
  6. Extend Awning Arms. ...
  7. (Optional): Anchor The Arms To The Ground. ...

How to replace a damaged awning?

  • Find matching fabric and replace holes or tears with it, using heavy-duty glue like Amazing Goop, which is water-resistant.
  • Replace the entire piece of awning fabric
  • Replace the awning with a new one, complete with mechanical attachments.

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How do you repair a ripped canvas awning?

For very small tears and holes in the canvas, you can simply apply a dab of clear silicone caulk with your finger to the area. For corner rips, you may need to loosen each corner in order to access the underside of the canvas awning. Most canvas patio awnings are laced on with awning line.

Can you repair a ripped awning?

Small holes and tears are easily remedied with water-resistant RV glue. This glue should keep your awning intact for months and sometimes years to come. If you have a bigger tear, you'll have to sew or glue patching materials to the underside of the awning.

How do I fix a hole in my awning?

Once the fabric has dried completely, use either white silicone caulk (for light fabric) or clear caulk (for dark fabric) to begin patching the hole from the underside. Once the caulk has dried, apply caulk from the top of the awning, as well. Another method for repairing small tears is to use awning repair tape.

How do you repair a roof awning?

1:186:05RV Awning Repair + Resealing the Roof with Dicor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd then finally we scrape off any remaining silicone sealant around the perimeter of the roof fillMoreAnd then finally we scrape off any remaining silicone sealant around the perimeter of the roof fill in any gaps with butyl tape and then cover it in a clear solvent-based caulk.

Can I use Flex Seal on my RV awning?

0:2512:45Dried Out Ripped Camper Awning Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd the flex seal here is what we're going to use to to put a new coating on that awning. And thenMoreAnd the flex seal here is what we're going to use to to put a new coating on that awning. And then this is the container that i just to pour the flex seal in.

Can you use flex tape to repair RV awning?

Flex Seal tape. I've used it for several repairs and works great. Once you put it on it will never come off.

Can you sew an awning?

Purchasing awnings can be expensive but simple to manufacture on your own. With a sewing machine and a visit to your local fabric store, you too can make your own canvas awning.

How do you repair a ripped Bimini top?

0:000:59Bish's Original Tear Mender Boat cover or Bimini Top repair On ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere we are and one of our friends boats. And he's going to be a tear mender believer because at aMoreHere we are and one of our friends boats. And he's going to be a tear mender believer because at a rippin is canvas. Cover here this acrylic fiber and tear mender works on it and can do the job.

How do you patch a canvas?

Lay the painting face-down on a clean surface. Use an acid-free glue ("white" craft glue) to adhere the repair fabric. A primer such as acrylic gesso or a medium such as matte or gel medium also works well as glue. Apply a thin, even layer of glue, gesso, or medium to the patch and place it over the tear.

How do I fix my aluminum awning?

Wash the leaking area and after it dries, apply a line of polyether sealant to cracks or gaps in the awning. Use a sealant that is UV resistant, exterior grade and designed for seams and metal. The sealant will fill the crack as it dries and plug the leak.

How do you replace a fabric awning?

9:4013:50How Easy is it to Replace RV Awning Fabric? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce centered the spring tension was taken out of the roller by hand and the pin was removed fromMoreOnce centered the spring tension was taken out of the roller by hand and the pin was removed from the end of the roller. We slowly released the spring and allowed the fabric to roll.

How do you replace an awning rope?

0:040:56Manual Pull Strap Replacement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSlide the strap down through the channel in the awning roll tube when the strap reaches the end ofMoreSlide the strap down through the channel in the awning roll tube when the strap reaches the end of the roll tube remove the strap through the notch in the cap at the end of the tube.

How do you fix a ripped awning on a trailer?

0:312:44Repairing RV Awning Tear - Part 1 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd basically it has steel lock adhesive. And it is for RVs permanent repairs for epdm TPO metalMoreAnd basically it has steel lock adhesive. And it is for RVs permanent repairs for epdm TPO metal fiberglass age rigid PVC vinyl which the awning is vinyl wood OCB and other building materials.

How do you repair a camper van awning?

0:423:56Attaching a Driveaway Awning to Your Motorhome or Campervan - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow this works is quite simple on the end of the awning you have a quedar strip onto that kVAL stripMoreNow this works is quite simple on the end of the awning you have a quedar strip onto that kVAL strip you attach your figure-of-eight. You then attach you'll fill it the fabric in the other side.

How do you fix canvas stitch?

7 Tips on Repairing a Hole or Rip in CanvasHem the edges of the new hole. ... Use a sewing machine. ... Use a sewing awl (also called stitching awls) if you can't use a sewing machine. ... Match the type of canvas -- specifically the treatments, like waterproofing. ... Hem the edges of your patch before installing it over the hole.More items...

How do you reattach a camper awning?

7:4512:07Reattach RV Camper Awning - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo right now what we're going to do is flip that up and start screwing all of those holes in there.MoreSo right now what we're going to do is flip that up and start screwing all of those holes in there. And then it'll be. Done. Okay so climbing up back behind the awning.

Why Is My Camper Awning Torn?

If you’re wondering how one or more tears suddenly appeared on your awning, don’t worry. It’s probably not due to neglect on your part. A torn shade screen isn’t always the result of poor maintenance or misuse.

What You Will Need

Before you rush to take it down and get started on the repair, slow down. You’ll need some supplies beforehand to fix the tear.

1. Remove Your Camper Awning

The first thing you’ll have to do is remove your retractable awning. Be particularly careful while removing the window awnings, as a wrong move can cost you an extra window for your RV—or the very least a nasty scratch.

2. Assess The Damage

Now that your awning is down, spread it out and take the time to thoroughly examine it.

3. Repairing Minor Damage

If you only have small holes or tears, consider yourself lucky. You’ll be able to patch up the fabric and get it back on your camper quickly.

4. Fixing Moderate To Severe Tears

If your tears are serious, awning tape won’t do the job. You’ll have to use your replacement material for repair.

Preventing Future Tears

It isn’t possible to permanently shield your awning from getting torn. With age, it will eventually suffer some tearing.

How to fix a small tear in RV awning?

Luckily, whether you’re dealing with a small hole or a big tear, you can fix these yourself. Small holes and tears are easily remedied with water-resistant RV glue. This glue should keep your awning intact for months and sometimes years to come.

How to tell if an awning is bad?

You’ll first notice something is wrong with your awning when you feel raindrops on your head while sitting beneath it .

What is a camper awning made of?

Whether made of vinyl or acrylic, you rely on your camper awning a lot. When you take breaks outside in the sun, you pull out this awning to protect you from bright, harsh sunlight. Maybe you’ve even taken refuge under the awning when a sudden rain occurred.

What is a large tear in an awning?

A large tear is any damage that exceeds a length of three feet. If you ignore a small tear and camp in windy conditions or on a stormy day, your awning could rip more, leading to these undesirable larger tears. These are often much more difficult to conceal with reparations, as are large holes.

What causes a rip on a awning?

Excess strings and loose threads on the awning that just gave way, leading to a rip.

What is a small tear?

Small tears are those that measure three feet or less. These are more visible, unlike small holes, yet manageable. If you catch these and patch them up quickly, the tears shouldn’t become any bigger.

Can you roll up an awning when it's wet?

This can, in turn, lead to tears or holes. Keep the awning rolled up in the event of a severe storm, such as a hurricane, thunderstorm, or windstorm. Let water drain off one side of the awning.

Find the right awning tear fix

I knew that the small tear had the potential to become a bigger rip and also a bigger problem. So, I got right to work. Well, by that I mean I talked to other campers in our park and asked what they recommended or had successfully used. Then I researched online and ordered this awning repair tape. Why this one? Well, our awning is multi-colored.

Remove the awning

Once the awning was clean and dry, we began removing it from the RV. This was easier than I thought. Still, it took both Hubby, our adult son, and me to lift and safely detach the awning from the RV. You really need at least two people to safely do this—one on each end of the awning. It’s heavy, but we managed.

Apply the tape

We were fortunate to have parked the RV beside a paved concrete pad, so we used it as our “work table.” We placed our awning on the concrete and closely examined it for any additional holes or rips. Then we addressed the rip.

Preventing RV awning tears and rips

They say, “An ounce of prevention….” So here are suggestions for keeping your RV’s awning in good repair:

Awning Canvas

Rather than removing the whole canvas awning to do the repairs, the best way to repair it is to repair it in place. The most common areas of a canvas patio awning that need repair are small rips and tears in the body of the awning, and where the frame has worn holes in the corners of the awning.

Repair

For rips in the body of the canvas awning, cut a piece of replacement fabric that is 4 inches wider and 4 inches longer than the rip. This will give you a 2-inch reinforced repair on all sides of the rip.

How To Repair RV Awning?

Here are a few simple steps that you can follow to repair your camper’s awning successfully.

What to use to patch an awning?

If you haven’t patched it up soon enough, you will require different patching materials such as sewing supplies, a screwdriver, and a measuring tape. Instead of rushing and turning your awning into a horrible patchwork quilt, slow down and find the material that is of exact or somewhat close to your awning’s color.

What happens if you don't set an awning?

When you are attaching your awning, be sure that you fit it correctly to get optimal weather protection and shade. If the awning is not appropriately set, the chances of getting new tears and holes will increase significantly.

What to do if you stitch mending material to camper awning?

If you stitch your mending material to your camper’s awning, ensure that you find no visible or loose strings. Cut it if you see any.

How to dry a awning?

Allow the awning to dry. Let it dry for a few minutes. If it is still wet, use an absorbent towel or a washcloth and gently dab the wet areas. Also, place any flat item underneath your awning to balance.

What does it feel like to pull an RV out?

The sun has bright and radiant rays, and the birdies are chirping melodiously. After a while, you feel like stretching your legs, so you pull your awning out. That’s when you notice a tear.

Can you repair a tear in an awning?

Such tears are sometimes difficult to repair. Large holes: These holes are often caused when something moves across the awning. The sunlight and rain can pass through the holes easily. Once you know the damage, you can fix it quickly. The repair method of small tears and holes is straightforward.

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