Critical repairs & proper care and maintenance will extend the life of your canvas product whether it is a furniture cover, patio cushion or a boat enclosure. All canvas products need to be cleaned and occasionally repaired so they stay in tip top working order.
Set aside some time to repair, restore or replace canvas or hardware that has worn out, been damaged by the elements or simply succumbed to dirt, debris and nasty mold. Many canvas products exist for boats, homes and business and we provide all the services you need to bring your existing canvas back to life or fabricate from scratch.
Here are tips for restoring, repairing, cleaning or replacing residential, marine or commercial canvas.
COVERS – Just get them!
1. CUSHIONS: Outdoor cushions left out in the elements can get mold and mildew. If the inserts are in good shape, new covers can be fabricated to give you a brand new look and feel. Foam can be brought back to life with steam and some fresh batting to fill them out. In some cases, you can revive your cushion covers with bleach and mild soap and water. A light scrub will help remove build up.*
*In some cases, the insides get moldy or disintegrate. In this case it is best to create new cushions from scratch.
2. INDIVIDUAL COVERS: If you don’t have covers for your outdoor assets, consider getting some. Custom tailored covers for furniture, boat deck accessories, yard equipment, outdoor seating etc. will extend their life by protecting them from dirt, debris, rain, fading and sun damage.
If you do have covers, be sure to keep them clean. Learn how.
3. FULL COVER: If life gets in the way and you can’t keep up with all the maintenance on your boat, home or business, consider a full size cover for multiple items at once or larger items like an outdoor kitchen. This will ease the burden of having separate covers for individual items. Large covers can be fabricated with zippers to detach into sections.
CLEANING & TREATING – Do it often!
4. MOLD & MILDEW: The mold that collects on your outdoor fabric comes from airborne particulates. If you have patio furniture covers or a cover on your boat, they will undoubtedly collect dirt and debris. If left, these particles will turn to mold and mildew. Spraying off your canvas regularly (at least once a week) can cut down on the spread of that nasty growth. Sunbrella fabric can also be bleached.
1. CLEAN VINYL: You can freshen up your enclosure by cleaning, buffing and treating your vinyl windows to enhance clarity. Please be sure to see our page on how to clean and protect window vinyls. Using cleaners other than those recommended, may damage your vinyl.
2. FABRIC: Sunbrella lasts if properly cared for. Clean, bleach and treat your canvas regularly to extend its life. You can clean and treat canvas yourself or learn what cleaning services we can provide for you.
REPAIR & REPLACEMENT: Great option to save a little money
3. REPLACE VINYL: Over time window vinyl will yellow or crack. Often the fabric on your boat or patio enclosure is in good shape and we can simply replace the vinyl. This will give you a clear view whether it is an enclosure in your garden or a windshield on your boat. Some types of window vinyl material should always be covered to protect from sun. Learn about the different types of materials we use.
4. HARDWARE: Corrosion, harsh conditions, or age can damage or ruin fasteners. In most cases, we can easily replace snaps, common sense fasteners, zippers, bungees, or other hardware so your canvas stays in place. Bring us your canvas and we will get your fasteners or zippers all fixed up. Cleaning and lubricating hardware is also highly recommended.
5. PATCH & REINFORCE: Friction can create holes in your canvas. It can be caused by an ill fitted cover that is too tight or a cover that is improperly secured. If it’s not the right size, let us extend or modify it. If it’s rubbing on hardware, we can reinforce or patch it to prevent further damage. If it needs to be secured in place, we can add ties, velcro or other hardware attachments to keep it in place.
Learn more about General Repairs.
