Seven Helpful Patio Shade Maintenance Tips

December 12, 2018

If you already have a patio shade, you’re well aware that it’s a great investment. What you might not know, however, is that shade patio covers in Houston, TX require a bit of maintenance to look their best and function as they should for the long term. This post will teach you what you need to know about patio cover maintenance:

  • Ensure proper installation: Proper maintenance for your patio shade starts on day one, with installation. The best way to guarantee everything is set up correctly is to have it installed by a professional. A pro knows the best practices for installation, ensuring you shouldn’t run into any problems with it down the road.
  • Inspect it regularly: Take a few minutes every once in a while to go outside and take a look at your patio shade. Is the fabric torn or frayed? Are the posts loose? If the answer is “yes,” you should call a professional to have it repaired. A damaged patio shade looks bad and is liable to completely fall apart.
  • Prune nearby shrubs and trees: Tall trees and shrubs make your yard look beautiful, but they’re also a hazard for your patio shade. Overgrown branches can pierce and tear the fabric, which obviously isn’t ideal. A quick trim every now and then will ensure that doesn’t happen to your shade cover.
  • Take the sail down: There’s no need to have the sail up when you’re not outside. Keeping it up 24/7, 365 days a year prematurely ages the fabric and increases the chances that it gets torn. The good news is that putting up and taking down shade patio covers in Houston, TX is much easier than it used to be. You can easily perform this task in a matter of minutes, if not seconds!
  • Clean it often: A clean patio shade is a happy patio shade. Simply rinsing your patio shade with a garden hose will help prevent buildup and ensure it never accumulates hard-to-remove stains. Taking a few minutes to clean your shade keeps it looking new for longer, which means you won’t have to replace it as quickly.
  • Avoid strong detergents: Be careful of what you use to clean your patio shade. Strong detergents can actually cause more harm than good, as they can fade and break down the fibers. Talk to a patio cover professional to see which cleaning materials are best for patio shades.
  • Keep it away from fires: Roasting marshmallows around a campfire is a great way to spend an evening in your backyard, but if having a fire is in your plans, be sure to take your patio shade down first. Patio shade materials often aren’t fire retardant, which means they’ll catch on fire in a flash. Likewise, if you’re planning on having a barbecue, be sure to move the grill far away from your patio shade, or take it down before you start the grill.

Whether you’re looking to buy a patio shade in Houston, TX or if you need someone to maintain it, just give ABC Awning Company a call. We’re your go-to team for everything related to patio shades, carports, airplane hangars and much more!

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