How to Mend a Canvas Canopy Top

Clear vinyl adhesive patches are practically invisible once applied.

Canvas canopies can be damaged by a number of things, not least of which is something falling onto them. Whether your canopy is on an recreational vehicle or a shade for your home's back patio or deck, repair a tear of practically any size with clear vinyl adhesive tape available in most home improvement stores. The vinyl tape in an inexpensive fix that won't discolor or allow the seam to tear further.

Things You'll Need

• Socket wrench
• Vinyl fabric patching tape
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Remove the canopy from the house or RV using a socket wrench.

2. Unroll the canopy onto a large, flat place such as your driveway where you can pull all of the wrinkles out of the canvas before patching it. Once the wrinkles are removed from the fabric, lay any ragged threads along the length of the tear.

3. Apply the vinyl tape five inches before the beginning of the tear and while securing the tape to the canvas, pinch the material together to prevent gaps in the repair area that would allow sunlight to pass through. Continue unrolling the vinyl tape until the tear is completely covered, and cut the tape with scissors five inches after the end of the tear.

4. Smooth the vinyl tape with your hands and turn the canvas over so the vinyl tape is on the bottom.

5. Apply another strip of canvas tape to the underside of the tear in the same way you applied it to the top of the tear. This will help to prevent the canvas from tearing apart with repeated rolling and unrolling of the canvas canopy top.

6. Re-install the canopy top and roll and unroll it several times to make certain the vinyl tape adheres fully to the canvas without peeling off.

References

• "RV Owner's Handbook, 4th"; Gary Bunzer; 2009
• "RV Repair and Maintenance Manual: Updated and Expanded"; Bob Livingston; 2002
• "Black & Decker The Complete Photo Guide to Home Repair: with 350 Projects and 2000 Photos"; Editors of Creative Publishing; 2008