How to Repair RV Awning Fabric

Awnings are a great convenience but represent a new set of repair duties.

Awnings make a useful addition to any RV, protecting the area immediately outside the door from direct sunlight and precipitation. Awnings are vulnerable, though, because they are made from relatively fragile material and exposed to aggressive weather conditions and the wind drag of being under way. If you see a hole or tear in an awning, take immediate action to repair the damage, because it will worsen rapidly if left unattended. The repair is so urgent that many experienced RVers carry repair materials with them all the time.

Things You'll Need

• Patch kit
• Cleaner
• Solid support

Instructions

1. Purchase a patch kit specific to the material your awning is made of, if the damage to be repaired is a hole rather than a tear. Varieties available include vinyl, plastic, rubber and canvas.

2. Purchase repair tape specific to the material your awning is made of, if the damage to be repaired is a tear rather than a hole. Varieties available include vinyl, plastic, rubber and canvas.

3. Use a chemical cleaner specific to the material your awning is made of to remove all traces of atmospheric deposits, automotive wax and especially silicone-based polish from the area surrounding the damage. Some repair kit instructions give advice on which cleaners to use with which materials.

4. Support the area that includes the damage from underneath, using a rigid board larger than the area to be repaired including the recommended overlaps. Arrange the material so that the flaps of a hole or the two lips of a tear are butted together, like a jigsaw puzzle or a zipper respectively, and then apply the repair patch or tape according to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not skimp on the recommended overlaps.

5. Repeat the process with the rigid support held to the upper surface of the awning, and apply a matching area of patch or tape to the underside.

Tips & Warnings

• Conventional wisdom has it that if a tear is longer than one-quarter the length of the entire awning, you should replace it or have it professionally sewn together by an awning specialist or a tentmaker.

• If any patch material or tape is left over after your repair, inspect the rest of the awning and reinforce areas that appear weak or frayed.

References

• RVers Corner: RV Awning Repair

Resources

• PPL Motorhomes: RV Awning Fabric Repair