Spring Has Sprung: Awning Maintenance in Massachusetts

March 15, 2021

First impressions are everything. For any home or business, awnings are a great way to draw people in and get them beyond the front door. At Dorchester Awning, we’re happy to work with you whether you’re looking for the perfect home aesthetic or a large commercial project. 

Awnings can add interest and improve the appearance of your home. Window awnings specifically can also serve as a practical feature: they can help reduce energy costs by 50%. After design and installation, Dorchester Awning goes a step beyond to ensure complete customer satisfaction with seasonal awning maintenance in Massachusetts: removal, storage, and re-installation. 

Seasonal Changes and Your Awning

While window awnings can reduce solar heat in the summer, they can also increase the energy used for heating in the winter. Seasonal awning maintenance can help with your bottom line and help keep your awnings in good shape. 

In previous years, awnings were made of metal or canvas and required recovery generally every seven years. Today, the awnings’ fabric content is synthetic fabrics designed to withstand weather, repel water, and resist mildew and fading. These modern awnings are also designed with grommets or other openings to provide adequate ventilation and ensure temperature control through air circulation. 

Dorchester Awning values our customers, and one way we further help customers is by maintaining awnings with follow-on services. Yearly, we will come and take down your awnings. When we remove them in the fall for storage, we’ll check for issues and make repairs throughout the winter. Our expert repair staff can complete a wide variety of repairs to keep your awnings in great shape. 

In advance of the warmer weather, we’ll return to re-install them. We include date planning in this service, which sets target dates for takedown and re-installation. By setting a schedule in advance, our customers avoid waiting weeks for their awnings to return. 

Low Maintenance Awning Care

While we are a full-service company and our awnings are reasonably low maintenance, there are a few important tips and tricks to follow to prevent unnecessary awning maintenance in Massachusetts. 

• Try to keep puddles of water from settling. Repeated puddling can damage the fabric. A correct pitch will keep water from pooling.
• Awning hardware can benefit from being lubricated once per year. The preferred lubrication is dry silicone spray lubricant, and it will help keep the hardware quiet. 
• At the beginning of the outdoor season, it’s beneficial to hose off the framework and clean it with a soft cloth. 
• Fasteners should be checked once a year. 
• Most synthetic fabrics benefit from a monthly rinse with cold water to prevent dirt from becoming embedded. 
• Nearby shrubs and vines should be trimmed to avoid damaging the fabric. 

Dorchester Awning is proud to be a full-service shop. We provide a full range of services, including design, permit processing, fabrication, recovering, and seasonal services. Our professional and experienced staff takes their work seriously and collaborates with engineers, architects, project managers, and business owners to ensure a structurally sound awning.  

Now that you’ve learned about awning maintenance in Massachusetts contact us today to learn more about us and schedule your free Dorchester Awning design consultation.