Blind cloths are high performance materials designed to provide both a funtional and decorative role, however, despite meeting the highest European standards and laboratory tests, they can only be manufactured to a limited degree of perfection even with todays state of the art machinery. It is therefore important to understand the natural characteristics detailed below that occur with all installed awning fabrics. These characteristics do not alter the performance or useability of the product in any way.
Crease Marks (fig 1)
Crease marks originate from the making-up of the fabric, particularly when the fabric is folded. Because the fibres have been bent, the light transmission properties are altered, which therefore results in the crease marks appearing as a dark line/streak when the fabric is under bright light. This effect is especially noticeable on lighter coloured materials.
Waviness / Rippling (fig 2, fig 3, fig 4)
Waviness / rippling occurs along the side hems (where the fabric is folded on the sides), around the seams (where the panels of fabric are joined) and in the centre of the fabric panels. This happens due to the arrangement of the made up fabric, with double layers / thicknesses of material where the fabric is joined (seams) and where it is folded at the sides (side hems), resulting in the fabric assuming two different diameters around the rollertube. The tension put on the fabric by the spring loaded folding arms causes the area where there is double thicknesses of material (seams, side hems) to press down harder on each other resulting in waviness / rippling around the seams, side hems and in the centre of the fabric panels. These effects also occur if large amounts of water are allowed to gather on the fabric forming a trough of water in the material.
Puckering / Dimples (fig 5, fig 6)
Awning fabrics are impregnated with a water repelling finish so they can withstand, subject to having an angle of at least 14 degrees, short periods of light rainfall. Puckering / dimples form in the centre of the fabric panels and around the seams when the fabric is subjected to persistent rain showers or heavy downpours. During these types of conditions the fabric should remain closed away to prevent damage and to stop this effect. Puckering and dimples will also occur if the material is rolled away wet. To minimise this happening, the fabric should be opened up again at the next available opportunity to dry out.
Stretching (fig 7)
The fabric is permanently kept under tension via 2 or more powerful spring loaded folding arms. The hems to the side of the material act as a re-inforcement strip but are also subject to the greatest levels of pressure. As the fabric rolls open and closed, the side hems, along with the seams, lie on top and pess against each other, with the side hems also having to resist the force of wind and rain causing them to be under the greatest strain. This results in the side hems elongating, therefore causing the sides of the outside panels of fabric to sag.
The above imperfections in the fabric sometimes give cause to complaint but these natural characteristics cannot be eradicated despite the current most advanced confectioning machinery and techniques.
Fabric Properties
replied on 10|10|11
I would also point out that when a cover is traditionally signwritten (hand painted), the cover is subjected to more movement/handling and therefore creasing becomes more noticeable. Darker colour fabrics do not show paint through whereas lighter colour fabrics as they let more light through show the signwriting that is on the face (top) of the fabric.
replied on 04|10|11
In a normal scenario, such as a domestic installation in the country or city, these minor imperfections are just that, minor and on a striped fabric, the design of the material usually hides these characteristics.
replied on 04|10|11
That’s not to say that they should be minimised, as you can never account for subjective opinions, but the exact wording does seem to conjure up much worse mental images.
Still, it’s always much better to under-sell and over-deliver… well done Stuart : )