REPLACEMENT SLIDE TOPPER & AWNING FABRIC DISCOUNTS! Tough Top Awnings now offers a special discount for RVgeeks viewers! Use the coupon code "RVGEEKSROCK" at checkout for a 5% discount on your entire order at http://toughtopawnings.com
Our favorite type of DIY RV project is one that's both surprisingly manageable and also saves a lot of money. Replacing your RV's patio awning fabric fits that description really well. A confident DIY RVer with a couple of friends can handle this job just fine, saving well over half the cost of having it done at an RV shop. If you thought that replacing your old vinyl main awning was out of your league as a Do-it-Yourselfer, watch this first and you just might change your mind!
Here's our entire playlist of awning & slide topper videos:
We know that a lot of people are afraid of "The Spring!" on an awning, but under the personal guidance of Tough Top Awnings owner Ray Oberreuter, we saw how the whole process was really manageable.
This install is for a Dometic A&E patio awning.
We purchased slide topper replacement fabric a few years ago from Tough Top Awnings. When we opened the box, it was immediately obvious that it was superior to the original fabric (double-stitched, very tight weave and noticeably thicker) and also less expensive than OEM replacement material. Their main patio awnings are no different. Excellent quality at a great price.
Ray was very responsive when we had questions during the ordering process and he obviously takes pride in making a superior product at a lower price. When we decided to replace our bedroom slide toppers last year, it was a no-brainer to order from Tough Top Awnings again. You can get more details by visiting their website:
http://www.toughtopawnings.com
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The intro music is my own piano performance of Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag from 1899.
Full-Time RVers since April 11, 2003, we share DIY (do it yourself) RV maintenance, repair, travel, upgrade and operational tips & tricks.
While we're not RV technicians, we're very mechanically inclined and have learned a lot about RV systems over the years. We've handled most of our own minor service, maintenance and upgrade work on both of our RVs.
We meet lots of newer RVers who are eager to learn some basics about using, maintaining and caring for their rigs. After more than a decade on the road, we're happy to share what we've learned (some of it the hard way). 😉 We hope our experience can help other RVers go DIY, saving time & money while experiencing the satisfaction of a job well done. We're handy RVers, not professional technicians. We're happy with the techniques and products we use, but be sure to confirm that all methods and materials you use are compatible with your equipment and abilities. Regardless of what we recommend, consult a professional if you're unsure about working on your RV. Any task you perform or product you purchase based on any information we provide is strictly at your own risk.
We sometimes receive products for evaluation at no cost, but our opinions are our own and we only feature products we personally use, love and can recommend to friends with complete confidence. The RVgeeks participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
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The ancient art of Feng Shui, a Chinese system of improving “energy” flow, states that the entrance to a home or business is the “mouth”, and it governs the quality and amount of energy flowing into the building. Whether or not this is true, it can’t be argued that the entrance of a building needs to make a good first impression. It should be clean, nothing should be broken, and the name of the company should be easy to read and clearly visible. If there are any potted plants by the entrance, they should be healthy and attractive as few things spoil an entrance more than dead plants. Symmetry is also useful in creating a neat and professional image.
Forest green is another popular choice, great for a little Italian restaurant hidden among some ivy. Lime green is excellent for a health store as it brings to mind new growth and freshness. For vitality and energy, red won’t disappoint and this would look great at an office entrance, especially when paired with grey walls. Turquoise or bright blue is a great choice for a store selling purified water and the logo can be printed on the awning in white, a great color combination. This works best if the company logo is a very simple one, as too much detail will get lost. Whatever color you choose, choose wisely because the awning will be around for a long time!
There are a variety of different awning styles to choose from too. There are box shaped awnings, semi-circle or dome shaped awnings, and the awning can have a valance added too. A valance is the “frilly” part at the end of the awning. Valances are best suited for an old fashioned or historical building though. If the awning is not a fixed feature at the entrance then a retractable awning can be installed to extend the life of the awning and protect it during extreme weather. Retractable awnings are great for balconies to provide protection during Friday afternoon drinks at the office for example.
They are used for protection against sunlight, rain, snow and wind and are generally attached over windows, doors and sidewalks. By using poles for support awnings can be stretched over a large area.
It is prudent to insist on fire retardant material/paint on awnings. Generally awnings are not covered by insurance. Some awnings are temporary and can be retracted. Most awnings are retracted during winter to prevent awning damage by collection of snow. The retraction method can be manual or motorized.
Often viewed as a minor segment of the sign industry, the awning segment provides opportunities for the sign professional to meet a customer’s needs on many levels. Awning design and installation of yesteryear is now in need of repair and the business of retrofitting and refurbishing is looking very bright. “The rebuild and repair business is very busy,” notes Chris Reber, Vice President of Illuminated Image. “There are a lot of awning designs out there that were made with aluminum frames. This makes the recover business a little easier because the solid structure is still there.”
In addition to simply recovering older awning designs, many customers are seeking to change the old style to a new architectural design that reflects their business image as well as to flow with the new building designs and the city landscape. Peter Burnett of the Cooley Group, Sign and Awning Products division, has seen a significant amount of retrofit business due to the hurricanes these past couple of years, particularly in Florida. “We see folks buying large quantities of our new Weathertyte material for refurbishing existing structures in Florida. This increase in business is not only for replacing the damaged material, but we are also seeing people using the damage as a reason to redesign their awnings.”