awning wash and re water proof

[Guest]

The largest UK sail Laundry as far as I know is still TipTop sail Laundry in Portsmouth.

Trevor the owner has cleaned sails from most of the major sail manufacturers and marina's around the UK along with boat hoods and various awnings for very many years. Tip Top deal mainly with the sail trade but friends have had awnings cleaned there.

I would be wary of using a machine process on awning fabrics and would trust the tried and trusted hand / machine processing first. Sorry but I don't trust this approach or the machines. There is also another machine washer in Hedge End and it only gives so so results!

An intersting article -

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/plus/410063/letters-extra-june-edition

 

[TrevorM]

Calm down dears, calm down!

It is me again putting in my tuppence worth.

Firstly, for clarification, I (Trevor M) have no connection with the other 'trev' poster in the above thread; I think a few others may have been under the impression that we are 'one and the same.'

Secondly, I had not intended to start off 'World War 3,' merely as Scotch Lad explained better than me in his 8/12/2009 07:01PM post, that in my opinion etiquette rule 6 occasionally seems to be 'flexible.' I even thought I had queried it in a humorous manner

Lord Braykewynde, - what are you trying to say? Be careful of etiquette rule 3! In the words of the Bard "What's in a name, that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." We can not all be descended from nobility you know!

No more arguing now!

Enjoy your holidays,

Trevor M

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Heh! heh! heh! Trevor

Believe me I've broken many rules and have been cast out into the ether of cyberspace licking email envelopes for my pennance many times ;O)

It does have it's perks though bumping into those naughty girly pics that float about there.

 

[Parksy]

Hi Trevor

My earlier post which mentioned 'arguments breaking out' was not aimed at anyone in particular.

I of course know that yourself and 'Trev' are not connected but I had the impression that Jason didn't realise this and posted that he was getting annoyed.

I then jumped in to prevent him or anyone else from getting even more annoyed because I had to go out and couldn't have done anything if a forum bust up had happened.I must admit that I was in a hurry and perhaps wasn't very clear.

I don't mind any forum member questioning my judgement or motives at all and I'm happy to explain the reasons why I've taken a particular course of action.

I wouldn't expect everybody just to accept my dealings meekly, I'm not infallible and the scrutiny of my peers means that I try to think before I act and be prepared to give reasons.

Personally speaking I really wish that this forum hosted a classified section for private individuals to sell unwanted accessories, awnings etc.

 

[j_374530505]

Hi Trevor

My earlier post which mentioned 'arguments breaking out' was not aimed at anyone in particular.

I of course know that yourself and 'Trev' are not connected but I had the impression that Jason didn't realise this and posted that he was getting annoyed.

I then jumped in to prevent him or anyone else from getting even more annoyed because I had to go out and couldn't have done anything if a forum bust up had happened.I must admit that I was in a hurry and perhaps wasn't very clear.

I don't mind any forum member questioning my judgement or motives at all and I'm happy to explain the reasons why I've taken a particular course of action.

I wouldn't expect everybody just to accept my dealings meekly, I'm not infallible and the scrutiny of my peers means that I try to think before I act and be prepared to give reasons.

Personally speaking I really wish that this forum hosted a classified section for private individuals to sell unwanted accessories, awnings etc.

hi

sorry if i have set the cat among the pigions

we are very sucsessfull at re waterproofing and mould removal, we dont use bleach ! wich i thought the main benafit

i will post the moderator some pictures of the said befores and agfters and i have contacted the magasine to advertise when ready

for some intrest here is a article you may all have intrest in i will send it to the moderator to see if he feels its relavent

MODERATORS EDIT:

Some statements which are in breach of forum etiquette rule 6 have been removed from this post

Parksy (Moderator)

kind regrdes jason

 

[Parksy]

To answer Jasons points which are 'hidden' in the comments box

We wouldn't be allowed to post details of the sail cleaning on the forum because that would clearly breach forum etiquette rule 6

'You may not transmit any advertising or promotional material.'

If forum members wished to contact you privately I'd be happy to forward your email address to them.

 

[charlie_374349329]

I have never read such a load of B******s in my life from some of you....Jason was offering to clean your awning for free...no postage to pay....... NOTHING zilch nowt if you dont want to take the risk (what the risk is I dont know)then dont participate thats fair enough, just dont bleat on about nothing. God knows what he must think about caravanners after this response probably the same as me as regards some of you

GET A LIFE!!!

 

[charlie_374349329]

Further to the above, I was in touch with Jason last week and am waiting for my awning to be collected for washing.....I do hope he doesn't damage it, steal it, sell it or in anyway mistreat it. I dont think I'll sleap a wink now till I get it back Oh god what I done !!!!!

As for Greeks and gifts...how many Greeks do you know highlander???

 

[Guest]

RIGHT.

So the worlds largest marine textile processing co are just chancing their arm as they are desperate for business is more like it.

TipTop have been cleaning sails for many years and service Marinas and Chandlers all around the UK cost and Jersey and France I beleive.

Machine washing is not always the answer and awning fabrics and construction is very different to sails. Sails are basically flat or nearly flat and go through the material washes rollers.

Awnings are not flat.

Quite frankly I don't think Jason knows his a*se from his elbow when it comes to what he thinks he is dealing with offering to clean an Awning.

Awning fabrics vary greatly as do the conditions they are used in, you don't find much mud or grease from cooking on sails.

One awning is not going to tell him anything about what he will encounter in awning cleaning.

Modern sail cloths come from a small group of manufacturers around the world using similar textiles. Caravan awnings us a wider variety of cloths and often combine a variety of cloths in one awning.

Sorry if I confused the issue mentioning Trevor Leppard of TipTop.

No doubt Jason's people can get one awning clean, I've done it, so know doubt they can. One awning is not going to shrink the same as another or have the same dirt issues or the same fabrics, zips, fasteners etc or be the same shape.

What I can tell you for sure is that roller type washing machines will not do the same cleaning job on caravan awnings as they do on sails or mudular PVC marquee panels!

Until Jason has cleaned a wide variety of awning types he will not have a clue and I wouldn't trust hundreds of pounds of Awning to his company!

And what proofing agent will he use? There are various types for various fabrics and also some need seam sealant when the've been well used!

 

[Guest]

ps

I would expect a company that is contemplating entering a new market to have had a good look at what they are considering cleaning.

ie. research all the awnings on offer in the UK, speak to suppliers and manufacturers and users before taking on one awning and attempting to clean it.

 

[trucker]

Exert taken from website

The sail is spread out completely, fed into the machine horizontally and passed through the individual treatment steps.

For more than two years, the NovoSail system was developed in collaboration with an international textile technology institute, based on over 150 different sails of all sizes - from cruising to regatta sails - and tested extensively before the method was put on the market.

1/ How are you going to spread out an awning fully and what are the zips going to do to your machine??

2/ If you have been in collaboration with an international textile technology institute why are you asking to "borrow" a couple of awnings to see what you can do, cant the textile technology institute give you the answers??

Im not knocking what you are doing just a bit sceptical as to why you need to borrow some awnings, with all your contacts in the textile market

Kevin

 

[charlie_374349329]

Euro........I refer you to my first entry...give it a rest

 

[Guest]

Exactly Trucker Kev!

Also what happens to awnings with fixed roll up flaps overwindows?

And what happens to all the ties etc. As I said there is another cleaner in Southampton area with a similar machine. It does not work on awnings, they hand process such items.

Jason hasn't got a clue!

 

[Guest]

Euro........I refer you to my first entry...give it a rest

Your problem Pal.

But I expect that they will make sure its clean and OK.

That doesn;t mean they know what they are doing long term!

 

[ValA.]

I'll let you all know what happens when I get mine back. In the mean time I'm happy to take the risk - the awning owes us nothing. If you're not, then please don't put Jason off because I'm relying on him to get my awning nice and clean! However, if one of you who thinks he shouldn't be offering would like to call around with a bucket and scrubbing brush then I can provide the hot water!

 

[Guest]

Val A , I've no doubt you'll get a pretty clean awning back.

What concerns me is that you and others endorse the company without them doing to much research in to awning fabrics and what proofing is suitable. Or doing research in to wide variety of dirts that can be on Awnings and don't just come off.

Their needs to be far more research than just doing a few freebie cleans and then going in to the caravan awning cleaning business.

 

[ValA.]

I'm not endorsing anything - I'm simply taking advantage of a freebie. Apparently the company also clean boat covers which have shaped areas, plastic windows, and additional fixings and ties too. I imagine that a boat at sea can get just as many sorts of 'muck' as my awning - even pine resin if you leave your boat parked up on a lovely secluded beach, under the pine trees whilst you go off an enjoy yourself. Albatross droppings must be just even more time-consuming to remove than sparrow droppings - and at least my awning hasn't been subjected to a round the world trip's worth of salt residue. (Or not unless Mr Val A has taken it on trips that I know nothing about).

As I said, I have a bucket, a large patio, a variety of cleaning detergents a scrubbing brush and some hot water if anyone else wants to offer a free clean. I'll even provide a cup of decent coffee or two, and even a bacon/sausage/black pudding and mushroom sarnie to help the scrubbing along.

Perhaps I might cut the awning in half - send Jason half and let someone else do the other half, and then report back - or endorse the results??!!??

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Let me see. What would one want if doing research into cleaning old, dirty awnings?

Hmmm, I suppose the first thing one would do, considering as you are already a fabric cleaning company, is aquire some old, dirty awnings that people don't mind offering or taking a risk on.

 

[Entwood]

When I "found" this forum after the stupidity on another I thought I'd found somewhere sensible, lightly moderated, and friendly.

I see it appears to be populated by the same pompous, knocking and self rightous idiots .... all of whom know everything anyone else is thinking, planning or doing .. and then tell them they are doing it wrong....

It's a wonder progress is ever made with some of you lot about ...

Shakes head in disbelief ...

 

[ValA.]

Fortunately most of us are not all like that - some of us are sensible, lighthearted, and friendly - and more than willing to lend a hand with the loan of an old awning or two!!

Actually I don't have another to lend - but the thought was there!

 

[Parksy]

'....I see it appears to be populated by the same pompous, knocking and self rightous idiots .... all of whom know everything anyone else is thinking, planning or doing .. and then tell them they are doing it wrong....'

Take no notice Nigel - nobody else does.

What people do with their awnings is their own business.

 

[machighlander]

Further to the above, I was in touch with Jason last week and am waiting for my awning to be collected for washing.....I do hope he doesn't damage it, steal it, sell it or in anyway mistreat it. I dont think I'll sleap a wink now till I get it back Oh god what I done !!!!!

As for Greeks and gifts...how many Greeks do you know highlander???

take a breather charlie, my post was a bit of wit.

do you have any ?.

all the best to the folk who try this out, might well be the way forward.

 

[Guest]

When I mentioned "endorsing" Val. Obviously you're not endorsing anything at the moment. When you get the awning back, what happens then?

The awning is either cleaned to you satisfaction or not!

If it has been proofed, do you know what proofing agent was used or if it is suitable for your awnings fabric or coatings?

Does the cleaner know exactly what type of fabric the caravan awnings are made of and if the cleaning agents and proofing agents are suitable for use on the Awnings fabric?

Will you know if the awning water resistence is better or if it has been damaged, of if will stay water proof for as long as if Novo Sail had not cleaned it?

Different fabrics need different treatments and proofing agents, we can't see that a huge machine is going to be stopped and have the proofing agent changed just for one caravan awning!

Before Parksy makes any more silly comments about what people know and don't know, I suggest he goes and finds out about PVC's, Window Plastics, Acrylic fabric (coated and uncoated, laminated) Nylon, Silicon coated Nylon.

We could add more in to the mix of what's used in Caravan Awning Construction but that would confuse the matter even more. That's without taking in to account that major Awning manufacturers have probably got their own exclusive specification of fabrics, coatings and proofings.

Then of course there is the matter of seam sealing for some fabrics on awnings. A proofing will stop water ingress in the short term, but sealing with an appropriate seam sealer can be the only solutions in the long term.

May be Parksy or somebody heare could explain on which awning fabrics he would use LP85 seam sealant or equivalent or where he would use the custom made UV stable C3-305 no doubt everyone knows who makes it.

Taped seams tend not to last with wear and tare, sealant is then the only good option not proofing.

These sealants need applying by hand so they are labour intensive, and when you apply them during the cleaning and reproofing process varies.

Often its not what you know but who you know!

Awning are far from cheap, nor is a cleaning bill of around

 

[Parksy]

It would seem that we're dealing with the awning police here but then again it's not really about awnings as we can see.

What people do is their own business, if they want to send an awning to be cleaned by Jason it's up to them.

If they don't then that's also up to them.

I don't have to explain anything, I'm not the one offering to clean the awnings although Val A's offer sounded tempting.

What happens when Val A get's her awning back ?

Thats up to Val, she doesn't have to be cross examined or answer to anyone and neither do the rest of us for that matter.

As for my 'silly comments about what people know and don't know' if Euro had bothered to actually read the topic he would see that I was quoting from another post.

One thing is correct - I'm not bothered.

 

[ShadySadie]

This is a public forum Parksy and Euro has made some very good points.

Val can do what she wants as we all can, but Jason is promoting his business using this forum with an untried track record.