awning protective tape

Timeking wrote:
SpeakEasy -

What type of fabric is that?

How much did the materials cost?

It's Sunbrella fabric. The materials were about $90 if I remember correctly.

It's been holding up wonderfully. No problems at all.

-Speak

I am trying to protect brand new awnings. 303 and the rest may slow down deterioration but not a longterm fix. The eternabond tape seems like the best way to go, but which one?

Eternabond seems to come in "Webseal" and "Roofseal". Which?

White or black? My awning is kinda brown striped. Seems like black would just bake the awning when rolled up. Yes? No?

Home Depot carries in-stock white Ultrabond 4" x 25 ft for $27. Same as Eternabond?

Online order only - nobody carries locally:
Eternabond white RSW-4-50 roofseal tape $68 Walmart $55 Amazon
same as above but 6inch $76 Amazon $60 Ebay

The original post was about 8inch x 21ft for $78.

Gorilla tape only comes in 1.88inch wide, so not a choice.

Here is an issue I've thought of with using tape or anything like Eternabond. Whatever you put on as a layer on top of the awning fabric ends up being a slightly different "size" when the awning is rolled up compared to when it is extended. That's because it is on the outside of the curved surface when it is rolled up and on the outside of a flat surface when it is extended. You wouldn't think this difference in size would be significant, and it wouldn't be - except if the material is completely glued to the underlying awning fabric. In this situation the weaker material - either the awning fabric or the tape - has to bunch up or stretch out as the awning is extended and retracted.

I installed my sunbrella while the awning was in a stored position. I used tape around the perimeter. All the sunbrella that is not taped is free to move. As I extend the awning I can see that the sunbrella pushes upward, away from the awning fabric, in the center area where the tape doesn't hold it down. The looseness of the middle portion gives it the flex that it needs in order to change size.

Does this make sense?

It isn't something I thought of while I was designing it. (I'm not that smart.) But it is something I have observed, and what I've written here is my explanation of what I've observed.

If the protective material were totally glued down, you wouldn't have the built-in flex that I have. I think that the stress this would put on the awning fabric, over time, might wipe out any benefit you'd be getting from sun protection. Maybe.

Bottom line - to address your question about which Eternabond to buy: in light of the above, I'd get the thinnest material you can get, in order to ensure that it is the most flexible.

-Speak

At least one retailer of the Stick-N-Bond tapes claims that it is made by Eternabond. I have contacted Eternabond and their parent company to see if that is true.

As to SpeakEasy's post: The difference in length when flat versus rolled is a function of increased diameter. The Eternabond tape is 0.035 inches thick, therefore using pi*diameter/2 the difference is 0.055 inches total, less than 1/16 inch. Since this difference is "spread out" over the width of 4 inch tape, the difference becomes 0.014 per inch, or about 1/64 of an inch per inch of tape. This is why those who have used the Eternabond tape have not had any problems.

Here is Eternabond's reply.

"We appreciate your interest in Eternabond.

Sticknbond is the same product as Eternabond’s RoofSeal white, we private label this product for Leisure Time. Same material just different wrapping.

Sincerely,

Tom Brenner
ETERNABOND
847-837-9400x137"

We (well, actually my wife) decided on masking off the top of the roll and spraying it with Rustoleum Vinyl and Fabric paint. Will post again after we get back in December to see if this was mistake or solution.

I used black Flex Tape(think Flex Seal as seen on TV) on my black awning. I cannot visually tell the difference between between Flex Tape and eternabond tape. I installed it while the awning was in storage position. It still goes flat when I extend the awning which is good.

OK I did a 17 ft awning for 8 bucks. It looks great. You can see a line where the color is slightly different, but no biggy.

This stuff and stuff like it are used by professionals to restore faded static awnings in front of stores (google it). So I don't see why this won't work.

The biggest problem I had was that masking tape will not stick to the awning. I had to use duct tape on the awning side, and that left globs in places that had to be cleaned up with mineral spirtis.

I want to do my other 2 awnings, but want to find something cleaner than duct tape.

You might try sail-repair tape from West Marine etc. I use it for patches but it would probably do well for your application.

Timeking wrote:
OK I did a 17 ft awning for 8 bucks. It looks great. You can see a line where the color is slightly different, but no biggy.

This stuff and stuff like it are used by professionals to restore faded static awnings in front of stores (google it). So I don't see why this won't work.

The biggest problem I had was that masking tape will not stick to the awning. I had to use duct tape on the awning side, and that left globs in places that had to be cleaned up with mineral spirtis.

I want to do my other 2 awnings, but want to find something cleaner than duct tape.

"Gaffers Tape" -- similar to duct tape, but leaves absolutely no adhesive residue. I use it at our church to tape down audio cables to the carpet for special events. Great product. Amazon has it.