Pvc and canvas come in different thickness's and treatment process's ( UV ,anti fungal and mildew resistant etc ) ..I would've thought pvc would be easier to clean if need be and over time would be less maintenance ....new canvas typically shrinks a fair bit and would , I think need to be completely dry before retracting and stains much easier and after a while need to be periodically re waterproofed...in saying that the canvas used specifically for the awning may well be pre shrunk and treated accordingly..if interested I'm fairly sure one of my suppliers stocks them in kit form Shann Australia 9244 4433  Ozzy pk..maybe give them a buzz and pick there brains ( ask for a knowledgeable rep )

Thanks Chris,

I just gave them a buzz and they have directed me to a retailer as they dont really know or were not interested in sharing what the difference are in the  fabric / products. But thanks anyway for the info about the treatment processes.

Old Salty

He used to be in the game and is full full bottle on this subject

 already done so last night, just waiting for the legend to reply 

Old Salty

Bit late to catch this topic..........must be getting slow!  :-)

Old Salt I have sent you a PM.

Basically regarding the materials the following applies:

PVC Meshes: the weave gives the sunshade factor. You'll find that some meshes have a single strand running in the warp and weft direction, and this will usually give a more open weave (circa 70-90% depending on tightness of weave.)

Other meshes will be 1 running in the weft and dual strand in the warp.. (up the roll). these are known as 2x1 meshes. The most common used nowadays are 2x2's, with dual strands in both directions. These give a shade factor of about 95%, and are often 3-3.2m wide which means no joins in the majority of blinds. All the high quality meshes come with a 5 year warranty.

The canvasses are broken into 2 groups: Natural (cotton  based), and acrylic canvasses. The cotton based canvas is predominantly grren on the back (except some plain colour ranges that can be the same colour both sides), and these are the ones that traditionally shrink. (Being made of cotton.) The shrinkage generally occurs up the roll, so isnt noticed on a vertical roll awning. The cotton base also means that it absorbs moisture. Over time this can lead to blackspot mildew if it is consistently rolled up wet, or not re-proofed every few years. If given some TLC and looked after, this material has the longest lifespan of all. I have recovered some awnings for the first time that are over 3 decades old.

The acrylic canvas is a manmade woven fibre that is great around ocean environments as it doesn't absorb water, The proofing is very hydrophobic (waater repelling). All yacht cushions and bimini covers are usually made from this material. Over time this fabric tends to stretch a litlle, soo can tend to appear looser after a few years life. (This is a normal trait).

Preferred joining methods are welding for pvc mesh, blended poly/cotton threads for the natural canvas, and Tenara thread for the acrylics. (Tenara is a very longlife thread that is like a fishing line, but with 20 year lifespan. It goes well with the acrylics, but tends to cut into the softer cotton based canvasses over time.)

To make the canvasses last longer, it is best to re-proof them every coupla years. They should then give you a coupla decades lifespan, even tho they are only pro-rata warrantied for 5 years.

If joins are a problem visually, then choose the mesh materials. These are wide width, compared to approx 2.2m for natural canvas (brand dependant), and only 1.5 or 2m for the acrylics. (brand dependant.)

As far as effectiveness goes, an awning works because it stops the problem. i.e. the sun hitting the window is what creates heat inside. An awning stops this from happening.  An internal blind masks the symptom, but doesn't stop the problem.

A 95% mesh blind isnt quite as effective as a full blockout natural canvas, but will still be 95% effective. On the patio areas the mesh is ideal. Stops the majority of wind, rain, and sun for year-round service.

Shift workers are better off with the natural canvas as it darkens the room better than any others. The mesh obviously has 'holes', so lets light thru.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Browny.