Re water proofing SunBrella?

mandlmaunder

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We have an awning that is 4 years old and made of Sunbrella canvas, it is our sunshade and rain water catcher but now allows water to pass through ( in large quantities) is there a product out there that can re-water proof and is safe for potable collection?

Mark
 
You can use Thompsons Water Seal. It's made for bricks and wooden decks (porches) but it works well on fabric also. Get it from Home Depot or similar. It was recommended to me by the company that did our canvas in the Florida Keys.

I don't know if you can get it in smaller sizes, but we shared a gallon with a few other people in the anchorage so it worked out cheap as chips.
 
A few points if we may jump in here. First, while some people have reported success using Thompson's Water Seal, tests by our R&D team show that it makes the fabric brittle (shortening the life of the fabric). Its usage would also void your fabric warranty. Second, while there are many products on the market, the only Sunbrella-approved re-treatment product is 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. Finally, to protect and extend the life of your awning fabric, we recommend you follow the care and cleaning instructions on our web site. Specifically, re-treatment should occur after a thorough cleaning or five years of use.
 
You can use Thompsons Water Seal. It's made for bricks and wooden decks (porches) but it works well on fabric also. Get it from Home Depot or similar. It was recommended to me by the company that did our canvas in the Florida Keys.

I don't know if you can get it in smaller sizes, but we shared a gallon with a few other people in the anchorage so it worked out cheap as chips.

I think you are going back to the original. It's now water based solvent-free and they - Thompsons - say not suitable for use on fabric.
 
It seems they've made a specific version for fabric now.

http://www.thompsonswaterseal.com/w...rproofers/sport-seal-leather-fabric-protector

That's marketing for you! We just used the wood protector, but it was some years ago.

Ah! Looks like just aerosols though.

How about this?
http://www.stormwaterproofing.com/application/waterproof/brush-on-canvas-waterproofer-5l.html
Sounds like the old Mesowax that was much better on heavy fabric than Fabsil.
Cheap too http://www.campervanaccessories.co.uk/storm-brush-canvas-waterproofer-litre-p-11921.html
 
A few points if we may jump in here. First, while some people have reported success using Thompson's Water Seal, tests by our R&D team show that it makes the fabric brittle (shortening the life of the fabric). Its usage would also void your fabric warranty. Second, while there are many products on the market, the only Sunbrella-approved re-treatment product is 303 High Tech Fabric Guard. Finally, to protect and extend the life of your awning fabric, we recommend you follow the care and cleaning instructions on our web site. Specifically, re-treatment should occur after a thorough cleaning or five years of use.

Welcome to the site.
I am certain advice you will give over time about your product will prove to be very useful to us all.
Thanks for your contribution above, very informative and useful to know.
I am certain I am not the only Sunbrella devotee on this site so I am posting on behalf of us all.:D
 

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