Improving on Window Canopies with Chaffing Strips to Extend Their Lifespan

Following a phone call yesterday from a new trade dealer, about the additional strips of fabric to the underside of the main fabric on our window canopies (as pictured above, picture taken during production to demonstrate these fabric strips before the main cover is attached) we thought we would post this article to clarify what these important strips of fabric are and the difference they make, as we are the only company in the industry who builds canopies (often referred to as Dutch Canopies) with these ‘chaffing strips’ in.

A canopy opens/closes through a cord and pulley system. Cords which run through a series of pulleys mounted on the left and right sides of the rear framework (normally referred to as hoops) and tied off to eyes mounted at the extreme edges of the front framework raise the canopy when pulled and when released (slowly to avoid damage) lower the canopy – quick, simple and effective.

However, this industry standard design means when window canopies open and close the cords rub on the folds (pleats) of fabric formed. Over time these cords can rub holes in the material, especially when canopies are retracted away too tight (ie the cords are pulled hard before being tied off to the wall cleat) or even when the canopy is left loosely tied back, meaning the canopy moves in winds (even light breezes) with the cords rubbing against the fabric.

Whilst we use corner braces (see below l/h image) to space these pulleys as far away from the fabric as possible and have cord stoppers (see below r/h image) to help prevent our canopies being retracted too tightly away, the cord still touches the main fabric, so approximately 2 years ago, we introduced a simple additional strip of fabric (chaffing strip) that measures …. wide to the underside of the main fabric, in the location of where the cord runs to each the left hand and right hand sides. This ensures that the cord does not come into contact with the main fabric and rubs on this second extra piece of fabric, extending the life of the canopy. 

It’s these little product improvements and attention to detail that sets us apart from our competition and one of the many reasons why Caribbean is the supplier of choice for patio awnings and canopies to the sunblind trade. If you would like to find out more about the many advantages of becoming a trade customer of Caribbean, please email us here or speak to our trade team on 0844 800 1947.