Care And Repairs
Most Covers Die Folded Wet, Not Worn Out.
Rinse And Dry
Salt Left In A Seam Holds Damp.
Rinse salt with clean water and let the cover dry open. Do not pack it tight while the underside is wet.
No Pressure Washers
Hard Jets Cut Stitching.
Use a soft brush, mild soap and patience. Pressure washers drive dirt into fibres and punish waterproofing.
Tension And Zips
Loose Covers Wear Fast.
Check tension after high wind. Lubricate zips with a suitable zip lubricant and never force a salted slider.
Green Algae
Treat Early.
Algae holds moisture against canvas. Clean while it is light rather than waiting for black staining at hems.
Storage
Loose Beats Neat.
A loosely rolled dry cover stores better than a sharp folded damp one. Creases become weak lines.
Inspection
Catch Chafe Before It Opens.
Look at corners, cleats, filler caps, chair backs and machine handles. Small wear patches are cheaper than a torn panel.
Worth Repairing
Failures With Sound Fabric Around Them.
- Failed zip where the surrounding panel still has strength; zip work starts at £55 as a line item.
- Pulled eyelet or fitting with enough good material for reinforcement.
- Small chafe patch from a rail, corner or proud fitting.
- Local re-stitching where UV has not killed the cloth; patch repairs are £38 per half hour after a £45 inspection and set-up charge.
Not Worth Repairing
Fabric That Will Tear Around New Stitching.
- UV-rotted seam that rips when tensioned by hand.
- Brittle PVC that cracks when folded.
- Torn rotten acrylic where a patch becomes the strongest part of a failing sheet.
- Heavy mildew and fuel smell that make the cover unsafe to work on.
Workshop Drop-Off Rules
Dry Enough To Handle Is The Standard.
Covers brought to the workshop must be dry enough to handle. Wet canvas can be accepted only if booked in advance and labelled. Put your name and phone number on the cover, remove loose poles and do not bring anything smelling of fuel or heavy mildew.
Small repairs are often turned round in 3 working days if the cover is clean and dry. Urgent repair slots are kept on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Zip replacements are usually £70-£140 as a line item, and minimum repair order is £95.
Seasonal Timing
Bring winter covers in during March, not the day before the first named storm. A split zip is a repair in calm weather and a queue problem when everyone else has just found theirs.
Book a repair slot