What is the preferred method of awning decoration?
We normally buy awnings with the graphics included from wholesale suppliers. We currently have a job to install new Sunbrella fabric on existing (brand new) frames.
I have the option of hiring a local awning fabricator with or without the graphics. If he includes the graphics he will be using heat transferred vinyl, which is what our wholesale supplier uses.
I'm nervous to use this fabricator because it will be the first time and it's part of a relatively large and important project.
How do you heat transfer the graphics onto fabric? What equipment is required?
Are we better off painting the graphics on (simple lettering in this case) and if so, how would you recommend we do that?
[ June 28, 2007, 01:34 PM: Message edited by: Paul Luszcz ]
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I have silkscreened sunbrella & have seen it 10 years later looking excellent, so I would expect that is a better choice then an iron on, but if large wholesalers are goinf with iron-ons now... I may be wrong. 10 years is pretty good though & it's time tested & proven. If you are not set up for the printing on that scale, sometimes there are guys that do canvas work for boats, so they might have a silkscreen guy to refer you too. The prints should be done before any sewing, so less is lost if someone screws up.
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Paul, At one shop I worked at, we used eradication and and intermediate vinyl a lot. The eradication was done with a reverse cut vinyl mask and worked great. I don't recommend intermediate vinyl, but it looked good for a few years. I've seen several awnings recently, where we used intermediate, and they're all starting to fail - almost like the Avery issue.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Make a paint mask and roll on 2 coats of acrylic gloss latex. Peel the mask before the latex is completely dry.
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
What Si said.
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
We do several Sunbrella awnings each week. We use HP vinyl for mask, paint the first coat the same color as the awning to seal the edges and then finish coat once that is dry. We use flat 100% acrylic house paint and usually wait until the next morning to pull the mask. We get very crisp edges on our copy using this technique.
Posted by Jon Aston (Member # 1725) on :
What Glen Raven (the maker of Sunbrella) suggests: click here Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Interesting Jon, I'll bet that is the heat transfer method the big wholesale outfits Paul mentioned are doing.
Posted by Miles Cullinane (Member # 980) on :
I do this kind of work all the time and I use Fabtac as a mask which I apply and use an iron on to increase the bond as the heat activates the glues to a higher degree than just pressure.
Then usually it's just one coat of screen ink and put a fan on it overnight, peel away from the paint and finished!
I used to use David Hardings system but find this to be a more effective system.
I think that Fabtac will cut you graphics for you if needed.they are on the web.
[ June 29, 2007, 03:04 AM: Message edited by: Miles Cullinane ]
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
Our awning contractor has the sgs graphics machine. and by the time I mask and paint they can already heat seal the vinyl on the sunbrella very inexpensive in my opinion. the lettering looks great
