How to prepare your pool awning for winter.

When summer is over, autumn comes to prepare the terrace and garden for the coming winter. The winter pool awning should not be forgotten, because it should also be winter-proofed with some important measures.

With proper care and proper preparation, you can be sure that your awning will survive the winter dry and safe.

Because proper protection increases the service life of the winter pool awning, among other things, it stays fresh and well cared for longer and can therefore shine with the usual freshness in time for next spring.

Making a pool awning winter-proof is not as complex as it might seem at first.

Because all types of high-quality awnings are weather-resistant and are specially designed for outdoor use, they generally survive the colder seasons unscathed.

However, some precautionary measures must be taken, especially to protect the winter pool awning fabric and mechanism from damaging influences such as moisture, frost, wind and the resulting associated damage.

In order for the pool awning to survive the winter without damage, it must above all be dry and protected.

Why prepare a pool awning for the winter?

A good winter awning is a quality product that is weather-resistant and fairly robust. But the same applies here:

The better protected and cared for a winter pool awning is, the longer it will last and remain visually fresh and bright.

During the summer, dust, dirt or bird droppings inevitably accumulate on an awning, which must be removed before winter for hygienic and visual reasons.

But what is particularly important is the protection of the mechanical parts and the awning fabric. If these are exposed to permanent moisture or even frost during the winter, the mechanics can be damaged.

Winter pool awning fabric can show signs of moisture damage, including mildew and dark spots. In the worst case, the winter awning fabric becomes porous, can tear and can no longer be rolled out smoothly.

This is why a winter pool awning, just like patio awnings and roller shutters, must be given some basic care before winter.

By the way, it is not necessary to dismantle the winter pool awning for this! A high quality awning is equipped with properties that allow it to withstand a certain amount of climatic influences without any problems.

However, the fabric and mechanism must be protected so that moisture does not seep into the cracks and form deposits during the winter months. Flying branches, strong winds, persistent rain or frost can also damage an unprotected pool awning.

Making pool awnings winter-proof: cleaning, drying and care.

Winter preparation of your pool awning begins with a thorough cleaning. It is best to clean the awning in mid to late October, but in any case before the first frost. A dry and preferably sunny autumn day should be selected for cleaning the winter pool awning.

Dry and sunny weather is very important because the winter pool awning must dry completely after cleaning. It should only be rolled up when it is completely dry. If there is still residual moisture on the awning fabric, there is a risk of moisture damage.

At the start of cleaning, coarse dirt such as bird droppings, branches, loose dirt and dust should be removed from the top of the awning fabric. A soft brush or a broom with soft bristles is suitable for this. Make sure not to make circular movements on the fabric, but only stroking movements.

Care when cleaning winter pool awnings.

The awning should then be washed with a soft cloth and lukewarm water. After wet cleaning, the awning should be rinsed again with clean water to completely remove any remaining dirt.

It should be noted that the awning fabric is a special fabric. Although this is weather-resistant, it must be treated with care. Therefore, hard brushes, abrasive agents or high-pressure cleaners should never be used for cleaning, as they can severely damage the winter pool awning fabric.

Once the awning fabric has been cleaned, the mechanical parts such as hinged arms and hinges should also be cleaned. If necessary, the seals can also be treated with a little oil or silicone lubricant spray. Here is a post about the installation of awnings.

But be careful here, because neither oil nor silicone lubricant spray should come into contact with the awning fabric, as this causes unsightly stains.

Once the winter pool awning has been cleaned, it must be completely dry before rolling it up. This applies to both the fabric and the mechanics. Only when the awning is completely dry and there is no residual moisture can it be retracted.

Winter protection for the pool awning.

To protect the clean awning from the weather in winter and above all to keep it dry, it is advisable to provide it with protection. Cassette awnings or semi-cassette awnings provide this protection from the outset by means of the permanently installed casing, so that no additional devices are required.

In the case of high-quality awnings, the weather-resistant casing is made of sturdy aluminium. A cassette awning completely encloses the fabric and the awning mechanism, with a semi-cassette awning the sensitive upper side is reliably protected by the housing. Depending on the model and installation situation, it is also possible to install a rain cover on the awning.

Facade awnings without a casing should be covered with a suitable protective cover before winter to protect them from the weather. A protective cover or, better still, an aluminium cassette protects the winter pool awning from moisture, dirt and frost.

Do not have the awning extended in winter.

In general, a pergola awning should not be left extended during the winter. Permanent moisture and frost can cause extensive damage to the awning.

The mechanism can be deformed by frost damage, and there are also possible snow loads on the surface, for which a winter pool awning is not designed. For this reason, there are different types of awning mechanisms called wind sensors for awnings.

But what is good for an awning is the occasional extension on sunny, dry winter days. In dry weather, the awning fabric can be aired briefly. However, it should be noted that the awning should never get wet.

Since, as described above, it can only be rolled up when it is completely dry, it should not wait for the next rain, as complete drying becomes much more difficult in winter.

Tips for a winter-proof outdoor area.

In addition to the winter pool awning, other sun protection elements such as roller shutters should also be prepared for the winter. Roller blinds, like awnings, should be thoroughly cleaned before the cold season.

If necessary, the rails can also be treated with silicone lubricant spray or a little oil to improve the operability of the roller shutter.

Before using special agents, it is advisable to find out which agent is suitable for your own vertical blind. The main factor here is the material of the vertical blind, because those made of wood generally require different care than roll-up awnings made of plastic.

Terrace care in winter.

Of course, the terrace also needs to be prepared for the winter. This mainly includes putting down, placing or covering garden furniture and non-hardy tub and pot plants, as well as a thorough cleaning of the patio floor, drains and gutters.

Coarse dirt and leaves should be removed here. In addition, it is advisable to look out for visible damage to the floor, tiles, facade or siding. In particular, cracked tiles or porous joints should be sealed before frost, otherwise there is a risk of cracking and flaking or moisture penetration.

Wooden floors should also be prepared for winter with a special impregnating wood care product.

Once all the cleaning work and preparations have been completed, it is time for the pleasant part of winter: the now winter-proof terrace can be decorated with winter decorations and seasonal plants, so that the outside area of the house is a real pleasure even in winter.

We hope that all these tips on winter pool awnings will help you to make them last longer.