Don’t power-wash your fabric awning!

Its no secret, washing your fabric awning is a chore. That being said, there are wright and wrong ways to do it. There are times to do it. And there are people that just shouldn’t.
Let start with the most important thing….do NOT power wash you fabric. This is very risky and often damages the fabric or the construction. There is not any “low pressure” or “special setting” for a power washer and if somebody says they can, don’t let them. Same goes for chemicals not specifically approved by the manufacture of the fabric. The manufactures of the fabric on your awning/canopy have written cleaning instructions available. If you weren’t given them at purchase, please let us know. Nearly all manufactures of awning grade fabric recommend at least annual cleaning. Environmental exposure and fabric color/type dictate the amount of cleaning, and that could range from simply brushing off debris and hosing it off……all the way to a bleach solution and serious elbow grease. Some fabrics are better than others at resisting build-up, so please consult with us about your project for a recommendation. Properly cared for fabric will be easier to maintain and will last longer! Its not hard work, just smart work.

Its no secret, we get busy in the spring. I would suggest getting your order in to avoid longer wait times as we get closer to summer. See us for everything awning, canopy, and shade structure related. Design, sales, fabrication, installation, and service. The latest materials and methods.

Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning
Kansas City Tent & Awning Co.

Just wanted to thank our customers for a wonderful and busy 2023 and to wish you all a happy new year. We hope 2024 brings brings plenty of shade and shelter to your outdoor areas. Give us a call at either of our locations if we can help!

Contact us.

Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning in Southern Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Kansas City Tent & Awning Co. in Northern Missouri, and Kansas.

The aesthetic appearance of your fabric awning is simple.  You have a look in mind that people will see.  Or  you have a basic size/shape that covers an area needing covered.  How to achieve the look or shape is the important part.  Hire a professional awning company, like us, to come up with your design.  We know how fabric is supported best, and we know how those structures interact with the surface that is going to supporting them.  We also know how to design the frame such that replacing the fabric is not more difficult than it needs to be.  I have seen many frames built by companies that make other things, but claim to also make awnings.  They usually get it all wrong and make future work more difficult.

Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning and Kansas City Tent & Awning Co. are the only companies in the Kansas City Missouri and Springfield Missouri areas that are members of the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association and Midwest Fabric Products Association.  In fact we are the only such companies outside of the Saint Louis area.  What does this mean for you?  It means we hold ourselves to a higher standard.  It means we are established in both our market and profession.  It means we collaborate with other professional companies.  It means we have an audience that is much larger than just our local city or region.  It means we are true stewards of the industry.  It means we aren’t a company in another industry  that also does awning work.  We don’t cut corners, we spare no expense, we take pride in our product, and we educate the customer on what they have and why they have it.  We solve awning, shade, and canopy problems.  Now let us solve yours!

Summer is almost over!  That doesn’t mean its a good time to forget about your outdoor covered areas or areas that need to be covered.  Fall and winter are great times to enjoy your patio.  Cover it, or recover it, heat it, watch TV, the sky is the limit!  Its also a great time to have exterior work done that is meant for next summer.  Don’t wait until the last minute this time.

 

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Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning in SW MO

Kansas City Tent & Awning Co. in N MO.

Spring is here.  Take a walk outside, and while you are doing that, envision how your outside area could be with a patio cover or perhaps some window awnings!  Maybe you have a pergola that simply doesn’t shade anything….let us help with that.  Call Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning in SW MO or Kansas City Tent & Awning Co. in the KC area today!

Happy New Year!  Just a reminder……now is the time to consider your outdoor shade needs for this next spring and summer.  By the time you start using your outdoor spaces, we are more than 5 weeks out on production.  So have another look at that patio.  Think about seating your guests or customers.  Order soon and lets have it all done and in place before you need it!

While we are indeed a niche industry, a check-in can never hurt.  Nationally speaking, the prices of mill finish aluminum have begun to level off and perhaps come down some.  Availability is fine.  This is material that we use most commonly in awning and canopy frames.  Pre-finished/painted/coated aluminum prices remains higher than our prior several years, and availability is still spotty.  These are items and components most commonly found in patio covers, screen rooms, and other value-engineered and industrial/commercial canopies.  Fabric goods like acrylic canvas and vinyls continue to make it back to the market, however, availability can be spotty with lead times exceeding months.  Prices seem to be level for the time being.  What I am being told is that individual ingredients and components (like glue) can be hard to find, causing production to stop.  Labor is still difficult to find, and existing labor costs much more to keep.  Insurance costs, fuel, and other items that contribute to overhead continue to rise.  Vehicles, trailers, machinery, welders, sewing machines, and tools are all more expensive than ever, or hard to find, or both!

Demand for our custom products is still strong, and we maintain a lengthy backlog.  Competition has thinned out considerably and companies in good standing continue to add to their backlogs.  This is good for our industry and for our customers.  For many years there have been too many companies trying to flourish in this niche market.  That drove down prices and forced companies to sacrifice quality fabrication, components, and highly skilled labor……for whatever was cheap and easy.  That environment undervalued our product, set expectations for our customers that are not realistic, and left affected areas with poorly made awnings and canopies.  A functioning industry consists of professionals that maintain cutting edge technology, components, service, and fabrication……not fly-by-nite contractors working in a dingy garage employing shady characters that should not be on your private property.

Visit Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning in Springfield, MO or Kansas City Tent & Awning in KC MO….for your awning and canopy projects.  Both companies have been operating since the very early 1900’s.  We routinely install and service in MO, KS, OK, and AR.  For special projects and customers, our reach is nationwide.

We do!  Sure its just an awning or patio cover……but with the price of materials, its not always going to be a little investment in your property or outdoor enjoyment.  And besides, there is only one way to do something…. the correct way.  There are often little details that make a big difference in the quality and look.  Expect Welhener – H.B. Wall and Kansas City Tent & Awning Company to fuss over those details.  We will not compromise or avoid, like the other guys, just to make it “work”.  We will engineer and fabricate, going the extra mile, so that you can be proud of your investment.  We spend the extra time to do it right and not cut corners.  Ask you representative for an example.  We document all our product……….and also all the “other guys.”