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I bought an Acrylic awning for my Caravan last year costing the best part of a thousand quid. I paid the extra on the assumption that acrylic is rot proof. All I can say is what a load of ROT !!. The Acrylic roof panel has mildew spots. The awning side and front walls are tencate cotton canvas and are fine. The awning was up for about 2 months continuous use and was packed up bone dry. The cotton curtains are fine as are the cotton linings. Does anyone have any experience of acrylic as I think I'd have been better buying a canvas awning and avoiding plastic altogether.

Sorry to hear that.  Mildew isn't technically "rot".  It is a fungus that is on the surface of the fabric.  it can be treated, though this may leave a stain.  Have you contacted the manufacturer?  Did they offer any sort of guarantee about resistance to mildew?  It does sound odd if, as you say it was stored bone dry.

I'm sure lots of people will be interested in this as a few folding camper makers are going over to acrylic.  It has been used in caravan awnings for years.  You may get some help on the caravan section?

Steve.

I,ve spoken to the dealer who in turn is negotiating with the manufacturer. This is a public forum and I'm keen to a) Get a refund b) Buy the same model but in Cotton Canvas so you will understand my desire not to name and shame etc. 

Just a thought however, I've a BBQ shelter that is a fully synthetic material but the mildew appears not to be on the surface but within the weave or the ply ?? of the fabric. Could this be water trapped but unable to evaporate within the fabric?

Not sure if I would entertain a folding camper or trailertent made out of acrylic. My last cotton frame tent lasted 25 years so dont see the point really

Lighter weight, supphosedly a bit more rot proof & probably cheaper to make.

Steve.

Seems odd. I once packed away a soaking wet caravan awning (made of acrylic or polyester or something like that) at New Year and forgot about it until June.

I fetched it out and spread it on the ground in the sun to dry and when it was dry I brushed it to get rid of the fusty stuff and it was fine.

We lost our sunncamp 260 awning last year due to deterioration on the ripstop polyester material. Sun damage I believe and it became so brittle it fell apart when we took it down.

We had left it up for about 3 months which is not recommended so no point complaining.