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Not a happy camper tonight - Just been and opened up our cardinal for the first time this year and somehow the awning which was stored in its usual place on the floor has got damp over the winter and and has gone mouldy and rotted!!! I have opened it up and I have a patch approx 2 foot square on the roof which is going to need replacing  

After telling OH the news hes trying me to pursade me that its not worth the bother of fixing it up as we usually use our porch awning now as its lighter and easier to put up. However I still think its worth trying to save the original awning whats do you peeps think.

Nina x

I would say it depends on whether you are planning to sell it for a good price at anytime in the near future. If you are then you'll get a much better price with the awning even if it has been repaired. If you plan on keeping it til it falls apart and cannot see yourselves using it again then I agree it's not worth the bother.

 If you may do the repair in future then cut away the rotted part and rub over the surrounding area with weak milton or lemon juice to kill any mould spores and let it dry in the sun before storing it away.

One real advantage of cotton canvas is that it can be patched sucessfully. IF it really is only the one section then it's a fairly straighforwards repair, though it won't be easy to do it yourself. Worth paying a professional to do it for you given it's such an expensive piece of kit.

You've got time to think about it if you only use the porch awning normally. Dry it out and give the rest of the canvas a good yank to check it's still sound. The tent repair shops will be less busy at the end of the summer anyway.

Thanks for your replies - have just got back after weekend camping and after seeing another cardinal with its awning I realised that when we are using for a longer period then the original awning will be missed!  

I think I have decided to open out and treat as suggested to stop it getting worse and then in the future when we are away we will drop it into be repaired (to save on postage charges ) or there again I might try and use some of the bedroom extension canvas and be creative and sew on a daisy shaped patch to the roof !

Nina x