Frequently Asked Questions
How does the awning attach to my trailer?
7.5mm Keder Welt is sewn onto the trailer side of the awning. This welt slides into the trailers awning c-rail channel. Keder Welt is flexible and incredibly durable and can bend with the curve of your trailer. It slides in to your channel smoothly and replaces the old fashioned canvas wrapped piping.
What if my trailer doesn't have an awning c-rail?
If your camper does not have one, you will need to have an awning c-rail channel installed. The majority of trailers were manufactured with an awning c-rail. However, if yours is a vintage, it may have been damaged and removed. Awning c-rails can be found at Vintage Trailer Supply, Keder Solutions, and Sailrite. Once your rail has been installed, we need to know the length you want your awning to be along the trailer.
What size of awning do I need?
Awnings are measured the same way you would measure your trailer. Front to back is length, side to side is width. Measure the length of your awning rail, front to back, to determine the length of awning you will need. It’s okay to go a little into the curves in canned ham-style trailers, just don’t go too far. The valance will hang down at least 7″ from the top of the canopy, so you don’t want to run into it. It’s okay to not use the entire rail, but you don’t want the awning longer than the rail.
The industry standard width out from the trailer is 8 feet. We do not recommend going any wider than 8 feet without a framework to support it. If you have a rounded trailer like an Airstream, we can go up to 9 feet wide out from the trailer to accommodate the 8-9″ needed to avoid the valance from laying against the trailer.
How much will my awning cost?
The cost of an awning depends on the size you need, the fabric(s) you choose, and the style of valance you want Therefore, we cannot give you an exact quote without these details. To give you a better idea of pricing, feel free to browse our Etsy Shop to view our Ready-to-Ship inventory.
All of our other items have a starting price listed in their respective pages if you go up to the Menu and select the item in the drop down menu below Products. The starting price is the minimum amount for these items and will increase depending on the embellishments you choose.
Do you offer flexible payment options?
Yes, so don’t be afraid to ask! In January and February only, we offer what we call our “Winter Blues Layaway.” Basically we get all the necessary information and invoice you via PayPal for 1/3 down at the time you place your order. 30 days from the order date, a second invoice will be automatically sent for another 1/3 payment. 60 days from the order date, the last and final invoice for the remaining balance due will be sent automatically. Once we receive your final payment, we will ship your order. You are welcome to pay it off early, but understand the project may not be completed yet. This is because we plan for 60 days to work on it. You can let us know you want your invoice earlier and we can send it immediately. We don’t charge any additional fees to do layaway and layaway is available for both custom orders and items listed in our Etsy Shop.
During the rest of the year—March through December—you may pay in full if you’d like, or you can put a 1/2 down deposit. Once your project is complete and ready to ship, we will invoice you for the remaining balance. We will ship once the balance is paid.
No matter what payment option you choose, any payment will secure your position in our sewing schedule. We work in the order of paid deposits. Paying off early or paying in full will not “bump you up” in our sewing lineup.
What kind of fabric do I need?
The type of fabric you need will depend on how and where you camp. Do you want a waterproof awning to keep things dry underneath? Perhaps you are a fair-weather camper and need more of a decorative awning just for shade? Waterproof fabrics basically come in solids and stripes, with a limited number of prints. Water-resistant fabrics are screen printed on polyester and come in hundreds of colors and patterns. Water-resistant fabrics are not waterproof and will not keep things dry underneath if it rains! Understanding the difference between the two types of fabrics is important!
What if I've already bought my fabric? Can I send it to you?
Yes, possibly…
You can ship your fabric to us, but it must be outdoor grade fabric. For example, not all Sunbrella is waterproof or meant for awnings. If it’s on a 54″ wide roll, it’s probably upholstery fabric and not suited for awnings. True acrylic awning fabric is either 46-47″ wide or 60″ wide and a solid color or stripe. Outdoor-grade polyester is also 54″ wide because it’s also considered upholstery fabric, however, it has a UV coating baked on.
We will charge you our standard labor fee plus whatever materials you haven’t provided.
2023 update: Paul & Julie are soon-to-be full time RVers beginning 1-May, and our location may change every few months. Our state-of-the-art mobile sewing studio will be with us in the back of our 5th wheel toy haulers garage. Our contracted seamstresses work from their own homes in Oregon. Please be sure to contact us prior to sending anything to us so it is delivered to the right person and location. Please don’t use any historical addresses for us on Google. Our residency will remain in Oregon, but we will be away for long periods of time. You only live once, right?! Adventure awaits!
Where can I view fabric choices?
There are literally hundreds of outdoor waterproof and water-resistant fabrics to choose from. As a result, it can be overwhelming to see too many at once. Once you determine the type of awning fabric you need and the colors you want your awning to have, we can send you virtual swatches. If you want embellishments like bullion fringe, we can send pictures of color options for that. If you have a theme, we’d love to help you play that up with your accessories.
How long will it take for my order to arrive?
If you see something you like in our Etsy Shop from our Ready-to-Ship Awning Collection and you are in the US, we can have it delivered to you within a week in most cases.
Our goal is to complete your handmade custom order within 30 days of your order date, but it doesn’t always work out that way. We have been experiencing a large influx of custom orders. Other talented awning makers in our industry have changed their business models. As a result, they either no longer do custom work, they’ve reduced their offerings and inventory, or, due to “real life,” their availability is extremely limited. You can expect the wait time to increase from 30 days up to 8 weeks in the peak seasons between April and August.
We will not agree to rush orders. We work in the order of paid deposits, or paying in full. Paying in full or paying off early as stated in the Payment Plans above will not speed up the process or “bump you up” in our sewing line-up.
Beginning in August 2023, Julie is retiring from her 34 year career at UPS and will make awnings full time. We also have three wonderful seamstress contractors working behind the scenes to assemble our uniquely designed and handcrafted awnings and accessories.
What shipping service do you use?
We offer free shipping everywhere in the US. We use both UPS and USPS depending on price and distance. UPS Ground can take 1to 6 business days depending on where we’re shipping from and to, USPS Priority Mail takes 2-4. If you want to upgrade your shipping please let us know in advance. We will cover the first $25 dollars to upgrade shipping, and you will be invoiced for whatever costs exceed $25.
What forms of payment do you accept?
If you see something you like in our Etsy Shop, please do not check out through Etsy. They now take approximately 17% of our sales for their “free marketing” and we really would appreciate the opportunity to unlist the item on Etsy and invoice you via PayPal to your email. In addition, Etsy does not offer buyer protection for orders over $250, so you don’t benefit if anything should go wrong. Eventually, e will migrate the items in our Etsy Shop to our website.
Our preferred method is to send a PayPal invoice to your preferred email address. You do not need to have a PayPal account to check out as a guest. If you would prefer to call us so we can run your card over the phone, that’s perfectly acceptable as well. Sorry, we no longer accept any paper forms of payment. Period.
Do you make curtains and cushions?
At this time, we do not make cushions or curtains. Fitting and finish work are crucial, and we have found it’s difficult to do these types of projects remotely. Shipping anything with foam is also ridiculously expensive and would put project expenses out of reach. You are better off finding a local person in your area who specializes in upholstery. But, if you need us to send some of your fabric to them, we should be able to help you with this.
How do I keep my awning from sagging?
There are several methods of thought on this topic. Everyone has their own preferred method which they’ve arrived at through trial and error. I’ve seen people use 2 ropes per pole, rope tighteners, weighted bags, and conduit framework.
This author’s opinion: The secret is not only to get the ropes as tight as possible but to keep them that way so they aren’t flexing and pulling out. My preferred method is to have a fixed length of rope and tie knotted loops on each end. Put one end loop over the tip of the pole AFTER is inserted into the grommet. While holding the rope, walk diagonally away from the trailer keeping the rope tight. Make sure the ground is hard and compact enough to hold the stake into the ground. Once you’ve determined where to stake in the ground at the end of the rope, stake the rope into the ground, driving the stake in diagonally toward the trailer. If your ropes are still loose, you need to remove the stake and stretch it out another inch or so until they are tight. You can also try raising your poles up an inch or so. Good Luck!
How do I clean my awning?
Caring for your awning is really important to make it last for years, especially if you get stains, sap, or bird droppings on it. DO NOT MACHINE WASH OR DRY YOUR AWNINGS OR ACCESSORIES. The very best product we have found is OxiClean Max force. It’s relatively inexpensive and easy to find anywhere you buy laundry detergent. Keep a bottle in your camper trailer.
How do I store my awning?
Your awning comes with a matching storage tote. Your awning is an investment, so make sure it’s stored properly when not in use. Always remove the awning before traveling. Make sure your awning is completely dry before storing or IT CAN GET MOLDY. If you can’t put it away dry, then remove any stains and hang it to dry out as soon as you get home. We will not be responsible for stains on your awning that you can’t get off. We don’t recommend leaving the awning in your trailer in the winter due to potential moisture.
