Awning delamination

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Tom Hoffman

Tom Hoffman

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Home: Eastern Iowa
We are in Yuma and just opened our awning for the first time in 2 years.  We wanted to get it cleaned up and ready to cover before we left the trailer for the summer months.  While we cleaning it I noticed several blister like bubbles about the size of a quarter or so.  They showed up on the under side as we washed it down, top and bottom.

Is there a way to inject some glue or other substance into them to get a few more seasons out of the awning.  It is in good shape except for the blisters, ther are about 6 or seven of them.

Any help would be appreciated.  Tom....
 
On my last trailer I had 3 or 4 delam blisters on my awning when it was about 9 years old.  They were 2+ inches in diameter. I took a straight pin and put a few pin pricks at the edges of the blisters on the bottom ply only.  That allowed me to push the blisters flat.  I did not use any adhesives at all.  They remained flat for the next 4 years that we owned the trailer although I could see the round shapes of where the blisters were.  Worked for us.  I felt that if I didn't puncture the blisters that in hot weather the air inside the blisters would expand and increase the blister size.  I did consider just leaving them alone.  They did not detract from the function of the awning...but I decided against that.
 
Use the pin prick or slit method to flatten the bubbles and then inject a vinyl-repair adhesive to keep the layers flat and keep water out of the hole or slit. Or cover with clear awning repair tape.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-1-fl-oz-Vinyl-Fabric-and-Plastic-Adhesive-1360694/202487188
https://www.tear-aid.com/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W133LF0?psc=1
 
I had that problem with the A&E vinyl awning on my previous coach. A&E replaced the awning, but I had to pay for the labor.
 
Mine is an A&E awning, but it is now 11 years old.  I'm not going to bother with going that way,  if a little glue and patch tape will give me another few years that's fine with me.  It will probably out last me.

Cheers,

Tom...
 
I would look into Composet Products (delamrepair.com). I used their kit to fix my RV when it had a similar problem and it worked great.
 
my dometic has been replaced twice under warranty for just that same thing.... I think the dometic warranty was 2 years.... so I'm thinking the next one will be on me.  I'll likely just do as others have suggested and inject a little glue....
 
I should add... my 1st one had the little 2 inch circles evenly spaced in a line across the length....

the next time it happened it was much more scattered and random....would make injecting and repairing an ongoing project....

some sort of manufacturing defect for sure.
 
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