The durability of fabric gazebos depends on the type of fabric material. There are several materials that can be used to make a fabric gazebo. And each material has its own denier weight. Denier weight is a unit of measurement that represents the mass density of fabric fiber. The higher the denier weight your gazebo fabric has the longer it can stay.
Most gazebo fabrics have denier weights between 150 and 200. The fabrics that fall in this range can stay for two to three years without treatment. Any gazebo fabric below 120 denier is low quality and can only last for 6 months to one year. Rough weather conditions are the main agents of destruction for gazebo fabrics.
There are a few precautions you can take to increase the useful life of your gazebo fabric. For example, you can store the fabric indoors when it is not in use or during winter. You can also apply weather-resistant sprays to protect the fabric. Exposure to sun radiations, rain, wind, and snow weakens the gazebo fabric.
Types of Gazebo Fabrics and How Long They Can Last.
- Canvas
This is the most durable gazebo fabric with an average weight of 200 denier. Canvas fabric can live up to five years without treatment. But if you treat it and store it indoors when not in use it can stay for ten good years. Canvas is easy to clean and it is resistant to molds and mildew.
Molds and mildew can grow deep in the fiber making the fabric weak.
There are two types of canvas gazebo fabric. These are painted canvas and dyed canvas. Painted canvas fabric has solid paint on the side that faces the outside. While dyed canvas fabric looks the same on either side. The painted canvas lasts longer than the dyed canvas because the solid paint acts as a weather-resistant material.
Give the dyed canvas good maintenance and it will also stay for long. Cleaning is the only maintenance a canvas gazebo fabric needs. Add some weather resistance spray and you will stay for years with your canvas gazebo fabric.
Canvas is strong enough to stay outdoors the whole year, however, it is not good to do so as canvas is also a very expensive gazebo fabric.
- Vinyl
Vinyl is a gazebo fabric that weighs 180 denier. It can stay up to four years without treatment. But if you give it good care and weather-resistant sprays, it can stay up to eight years. It is lightweight and easy to wash. It does not have strong fibers like the canvas fabric so do not leave it outside the whole year or during winter.
Vinyl comes with sun resistance and waterproofing components from the manufacturer. But these components wear off after some time, thus you have to apply sun resistance spray and waterproofing paints. Make sure the vinyl fabric is clean before you apply these sprays. Use ordinary detergent and a soft brush to clean this type of fabric.
Vinyl is customizable and you can order any shape or design you want. It is cheaper than canvas fabric hence the best option if the home is for sale. The only limitation of vinyl gazebo fabric is that it does not have strong fibers like the canvas. This means it cannot carry a lot of weight like snow that accumulates during winter. Also, do not allow water to pool on it.
- Acrylic
This is a gazebo fabric that weighs 160 deniers. It can stay for three years without treatment. But with good repainting and treatment, it can double its lifespan to six years. It is known to come in many different colors and designs that are appealing to many homeowners. It is waterproof and can trap strong UV rays from the sun.
It is lightweight and affordable to middle-class homeowners. It also requires low to no maintenance except regular cleaning and applying weather resistance sprays. Wash it using dish wash soap and a soft brush. Make sure you apply weather-resistant sprays that are specifically made for acrylic or else it might react or corrode.
Acrylic does not lose its color like the vinyl fabric. The only downside with acrylic gazebo fabric is that it has light fibers that cannot carry a lot of weight. So do not allow snow to accumulate on it or rainwater to pool on it. It can easily tear from excess weight.
Increase the useful life of your acrylic gazebo fabric by storing it indoors during winter or when a storm is coming.
- Coolaroo fabric
This is a gazebo fabric with a denier weight of 150. It can stay up to three years without treatment. But it can last for about five years if you give it some treatment and care. It was developed in Australia about fifty years ago. The fabric has many air vents that allow free air circulation keeping you cool when sitting under it.
It is very vulnerable to molds and mildew, but with regular cleaning and treatment, this is not a problem. Coolaroo fabric is easy to wash, just add ordinary washing powder in a bucket of clean water and start scrubbing the fabric. Make sure the fabric is totally dry before you store it or return it on the gazebo frame. A wet or damp Coolaroo fabric will develop molds in a few days.
Apply waterproofing sprays specifically made for this type of fabric or else it will block the air vents that keep the users cool. The same goes for sun resistance sprays. This fabric is not as strong as canvas so do not leave it outdoors during winter. It is also a very expensive fabric that a few can afford.
Conclusion
On average, fabric gazebos can last for three years if the fabric is not treated. It can stay for about six to ten years if you treat the fabric at regular intervals. Washing and applying weather resistance sprays add some years to your gazebo fabric. However, different types of fabric have different lifespans. Canvas gazebo fabric is the one that has the longest useful life but is expensive to buy.