Guide to re-covering an awning

Re-cover an awning
how to replace the fabric panel

You re-cover a rope tension awning by replacing only the fabric panel. Ropes, tensioners and sliders stay in place as long as they are in good condition. We make each panel individually to measure, including a single panel to match your existing system. Three details matter: the size, the spacing of the tubes in the old panel and the fabric. We do not re-cover awnings from other manufacturers.

Made-to-measure rope tension awning Awning guide
Short answer
Re-covering an awning: polyester rope, sliders and operating pole of the rope tension awning, which you can reuse

Would you like to fit your awning with new fabric? With the rope tension awning, this means replacing the panel, not rebuilding. Every panel contains aluminium tubes in sewn-in fabric pockets. These tubes sit in sliders and stoppers on the tensioned ropes. The new panel arrives just as ready-sewn, with tubes, from our workshop in Westoverledingen.

  • Each panel individually: we make a single panel or all panels to match. To connect to existing panels, we match the section spacing. The standard is 38 to 41 cm, while older systems have 25 cm, for example.
  • Width: give the clear dimension between the existing brackets and do not deduct anything yourself. Production deducts 10 mm for the tube and end caps.
  • Four fabrics: Dralon (lightfastness 4-6 out of 8, no colour guarantee), Olefin (over 7 out of 8, 2-year guarantee), Polysun (7-8 out of 8, 2-year guarantee) and Agora (7-8 out of 8, 5-year guarantee, slightly more expensive).
  • With your order number it is fastest: we then take the measurements, fabric and look from your old order.
  • We do not re-cover awnings from other manufacturers, including third-party rope tension awnings. If another make of awning is broken, a new awning from us is the better solution, for example a made-to-measure rope tension awning under a roof.
Check first, then replace

When new fabric is worth it

Not every stain calls for a new panel. First check whether cleaning or reproofing is enough. New fabric is worth it when the fabric itself is at the end of its life.

Dirty

On acrylic, dust and grey haze come off with lukewarm water and a mild soap solution, at most 30 °C, without solvents or abrasive products. You can read how to go about it at Cleaning an awning.

Dark stains

Tackle mildew and mould stains first, with a targeted approach, see Removing mildew stains from an awning. If the stains remain, a new panel is the clean solution.

Rain no longer beads off

If the fabric soaks up water, a fresh waterproofing treatment can help. How this works is explained at Waterproofing an awning.

Faded

If the colour fades after a few seasons in full sun, this is not a defect with Dralon. Dralon is not solution-dyed and keeps its colour less well than Agora. A new panel is worthwhile here, ideally in a solution-dyed fabric.

Torn

If the panel is torn, we make a new one. Whether you can sew the fabric yourself and what matters when you do is explained at Sewing an awning.

Step by step

Re-covering a rope tension awning in five steps

1

Find your old order

Have your order or customer number ready. With it, we take over the measurements, fabric and look of your old panels. If you no longer have the order, send us photos of the system and the measurements.

2

Check the size and tube spacing

Measure the width and length of each panel and the spacing between the tubes of the old panel. Tell us whether the new panel should take over this spacing or the standard of 38 to 41 cm.

3

Choose the fabric and look

Choose one of the four fabrics and the look: taut or cloud. For a colour comparison with your old panels, we send you fabric samples beforehand.

4

Decide the scope

Tell us whether you only need the fabric panels or would also like new ropes, sliders and stoppers. You then receive your quote.

5

Replace the panel

Release the stopper on the last tube and take the old panel out of the sliders. Then clamp the tubes of the new panel into the sliders and stopper.

Size and connection

Measuring correctly and matching old panels

Re-covering an awning: measuring the clear dimension between two rafters for the new panel

With your old order number, you do not need to measure anything. Without an order, your new measurement counts. For an existing rope system, give the clear dimension between the existing brackets. Production deducts 10 mm for the tube and end caps. We make each panel to its own size, because the bays often differ by a few millimetres. How to measure a rope tension awning shows exactly where to measure the width and length.

  • Width: measure the clear dimension between the existing brackets. Write that it is the clear dimension, and do not deduct anything yourself, otherwise the panel will be too narrow.
  • Play at the rafters: we make the tube and end caps 10 mm narrower than the clear dimension. This gives about 5 mm of clearance on each side.
  • Section spacing: the standard is 38 to 41 cm, depending on the panel length. If the new panel hangs next to old panels with a different spacing, tell us before production, otherwise the look will not match.
  • Look: taut look with no allowance on the length, cloud look with an allowance of about 5 to 7 percent. From a slope of about 7 to 8 percent, the cloud look is only available with a cloud strap, otherwise choose the taut look.
  • Special shape or no order any more: send the old panel as a template. We copy it 1:1 and then make the new one.
  • Colour next to old panels: a new panel can differ slightly from weathered ones. The old panel has aged in the sun, and fabric rolls differ in subtle shades.
Choosing fabric

Which fabric suits the new panel

Four fabrics are available for the rope tension awning. They differ in lightfastness, guarantee on colour retention and price. Whether acrylic or polyester and whether a light or dark colour suits you better is compared in Awning fabric: acrylic or polyester. We send you up to four samples free of charge, see Order fabric samples.

Agora

Solution-dyed acrylic from Spain, lightfastness 7-8 out of 8 and a 5-year guarantee on colour retention (colourfastness). Agora costs a little more; the configurator shows the price.

Polysun

Solution-dyed polyester with lightfastness 7-8 out of 8 and a 2-year GERMES guarantee on colour retention. An affordable fabric with good lightfastness.

Olefin

Robust, lightfastness over 7 out of 8, 2-year guarantee on colour retention. The fabric is denser. We do not recommend it for large panels, and the sliders move onto the tube less easily.

Dralon

Acrylic from Spain, conventionally dyed, lightfastness 4-6 out of 8, no guarantee on colour retention. If your old panel was Dralon and has faded, a solution-dyed fabric will keep its colour for longer.

Water and weather

All four fabrics are water-repellent, but not waterproof. Normal rain beads off, but in persistent or heavy rain water gets through. An awning is not a storm or rain roof: retract it in rain, strong wind and storms.

Old colour no longer available

If your old fabric is no longer available, we suggest a similar one and send a sample beforehand. Colour and feel may differ slightly.

Other types

Folding awning and awnings from other manufacturers

Folding awning

With the made-to-measure folding awning, the fabric panel hangs from velour tapes on hook-and-loop profiles that slide in two rails. Here too, we make the panel again from your old order. Give us your order number or measurements for this.

Awnings from other manufacturers

We do not re-cover awnings from other manufacturers, including third-party rope tension awnings. You can only have an awning re-covered with us if it comes from us. If another make of awning is broken, it is better to order a new awning directly from us. What distinguishes the types is explained at What are awnings.

A new solution instead of new fabric

Under a patio roof or pergola, a made-to-measure rope tension awning can replace the old awning. You can read about other solutions at Alternatives to an awning.

Awning on the balcony

If the new awning is to go under the balcony ceiling, read Awning on the balcony with ceiling mounting before drilling.

Typical mistakes when reordering

Width shortened yourself
If you deduct something from the clear dimension yourself, you get a panel that is too narrow. Production calculates the deduction for the tube and end caps.
Tube spacing not stated
Without this information, we make the standard of 38 to 41 cm. Next to old panels with a different spacing, the look will not match.
Colour chosen without a sample
A new shade stands out next to weathered panels. A fabric sample shows beforehand how big the difference is.
New panel sits tight in the sliders
The fabric-covered tubes sit tight on purpose so that nothing slips. If it is too stiff, rub the slider with soap or put it in hot water for five minutes. Installing a rope tension awning shows the whole installation with ropes and tensioners.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions

For the rope tension awning, the price depends on the size, the number of panels and the fabric. The configurator shows the price for your measurements. Agora costs a little more, and the cloud look with strap costs 10 euros per metre of panel length. If you only need the fabric panels without ropes, sliders and stoppers, we will prepare a separate quote. We do not quote prices for awnings from other manufacturers because we do not re-cover them.

With the rope tension awning, a new panel is enough if the ropes, tensioners and sliders are in good condition. If you would also like to renew the accessories, we supply them too. We do not re-cover awnings from other manufacturers. Here a new awning is the better choice, for example a made-to-measure rope tension awning under a roof.

Yes, you can re-cover the rope tension awning yourself without special tools. You release the stopper with the Allen key, take the old panel out of the sliders and clamp in the tubes of the new panel. The panel arrives ready-sewn with sewn-in aluminium tubes.

With the rope tension awning, yes. You only replace the fabric panel, and the ropes stay tensioned. If the tubes sit tight in the sliders, a little soap on the slider helps.

You can have an awning re-covered with us for the rope tension awning and the folding awning. We make the panel from your old order or to new measurements. We do not re-cover awnings from other manufacturers.

Yes. We make each panel individually. Tell us the tube spacing of the old panels so that the new panel matches. Next to weathered panels, the colour may differ slightly, and a fabric sample shows this beforehand.

No, for a normal panel your order number or measurements are enough. If the panel has a special shape that the configurator cannot show, the old panel as a template is the safest way. We copy it 1:1 and then make the new one.

Then we suggest a similar fabric and send you a sample beforehand. Colour and feel may differ slightly from the old fabric.

Sources

Last reviewed: 23.10.2026 · Reviewer: Germes-Team

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