freshen up a canopy
May 4, 2009 8:09 AM Subscribe
How to paint polyester fabric canopy?
I have a white canopy I'd like to give a little color. The manual says it is made with heavy duty 500 denier reinforced polyester fabric, which is water resistant, fire retardant, & UV treated. This canopy will be spending a lot of time outside this Summer under sun and rain, so it's important the paint job be strong.
I'd like to use paint I already have to save $$$. Would acrylic house paint (or would oil be better?) and a protective coat of 2-part polyurethane work?
I have a white canopy I'd like to give a little color. The manual says it is made with heavy duty 500 denier reinforced polyester fabric, which is water resistant, fire retardant, & UV treated. This canopy will be spending a lot of time outside this Summer under sun and rain, so it's important the paint job be strong.
I'd like to use paint I already have to save $$$. Would acrylic house paint (or would oil be better?) and a protective coat of 2-part polyurethane work?
The fact that the canopy is water-resistant is a major problem. Water-resistant fabric cannot be dyed or painted. It will resist not only water, but also any paint, dye, or stain that you apply.
If it weren't for the water-resistant coating, you could use a fabric paint whose manufacturer says it will work on polyester, or make your own fabric paint by adding fabric medium to an acrylic paint, or you could use disperse dye to make iron-on transfers to dye the polyester, but none of these is likely to work for a fabric with the coatings that yours has.
posted by Ery at 9:00 AM on May 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
If it weren't for the water-resistant coating, you could use a fabric paint whose manufacturer says it will work on polyester, or make your own fabric paint by adding fabric medium to an acrylic paint, or you could use disperse dye to make iron-on transfers to dye the polyester, but none of these is likely to work for a fabric with the coatings that yours has.
posted by Ery at 9:00 AM on May 4, 2009 [1 favorite]
I'm afraid you're asking too much of your canopy and of any existing fabric paint (at least any I'm aware of). A better idea would be to have a new canopy made for the existing frame, preferably out of another weather-resistant fabric like Sunbrella.
posted by boomchicka at 9:08 AM on May 4, 2009
posted by boomchicka at 9:08 AM on May 4, 2009
Is this a canopy you're using for vending at an event? Many shows required that canopies be fire retardant and painting it may affect that.
How about finding a funky bedsheet at an estate sale/thrift store/back of mom's closet and putting that over the top? You'll still have the sun protection, and prettiness too. It's easy enough to wash and cheap enough to toss if it gets too gross.
posted by vespabelle at 9:37 AM on May 4, 2009
How about finding a funky bedsheet at an estate sale/thrift store/back of mom's closet and putting that over the top? You'll still have the sun protection, and prettiness too. It's easy enough to wash and cheap enough to toss if it gets too gross.
posted by vespabelle at 9:37 AM on May 4, 2009
Please don't do this. You can't paint outdoor polyester in any way that will either (a) look like you want it to, (b) be durable, or (c) won't compromise the integrity of the material.
You can screen print it though. Having said that, polyester fabric is notoriously hard to imprint, and requires a high degree of skill (compared with other substrates) even when done by professionals with the proper equipment and ink.
Also, any application would have to be on new material.
posted by mrmojoflying at 9:44 AM on May 4, 2009
You can screen print it though. Having said that, polyester fabric is notoriously hard to imprint, and requires a high degree of skill (compared with other substrates) even when done by professionals with the proper equipment and ink.
Also, any application would have to be on new material.
posted by mrmojoflying at 9:44 AM on May 4, 2009
Polyester is basically a form of woven plastic - It's naturally water resistant (Not water-proof, mind you) without special repellants, AFAIK.
Given that it's plastic, and dosen't absorb liquids easily, it is also very difficult to dye, involving really caustic/unpleasant/expensive dyes, high temps and long soak periods. Do not go to the store and buy a bottle of RIT. It will fall right out of the polyester with the first rain, and stain your deck.
Here's the general idea., the Dye carrier(You're dying a tent. You need it.) and the dye. You're also going to need facilities with good ventilation where you can boil the entire thing for about an hour, and multiple vats.
posted by Orb2069 at 10:02 AM on May 4, 2009
Given that it's plastic, and dosen't absorb liquids easily, it is also very difficult to dye, involving really caustic/unpleasant/expensive dyes, high temps and long soak periods. Do not go to the store and buy a bottle of RIT. It will fall right out of the polyester with the first rain, and stain your deck.
Here's the general idea., the Dye carrier(You're dying a tent. You need it.) and the dye. You're also going to need facilities with good ventilation where you can boil the entire thing for about an hour, and multiple vats.
posted by Orb2069 at 10:02 AM on May 4, 2009
Is there any way you can test a corner of it?
I'm thinking plain old spray paint, perhaps the new ones formulated for plastic might do the trick.
posted by sarajane at 11:10 AM on May 5, 2009
I'm thinking plain old spray paint, perhaps the new ones formulated for plastic might do the trick.
posted by sarajane at 11:10 AM on May 5, 2009
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posted by ook at 8:45 AM on May 4, 2009