How to Properly Care for Your Sukkah

HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR YOUR Dean SUKKAH Products*

Do Not Hang Anything on the Frame

Do not hang anything from your awning frame.
Do not hang anything from your sukkah wall frame.
The only exception is the support 2x4s for your s’chach, which go only in their proper brackets.

Your awning is not made to hold extra weight.
If the frame bends due to negligence, your warranty will be void.

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Always Tie the Awning and Panels Securely

Your sukkah awning and any panels must be tied tightly at all times—whether they are:

Rolled up for storage, or
Left open for use

Do not walk away from your awning without tying the ropes, even a quick trip into the house for a glass of water may leave enough time for a gust of wind to move or compromise your awning top.

All ropes must be tied in every required spot:

3 places on smaller awnings
5+ places on larger awnings

This should be done exactly as your installer showed you on installation day.

If no one showed you how to do this:

Call our office and we will send someone to help, or
Watch the helpful videos on our website here

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Do Not Roll in Bad Conditions

Never roll or unroll the awning:

In high winds - you may lose control of your awning once you untie the ropes
In snow - once the storm arrives, it is too late to roll your awning up
In freezing weather (32°F or below) - cold temperatures impede on your vinyl fabric’s ability to flex, making it difficult to roll up properly and likely to get stuck
When covered in ice - ice on your awning can break into sharp pieces that puncture the vinyl

More on these points below.

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Storing and Using Your Sukkah Walls

Avoid having your sukkah walls down in high wind conditions. If it will be too windy for your awning (winds or gusts above 20-25 mph), it will be too windy for your sukkah walls as well. Make sure to roll your sukkah walls up before the arrival of inclement weather.

Your sukkah walls come with storage pouches located at the top of the frame.

When the walls are not in use, especially during winter, they should be:

Rolled up (dry)
Tied securely
Placed inside their storage pouch

Like the awning, the sukkah walls may be used in winter, but only in good weather and while you are actively using them for people to occupy the space. When no one is in the sukkah to supervise its use in winter time, plan to store it away.

Before leaving your porch, patio, or deck:

Roll the walls back up
Tie them securely
Store them in their pouch until the next time you use them

These rules are most important during the winter months and help prevent damage to the sukkah walls.

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Do Not Allow Children to Handle, Play With, or Play On the Awning, Sukkah Walls, or the Ropes

Improper use of your products is not covered by the warranty.

Improper use of your rope and pulley system can cause your products to malfunction
Your ropes and pulley system are not covered by the warranty
A minimum service charge will be incurred when you call us to come and get your products rolling straight again
Just as you are not to hang anything from the frame, children are to be kept from playing on the frame
Damage caused by improper use is not covered by the warranty

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Watch Your Local Weather Report Daily and Prepare for Inclement Weather

Your awning is sensitive to inclement weather, and as such you will get the most longevity from your purchase if you keep aware of the weather and respond accordingly.

Roll your awning and sukkah walls up before freezing temperatures arrive (32°F and below) to ensure that they roll properly without getting stuck, and so that your awning doesn't sustain any damage from being rolled up with ice on top of it.

Your awning can quickly sustain damage from

Strong winds
Extreme storms
The weight of snow
Being rolled up when there is already ice on it

Your sukkah walls can quickly sustain damage from

Strong winds
Extreme storms

Damage from inclement weather can also cause additional damage to your home and any structures that the awning or sukkah walls are attached to or mounted near. Damage from a weather event can cause significant damage that is not covered by your warranty. Getting accustomed to anticipating bad weather, and proactively preparing your awning and sukkah walls in advance before its arrival, are the best methods to ensure your products will last for years to come.

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What to Do in Preparation for Wind, Storms, or Snow

If your neighborhood is expecting:

Strong winds
Hurricane- or tornado-like conditions
Snow or blizzard-like conditions

You must roll up the awning and tie it securely before the arrival of poor weather. Do not roll it up or down in freezing temperatures (32°F and below), as it won’t roll nicely and will be more prone to getting stuck, and don't roll it in high winds, as you will be more likely to lose control of the fabric and it may flail around and cause damage; you must have it rolled up both before any disruptive winds arrive and before it gets too cold to do so.

When tied correctly, your awning is rated to handle winds up to about 40 mph. However, we strongly recommend proactively rolling it up if winds are expected to exceed 20–25 mph, since it’s not safe or useful to have it open in those conditions anyway.

Important:
Your warranty does not cover damage from:

Storms
Snow
High winds or tornadoes
Neglect
Improper use

It is the customer’s responsibility to store and secure the awning properly.

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After Any Rain

After any amount of rain:

Open the awning (if it was rolled up)
Let any trapped water drain out
Allow the fabric to dry if possible
Roll it back up once dry

This helps prevent:

Water stains
Mildew
Uneven wear

Once dry, roll the awning up and tie it securely.

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Winter and Snow Safety

In winter, keep your awning rolled up when not in use. This is the best way to ensure that it will never accidentally be left down in a snow storm or need to be rolled up in freezing temperatures. Do not roll it up or down in freezing temperatures (32°F and below), as it won’t roll nicely and will be more prone to getting stuck.

Unless you ordered a special awning made to withstand winter weather, your awning is not designed to hold the weight of even the smallest amount of snow.

If you did purchase a winterized frame, the maximum allowable amount of snow accumulation is 6”. If more than 6” of snow is possible, the awning must be rolled up before the arrival of the storm.

It will not be possible to roll up the awning once there is snow or ice on it. You must roll it up beforehand.

Ice can:

Puncture the awning fabric when being rolled up after ice has accumulated

Snow can:

Stretch the fabric
Damage the frame
Bend pipes
Cause the awning to collapse
Create issues with your roofing if it traps ice near the gutters

In serious cases, this could also damage:

Your home
Your porch, patio, or deck

Snow damage is not covered by the warranty.

For your convenience, we offer services to take down and rehang your awning and/or sukkah wall fabric at an additional charge, allowing you to avoid the need to maintain your awning and/or sukkah walls when not in use for the winter.

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Snow Must Be Removed Promptly

If snow builds up on your awning, or on the roof behind a roof-mounted awning, the snow must be removed as soon as possible, preferably before it turns into ice.

You may:

Clear the snow yourself, or
Hire a snow-removal or roofing company to do it

If you call us to remove snow, please note:

Snow removal is not included in regular service
There will be an additional charge

Our crews are awning repair technicians, not snow-removal professionals, and are equipped to fix awnings—not remove snow. If you task us with snow removal, there is an hourly charge for the time it takes to remove it.

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Protecting Against Squirrels or Other Animals

When rolled up, awnings can attract squirrels.

To prevent nesting and chewing:

Open and close the awning every week or two, weather permitting
Do not roll it up or down in freezing temperatures (32°F and below), as it won’t roll nicely and will be more prone to getting stuck

If left unattended:

Animals may chew holes in the fabric
Animals may build nests inside

You may use ultrasonic pest repellents if you wish, but do not rely on them alone. Regular checks are still required. It is recommended that you involve an exterminator if you fear that pests may cause damage to your awning or sukkah walls.

Damage from animals is not covered by the warranty.
Keeping the awning pest-free is the customer’s responsibility.

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Even If You Only Use It for Sukkot

If you only use your sukkah during Sukkot and store it the rest of the year, you still must:

Open, close, and re-secure the awning every week or two (weather permitting) to avoid squirrel related damage
Roll up the awning and sukkah walls when they are dry

Skipping this can lead to:

Mold or mildew
Fabric damage
Uneven wear

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Optional Storage and Service Help

We offer services to:

Take down
Store
Rehang

your awning and sukkah walls if you prefer not to maintain it yourself during the colder months.

We also service our awnings before Sukkot. To ensure timely help, please contact us at least one month before the holiday. We recommend opening and inspecting your awning just before Rosh Chodesh Elul. If you see any problems, call us right away.

Planning ahead helps us serve everyone in time for Sukkot—thank you for helping the whole community!

For more on the services that we offer, take a look at our Maintenance Services page.

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PURCHASE,

MAY IT SERVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WELL FOR YEARS TO COME!

*This information can also be found in your warranty. Neither being provided with this information, nor not being provided with this information, should be mistaken for Dean Custom Awnings taking responsibility for the misuse of the products by the customers. Damage from misuse will still be liable to a minimum service charge, as well as possible additional service fees depending on the extent of the damage incurred.