Outdoor Fabric Guide

Choosing a fabric for use out of doors is arguably the most difficult kind of fabric choice you will have to make.  That's because the same factors that go into choosing fabric for other purposes has the added complexity of having to account for exposure to the elements.  With outdoor fabrics, comfort and durability are usually tradeoffs, with more natural and comfortable fabrics more easily worn out than more durable materials which are not as comfortable to use.  It's therefore important to know the specific applications of the outdoor fabric you are looking at, and to know how you will be using it.  The factors to take into account when choosing the fabric start with the site where the fabric will be used, and that includes the local climate as well as the microclimate of the area of your home where the fabric will be used.  Is it very sunny?  Do you get a lot of rain in your area?  How about humidity?  Different outdoor fabrics respond differently to these variables, and only by understanding your environment can you make the best choice of fabric for your needs.  Having an awning made of outdoor fabric can protect your skin from overexposure to UV rays and allow you to spend more time outdoors while maintaining a relaxing atmosphere.

One of the choices you will need to make first are whether you want to purchase outdoor fabric by the yard or prefer to have something installed for you.  This will influence your choices, with more choices and savings available to the do it yourselfer.  As an added benefit to sewing your own fabric, you can also make tote bags, backpacks, and other accessories using the fabric.
The elemental forces of the sun, combined with wind, environmental pollutants, rain, and sometimes mildew, can wreak havoc on any normal fabrics you might use outside.  These days, synthetic materials are the norm although you might be able to find some cotton canvas still in use.  Canvas is a great material and a good choice for areas less prone to mildew.  It's usually available woven from synthetic fibers, as a poly/ cotton blend, or as 100%
fiber.  Canvas will usually be treated with some sort of protective sealant to protect it from the elements, such as acrylic or some type of marine finish.  Such treatments are pretty standard in all outdoor fabrics, and are meant to protect from UV exposure, water, dirt, and mildew. 
Perhaps the most popular canvas for awnings and marine use is Sunbrella outdoor fabric made by Glen Raven.  Their main fabric is a woven acrylic, and is available in many solid colors as well as stripes and homespun textures.  The popularity of Sunbrella has allowed the company to offer all sorts of indoor outdoor fabric, including outdoor furniture fabric as well as outdoor upohlstery fabric.  Qualities such as easy maintenance, namely mildew and stain resistance, and ease of cleaning are the reasons one would choose Sunbrella for outdoor canvas fabric.  It is supposed to hold up for years, with recommendations to recoat the waterproofind with Aquatite every four years (while highly water resistant, Sunbrella is not waterproof). 

A variation on Sunbrella is Seamark, which is Sunbrella backed by textured marine-grade vinyl made by Haartz.  Here, the fabric is waterproof and made more durable to withstand the often harsh conditions of a marine environment.  The fabric is thicker and therefore heavier, and popular for use in boating.  This fabric is obviously tougher than normal Sunbrella as it needs to withstand more extreme conditions.   

Because vinyl fabrics are waterproof, you'll find vinyl used in many outdoor fabrics.  By themselves, vinyl doesn't stand up to the elements as well as Sunbrella does, although it is more abrasion resistant.  However, it's often combined with other fabrics to take advantage of the strong points of each.  It's important to note here that vinyls usually contain pthalates, which are a health hazard to all humans, especially pregnant women and children.  For this reason, even in outdoor areas, you will probably want to avoid the use of vinyl.  It's just not worth the risk.  Of course, other treatments are routinely used to waterproof and protect, so you should find out about the potential risks to health of the specific treatments used on fabrics.
 
For other outdoor uses, you may prefer to get cordura, which has high tear and abrasion resistance and is a good choice to use for luggage, duffel bags, sea bags, and other bags like backpacks. 

Outdoor fabrics are designed to stand up to outdoor conditions, but you can extend their life by taking care of them.  That means cleaning dirt off them regularly, as dirt can cause the fabric to break down much sooner.  It's usually recommended that you use a mild detergent and a brush to scrub the dirt off your outdoor fabric.