Life Under Canvas Awning Installation guide
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Welcome to your Life Under Canvas
Thank you for buying a Life Under Canvas Awning.
Our awnings are easy to erect and although it’s quicker with 2 people, it’s also easy to put
one up on your own.
Our awnings are intended for regular leisure use and are classified as a Touring Tent
Canopy. They are intended for use in temperate climates for short bursts of camping. They
are not intended as permanent shelters and the longevity of the awning will be compro-
mised if used in this way.
Always erect the awning according to our guidelines, failure to do so may also affect the
longevity of the awning.
Please read the instructions carefully and keep them safe. If you do loose them they are
also available to download from our website lifeundercanvas.co.uk/instructions or www.life-
undercanvas.co.nz
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us on the number or email
below. We are always on hand for friendly advice and support.
We hope you enjoy your Life Under Canvas.
Thank you
Emma, Eileen and The Team at Life HQ
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Choosing the perfect pitch
Consider the following:
A flat pitch
There’s nothing worse than sliding along the floor of your tent or awning and an uneven
surface will also compromise the pegs and guys.
Natural shelter
Trees and hedges can be used as barriers against wind and rain, pitch close but not under
them.
Trees and woodlands
Avoid pitching under a tree as debris of all kinds may fall onto your tent or awning and
damage it. From tree twigs and berries to bird poo and branches there are all sorts of haz-
ards to be avoided.
Door opening
Ideally the door should face away from the prevailing wind. The wind will then blow over
your Bell Tent and awning and not through it.
Groundwater flow
Rain water has to go somewhere, make sure it’s not under or around your tent. Choose
the driest spot you can find and nowhere that’s boggy.
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Putting up your Life Under Canvas Awning
Attaching to a Bell Tent
Carefully unfold your awning.
Tie the 8 shorter guy ropes onto each tag on the awning keeping the long guy rope to one
side.
Put the central eyelet over the spike on your bell tent door pole and replace the plastic rain
cap.
Put the single pole provided in the eyelet at the opposite end of the awning and hold
taught. A friend is useful at this stage!
Tie a loop in the end of the longer guy and hook onto the top of the end pole. The slider
needs to be at the end that will be pegged into the ground.
Peg into the ground and tighten slider.
Peg all other guys into the ground beginning with the one each side closest to the bell tent
and move forward pegging out the guys ensuring the awning is taught.
Finally re tighten the guy from the end pole and check the pole is straight.
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Attaching to a Bell Tent with lifted side (Awning Plus only). You will need 2 addition-
al poles.
Carefully unfold your awning.
Tie 4 of the shorter guy ropes onto each tag on one side of the awning keeping the long
guy rope to one side.
Put the central eyelet of the awning over the spike on your bell tent door pole and replace
the plastic rain cap.
Put the single pole provided with the awning in the eyelet at the other end of the awning
and hold taught. A friend is useful at this stage!
Tie a loop in the end of the longer guy and hook onto the top of the end pole. The slider
needs to be at the end that will be pegged into the ground.
Peg into the ground and tighten slider.
Peg the other guys along the one side into the ground beginning with the one closest to
the bell tent and move forward.
Put your additional poles into the eyelets on the 2 remaining corners of the awning and lift.
You can adjust the height as necessary with the extendable poles.
Tie a loop in the end of the longer guys provided with the extra poles and hook onto the
top of the poles. The slider needs to be at the end that will be pegged into the ground.
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A Free standing awning. You will need 1 additional pole to erect your awning with-
out a Bell Tent
Carefully unfold your awning.
Tie the 8 shorter guy ropes onto each tag on the awning keeping the long guy rope to one
side.
Put the one single pole provided in the eyelet at one end of the awning and the additional
pole in the other end eyelet. You may need an extra pair of hands to hold one end pole
while you peg the other out.
Tie a loop in the end of the longer guy provided with the awning and the guy provided with
the extra pole and hook onto the top of each pole. The sliders need to be at the end that
will be pegged into the ground.
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A Free standing awning with lifted side. You will need 3 additional poles to erect
your awning without a Bell Tent
Carefully unfold your awning.
Tie 4 of the shorter guy ropes onto each tag on one side of the awning keeping the long
guy rope to one side.
Put the one single pole provided in the eyelet at one end of the awning and one additional
pole in the other end eyelet. You may need an extra pair of hands to hold one pole and
keep it taught while you peg the other out.
Tie a loop in the end of the longer guys and hook onto the top of each pole. The slider
needs to be at the end that will be pegged into the ground.
Peg into the ground and tighten slider. Peg the other guys along the one side into the
ground.
Put your additional poles into the eyelets on the 2 remaining corners of the awning and lift.
Tie a loop in the end of the longer guys provided with the 2 extra poles and hook onto the
top of the poles. The slider needs to be at the end that will be pegged into the ground.
Peg these guys into the ground too.
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Packing up and putting away
You must ensure that your Life Under Canvas awning is completely dry before you put it
away. If you need to leave your campsite and it is damp please ensure that you put it up
again to dry out within 24 hours. The awning needs air to circulate round it to dry com-
pletely and the only way to ensure this is the case is to erect it.
If you put your awning away even slightly damp it may develop mould patches which are
very difficult to remove.
Remove the cap on the A frame over the door (if the awning is attached to your tent) and
put away safely.
Unhook all of the guy ropes and pull the sliders to the end of the guy rope, then
wrap up and tie them up neatly to avoid them getting tangled.
Pull out all of the guy pegs, remove any dirt and store safely in the peg bag.
Fold the awning in half, brush off any mud and allow to dry for 10 to 15 mins while you
pack up your other belongings. Turn over and repeat the cleaning and drying process.
Roll the awning up carefully sweeping off any mud and dirt as you roll.
Fasten the awning in place with the ties and place into the bag. Make sure the poles and
pegs are stored in their bags too. Do not put them in loose with the tent as they may dam-
age the canvas.
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Storing your Life Under Canvas awning
You must ensure that your Life Under Canvas awning is completely dry before you put it
away. If you need to leave your campsite and it is damp please ensure that you put it up
again to dry out within 24 hours. The awning needs air to circulate round it to dry com-
pletely and the only way to ensure this is the case is to pitch it.
Failure to do so could result in mould and mildew forming and this is very difficult to re-
move.
Do not hang your awning to dry as mould and mildew could still form in folds and creases.
Store in a dry place away from damp, ideally at room temperature.
Keep safe from rodents and insects.
Do not store anything on top of your awning.
Pitch your awning at least once a year in order to check it and to help keep its shape.
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Fire Precautions
It is recommended that you have a small fire extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm
nearby to ensure your safety at all times.
This awning can burn, please observe the following safety rules.
Do not smoke in the awning.
Do not use naked flames for cooking.
Do not place cooking equipment or heating devices near the awning walls.
Use cooking and heating equipment according to manufacturers instructions.
Keep all exits clear of belongings.
Know the safety procedures for the site.
For additional information about your Life Under Canvas awning plus troubleshooting and
repairs advice please see the additional info on our website at http://lifeundercanvas.co.uk
Weathering you bell tent or awning
Some new cotton canvas tents and awnings will drip or leak slightly for their first few uses
even when they have undergone a water repellent treatment.
As the canvas wets and dries out the fibres swell sealing it against future downpours.
This is completely normal and an inherent quality of the 100% cotton canvas fabric used in
the manufacture of bell tents and awnings.
Please be patient with your awning. Allow it to get wet and dry out a few times. You could
even speed up this process by pitching your tent in the garden and misting it with a light
spray from a hose pipe.
Water may collect around the seams and labels but again this is completely normal and
will cease with a few weatherings.
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Troubleshooting
If you care for your Life Under Canvas bell tent or awning well then it will last for years and
years.
Of course packing up and putting away, plus the storage are important and should be
carried out properly but there other elements to take into consideration too.
Pegs - Make sure they are securely fixed into the ground to keep the awning in place. It’s
worth checking them regularly while your awning is pitched.
Poles - The guy ropes should be taut at all times to ensure that the pole is straight and
secure. Again it is worth checking these regularly while your awning is pitched.
Sliders - The sliders will need altering depending on the weather conditions. In wet
weather the canvas will loosen so the sliders will need tightening. Conversely the
sliders will need releasing in drier weather.
Snow - Life Under Canvas bell tents and awnings are not intended for use in snow. If it
happens to snow when the awning is pitched please clear the snow from it regularly, take it
down as soon as possible and dry it out thoroughly afterwards.
Wind - Life Under Canvas tents and awnings are robust and withstand adverse weather
conditions well. However we cannot be held responsible for damage caused by excessive
weather. If you are camping and extreme weather conditions are forecast please carefully
consider your tent and awning. In particular extreme wind can cause canvas to lift and flap
if not securely fastened so check guys and pegs regularly and if in doubt take down your
tent or awning.
Debris - Please ensure that any debris is cleaned from your awning immediately to pro-
long the life of the awing. This includes bird droppings, water, salt, sand, cooking spills or
splashes, mud, grass etc. The lifespan of the awning will also be affected by air pollution
and UV radiation.
Mildew - Mildew is a common problem but is easily preventable. It is usually caused by
excess moisture in the canvas so you should always ensure that your awning is complete-
ly dry when put away. It is also a sign that your tent may need re-proofing (see below).
Mildew can also arise when the awning is pitched if the climate is particularly humid. If this
does occur clean the mildew off immediately using a specialist canvas cleaning product
and then re-proof the cleaned areas.
UV Damage - UV light can cause fading of your awning. If it becomes very pale (in
contrast to the bag it came in) it may need re-proofing. UV damage can cause a reduction
in the effectiveness of the natural waterproofing qualities of the fabric and the anti fungal
protection.
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Cleaning - You should check the condition of your Life Under Canvas awning regularly
and clean more frequently if it has been used many times. It needs to be cleaned with a
specialist cleaning product and then re-proofed afterwards. If it is left too long before being
cleaned mildew and fungus can spread over the tent and then be difficult or impossible to
remove.
Re-proofing - You will know that it is time to reproof your Life Under Canvas bell tent or
awning when you notice that the fabric no longer beads the water after a downpour, but
absorbs some of the moisture into the canvas and takes longer to dry out.
Please see our website for recommendations of cleaning and re-proofing products.
Repairs - Of course accidents do happen and you should repair your awning as quickly as
possible should any problems occur. Canvas tears can be repaired by sewing with a
traditional needle and thread and holes with patching.
For more serious repairs please contact us and we can recommend a number of
companies that will take delivery of your tent and repair it for you.
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Warranty
Here at Life Under Canvas we have carefully chosen the very best bell tent manufacturer
and our tents and awnings are made specifically to our requirements. We are confident
that the quality of them is second to none and they are fit for their intended use, this being
the leisure camping market.
Life Under Canvas Ltd offers a standard 24 month warranty on our tents, awnings and in-
ners against manufacturing defects. Please note that this warranty does not extend to the
poles, zips or groundsheets, only the canvas, as the latter components are commonly
misused.
need spare parts. We have some in stock and can order in other spares as needed.
Please note that there is just one UK outlet online at www.lifeundercanvas.co.uk, and on
ebay too (ebay username: lifeundercanvas). A Life Under Canvas product purchased from
any other UK outlet may not be a genuine Life Under Canvas product.
There is just one NZ outlet online at www.lifeundercanvas.co.nz, and on http://trademe.-
co.nz. A Life Under Canvas tent purchased from any other NZ outlet may not be a genuine
Life Under Canvas product.
To protect the consumer and the Life Under Canvas brand the Life Under Canvas regis-
tered trademark can be found on all our tents and awnings. All our tents should be clearly
labelled with our company name and only tents and awnings carrying the Life Under Can-
vas trademark are protected by our warranty.
The Life Under Canvas warranty is applicable only to our products delivered to consumers
within the UK or NZ and is not transferable.
The warranty does not cover professional and long term use. If a professional user buys a
tent and reports a manufacturing problem within the first month we will consider it under
the warranty. However after 28 days use it becomes a permanent structure and it is there-
fore not being used for the purpose it was sold for (i.e. a tent for camping).
If a private individual buys and then erects one of our tents semi-permanently we will cover
manufacturing defects for the length of the warranty but this does not cover mould or
mildew as we have no control over the conditions the tent is left up in.
have any questions. Thanks.
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Returns
You can cancel your contract with us at any time up to 14 working days after the day"of de-
order number and the delivery postcode. You do not have to give"any reason for cancella-
tion. However, a brief explanation would be helpful.
If you cancel, you must return the goods to us at your own expense. You must ensure"that
the goods are packaged in undamaged original packaging. If you fail to return the"goods,
we will collect them, and we will charge you the direct cost of collection. If you"fail to take
reasonable care of the goods before they are returned to us, and this"results in damage or
deterioration, we will exercise our right to charge you for the"reduction in value. Similarly,
we will charge you for the reduction in value of any used"goods.
Following an inspection of the returned goods we will refund you by the method that you
paid for the goods in the first instance.
This cancellation policy does not affect your legal rights.
Faulty Goods
If there is a problem with the goods, please contact us immediately and within 7 days"of
receipt of the goods. We will deal with the matter in accordance with your legal"rights.
order number, the delivery postcode and a brief outline of the nature of"the fault.
Once we have been notified of a faulty item, we may request photographic images of"the
fault. It may also be necessary for us to collect the goods for further assessment"or return.
We will pay for the collection of the goods but if on inspection the fault appears not to be
with Life Under Canvas we may then pass the collection charge back"to you.
If you fail to take reasonable care of the goods before they are returned to us, and"this re-
sults in damage or deterioration, we will exercise our right to charge you for the"reduction
in value.
Following an inspection of the returned goods if necessary we will replace the whole tent
or any parts of the tent that we have deemed as in need of replacement or refund you by
the method that you paid for the goods in the first instance.
It should be clear that your consumer legal rights may still apply after the warranty"expires.
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