Why coastal PSL is brutal on RV awnings
Three factors compound on Florida's east coast that you don't see inland:
- UV intensity. PSL averages 235 sunny days per year vs 205 nationally. The fabric tops out at maybe 5-7 years even with care vs 8-12 elsewhere.
- Salt-air corrosion on the arms, hardware, and motor housing. Anything storing within 5 miles of the Atlantic (Hutchinson Island, Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach) gets aggressive pitting on aluminum awning components.
- High humidity drives mildew growth on the underside of fabric that wasn't fully dried before retraction.
The 4-step PSL awning maintenance schedule
| Frequency | Task | Cost (DIY / Mobile Service) |
|---|---|---|
| Every 60 days | Soft-brush clean with mild soap, rinse, fully dry before rolling up | $0-$95 |
| Twice a year | 303 Aerospace Protectant treatment to fabric for UV protection | $15-30 / $125-185 |
| Annually | Inspect arms, hardware, motor (if electric), grease drive shafts | $0 / $145-225 |
| Every 4-5 years | Inspect fabric stitching, replace if torn or thinning | Replace: $345-580 mobile |
| Every 8-10 years | Full electric awning replacement (motor failure) | $680-1,200 mobile |
Mildew prevention - the #1 reason PSL awnings fail early
We retract more mildewed PSL awnings than we'd like. The cause is almost always retracting the awning while it's still damp from rain or morning dew. Fabric stays in contact with itself, doesn't dry, and within 2-3 weeks you have visible black spotting on the underside.
Rule we drill into our PSL customers: never retract a wet awning. If you have to pack and go and the awning is wet:
- Roll it up wet anyway (don't leave it out unattended in a thunderstorm)
- When you arrive at your next stop, immediately extend the awning fully and let it air-dry for 4+ hours
- Brush off any debris that came along for the ride
- Once fully dry, you can leave it out or retract for the night
If you've already got mildew - we can usually clean it with an awning-safe mildew remover ($125-185 mobile service). If the mildew has been there 6+ months, the fabric is usually permanently stained and you're looking at fabric replacement instead.
Carefree vs Dometic vs Solera - what fails most in PSL
We service all three main brands daily. Here's the failure mode by brand:
Carefree (Latitude, Eclipse, Mirage)
Carefree's electric motors are usually solid for 8-10 years even in Florida. Most failures are on the control box (relay welds shut or capacitor degrades). $245-385 to replace the control. Fabric is usually good vinyl - lasts 6-8 years if you 303-treat it.
Dometic (PowerArmor, 9100 series)
Dometic 9100 series is a common manual awning - very few failures, just fabric wear over time. The electric PowerArmor series has more failure modes (motor, gearbox, limit switches). Motor swap is $385-525, full unit replacement $680-1,000.
Solera / Lippert (PowerStream)
Solera is on a lot of newer (2018+) coaches. The 'shorty' arm design is less salt-air resistant than older designs - we see more pitting and seizure on Solera arms than on older Carefree units. Arm replacement is $285-425. Fabric replacement on Solera is one of the easier ones in the industry ($345-485 mobile).
When to repair vs replace your awning
- Small tear (under 6 inches), fabric otherwise good: patch with Tear-Aid Type A, $25 DIY
- Mildew stain less than 6 months old: mildew remove + 303 treatment, $125-185
- Fabric thinning, fading, or chalky to touch: fabric replacement, $345-580
- Electric motor won't extend/retract: motor repair or swap, $285-525
- Arms bent (wind damage): arm replacement, $185-385 per arm
- Multiple issues + unit 10+ yrs old: full replacement, $680-1,200
We can usually quote a real number after a 15-minute on-site look. If your awning is on the way out, ping us - same-day service typical in Port St. Lucie, Tradition, and St. Lucie West. More on our awning service.