Large Canopy & Tensile Structure Cleaning

Your property’s large canopies and tensile structures do more than provide shade or shelter—they play a major role in your guests’ first impression. Yet they can be challenging to maintain. Limited access, significant height, and constant foot traffic often make routine cleaning difficult. Many general cleaning vendors lack the specialized expertise required for cleaning these structures.

That’s where we come in.

As part of the Valcourt Group, our A-1 Orange team—formerly known as Awnclean and based in Tampa, Florida—has decades of experience caring for awnings, canopies, and tensile structures nationwide. Our team understands the unique construction, materials, and environmental stresses these features face. With the proper techniques, equipment, and planning, we help property teams stay ahead of staining, discoloration, and organic growth before they impact guest experience or asset longevity.

We’ll guide you through what comprehensive canopy and tensile structure cleaning entails, why it matters for both aesthetics and performance, and how our specialized crews execute each project safely and efficiently with minimal disruption to your daily operations.

Service Overview

Large canopy and tensile structure cleaning focuses on the prominent fabric and membrane features that define your property—entry canopies, shade structures, amphitheater and stadium covers, and other architectural tensile elements. These structures enhance guest experience, protect key areas, and represent a significant capital investment.

Because they’re exposed to exhaust, pollen, pollution, bird activity, and moisture, they stain easily—especially light-colored materials and shaded sections where organic growth develops. Their height and complex geometry also make them difficult for in-house teams to access, and standard pressure washing can damage the material.

Proper cleaning requires specialized access planning, the right chemistry, and trained technicians. With the correct approach, you protect the asset, extend its service life, and maintain the clean, professional appearance your property depends on.

Why DIY or Deferred Cleaning Creates Bigger Challenges

Due to the access and technical demands, it can be tempting to postpone canopy cleaning or attempt to address it with general maintenance tools. Unfortunately, both approaches can create risks and unforeseen costs.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Pressure Washing Risks: High-pressure equipment can damage fabric, remove protective coatings, or void manufacturer recommendations. Proper canopy care relies on controlled manual cleaning with the right chemistry.
• Safety Concerns: Canopies are often elevated and require trained technicians, appropriate lifts, and fall protection protocols. Improvised work introduces avoidable liability.
• Overspray and Property Impact: Cleaning products must be managed carefully at height. Without proper controls, overspray can affect guests, vehicles, landscaping, and building surfaces.
• Warranty Considerations: Many tensile structure manufacturers outline specific cleaning requirements. Using incorrect methods or products may jeopardize warranty coverage.
• Premature Wear: Staining and organic growth aren’t just aesthetic issues. If left untreated, contaminants can degrade membrane materials over time, accelerating aging and reducing the structure’s useful lifespan.

How We Approach It: The 5 Steps Behind Our Large Canopy Cleaning and Tensile Structure Service

Our approach is a structured, safety-first process designed specifically for large, complex tensile structures. Every step balances guest experience, risk management, and long-term asset protection.

Step 1: Discovery & Scope Development

Every project starts with a detailed site assessment. We evaluate the structure size, geometry, and access requirements, and review drawings or manufacturer data when available. We assess soil type, staining patterns, and previous cleaning history.

We also identify the operational constraints that matter to your team: guest traffic patterns, nearby equipment or attractions, landscaping, adjacent contractor work, and any noise or light restrictions. 

From there, we define the scope with your engineering and property teams, specifying which surfaces require attention (topside, underside, support members, mesh), acceptable work windows, and any special considerations, such as back-lit elements or sensitive finishes.

Step 2: Safety and Access Planning for Large-Scale Structures

Canopy cleaning at height requires serious planning. 

We develop site-specific safety and access plans that determine lift types and sizes needed to reach 100-foot spans and high attachment points. We identify setup locations, swing radius requirements, and ground protection needs.

Coordination with your property and engineering teams involves setting up barricades, implementing traffic control measures, and ensuring safe working conditions around other contractors. We address compliance requirements head-on, including fall protection protocols, equipment inspections, operator certifications, and job hazard analyses tailored to your specific structure and site. 

Step 3: Material-Specific, Manufacturer-Approved Cleaning Process

Depending on the structure’s material and current condition, we select the most suitable cleaning method to ensure safe and effective results. We pretreat surfaces with carefully chosen cleaners and, where applicable, algaecides to loosen contaminants and address mildew on exterior membranes and sheltered undersides where debris accumulates.

The cleaning process relies on controlled, manual techniques rather than aggressive pressure. Crews hand-clean surfaces using manufacturer-approved products and soft-brushing methods, often working from lifts or extended poles to protect the material while covering large spans. We rinse thoroughly to prevent spotting, allow the surfaces to dry, and conduct a detailed inspection to ensure even, streak-free results.

For back-lit, specialty, or sensitive membrane sections, we pretest all cleaning solutions to ensure compatibility before full application.

Step 4: Protection, Sealing, and Extending Asset Life

Clean membranes can benefit from proper sealing. We apply manufacturer-recommended, appropriate vinyl or fabric sealers that enhance water repellency, create a protective barrier against future contaminants, and provide UV protection to reduce sun damage and fading.

A clean, sealed membrane sheds dirt more easily, slows future staining, and can significantly extend the canopy’s service life. That translates to deferred replacement costs and better long-term value from your original investment. 

We follow manufacturer guidance on chemistry and methods to support warranty compliance and preserve structural integrity.

Step 5: Scheduling Around Operations and Creating a Maintenance Program

Finally, we schedule canopy cleaning during nighttime or low-traffic periods to minimize disruptions to daily operations at attractions, retail centers, transit facilities, and commercial properties. Your guests and tenants shouldn’t know we were there until they notice how good everything looks.

We also recommend setting up recurring cleaning frequencies, whether semi-annual or annual, to prevent heavy buildup and keep each service efficient and predictable. Property managers and building engineers can integrate canopy cleaning into capital and operating budgets, bundling with other façade, window, or specialty cleaning services for greater efficiency across the property.

Keep Your Canopies Working as Hard as You Do

Because your large canopies and tensile structures sit at the intersection of first impressions and long-term investment, they deserve a cleaning approach that matches their value: specialized methods, proper chemistry, and crews who understand how to work at height without damaging the material or disrupting your operations. Planned maintenance keeps tenants and guests satisfied and eliminates the risks associated with improvised solutions or years of deferred attention.

Our teams bring the expertise, equipment, and safety protocols that complex canopy and large tensile structure cleaning demands require. We also deliver façade cleaning, window cleaning, and comprehensive exterior maintenance programs, allowing you to consolidate vendors and minimize coordination headaches across your portfolio. 

When you’re ready to get your canopies back to their best, contact us for a site assessment or to discuss a tailored maintenance plan.