Questions for planning a fabric graphics project

By Paula Rees

• How long might this fabric or fabric and print combination last?
• Is there a warranty?
• How are the awning/signage frames attached to the building?
• How much will the frame and fabric combination weigh?
• How is a weather seal maintained at the frame penetrations in the building facade?
• Is there a redundancy of moisture protection designed into the system [e.g., awning fabric caulked above the support railing that is also caulked at the connection point]?
• What kind of materials will the framing system be made of? Will these all be of the same material (e.g., aluminum) or will there be a combination (e.g., mixture of aluminum and steel)?
• Is the structural design of the supports and support system being done by a structural engineer or by an experienced fabricator using tried-and-true standards?
• Have all the applicable kinds of loads (uplift, snow, seismic, wind) been factored into the structural calculations?
• Are the frame details based on standard design or is there custom work to be detailed?
• Is the project a variation on standard designs [see PAMA definitions of standard awning types] or a more complex custom design?
• Will the graphics portion of the job need to be on a flat surface, or can it be on a curved surface?
• If the graphics can be on a curved surface, will this affect the shape of the awning/signage design?
• Does the project conform to any traditional historic district regulations? Or will it be more modern or contemporary?
• If the project is within an historic district, are there restrictions on fabric choice (look, texture, color, illumination regulations)?

Paula Rees is the president of Maestri in Seattle, a multi-disciplinary design firm invovled in urban planning, enviornmental graphics and the marketing of real estate properties.