Careful buying old canopies. Storage conditions such as heat, exposure to UV, solvents, and other chemicals can make them brittle, warped, and generally unusable. They may be warped merely by improper support during storage..

The cost of installation is a significant percentage of the total bill and installing a canopy that is near the end of its lifespan is false economy.

Even if it is in good condition, the "spraylat" factory protective coating can become welded to the plexi. Many hours of painstakingly chipping the coating off with fingernails or very soft plastic makes for a very unhappy mechanic and exponentially increases the likelihood of scratching the canopy before it is even flown.