Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Post by princessvwc on Jun 6, 2007 17:15:33 GMT -5
Hey guys, I have a question about waterproofing/sealing the tent. I recently bought a Kenai 10x8 4 person tent and in love with it. I have set it up many times in my livingroom for the fun of it. After reading your many informative threads, I have decided i need to spray the tent with the sealant to waterproof it. All my friends think im crazy but after looking at weather reports I want to be safe then very very sorry. So I bought the Silicone Water-Guard spray treatment. From what i understand I need to allow 24 hours for drying.
Is it do able to not setup the tent but spray is in parts when its flat on the ground? I set up the tent inside my living room cause I live in an apartment. So I have no backyard you know to set it up carefree and leave it be for 24 hours. I can maybe with a small patio but its not big enough to hold the tent all set up. Do you think this is do able? Any advice or tips on how to go about it? Thanks. My friends are getting me upset cause they think im stupid for caring so much about preparations. I want to do it so I'm turning to you. You understand where I'm coming from.
Post by oleander124 on Jun 6, 2007 17:30:55 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear your friends are upsetting you. I just had an argument with my bf last night about the same thing and it wasn't pretty. I wish people would leave us alone and realize we're doing it so we won't have to "suffer" as much when we get there.
I have the same tent. I sealed the rainfly on the floor and let it hang outside over a chair for a few hours. I sealed the seams of the actual tent when it was set up in my dining room and left it overnight. Is there anyway you could do that? (Sealing it is not the same as waterproofing. These are two different steps...sealing being first, then waterproofing. Making sure you knew that.
As far as waterproofing, you should be ok with just doing the rainfly and not the sides/floor of the tent...but if you want to just in case, then I am not sure what to say. You would have to prop it up on something so the fabric wouldn't stick to itself and not dry properly.
Post by princessvwc on Jun 6, 2007 17:36:34 GMT -5
I thought just to spray the water repelant would be as effective as the sealant. But I guess I should just spray the rainfly and buy some sealing treatment for the seams with that tube thing i saw at the target. thanks oleander i appreciate im not the only one.
Post by circusoflight on Jun 6, 2007 18:24:51 GMT -5
once i set up my tent, where should i apply the seam sealer? like along where the poles go, or along the bottom of the tent, or just like it sounds the seams (where there is stitching holding fabric together)?? sorry for the asinine question, but i have never sealed before. thanks.
Post by groovelogik on Jun 6, 2007 19:42:58 GMT -5
1. Pitch your tent on a warm, sunny day or a well ventilated area.
2. Turn the rainfly inside out so that the coated side is exposed.
3. Apply a bead of sealent along all seams. Using an applicator or your finger, work the sealent into the seam. 4. Use several light coats instead of one heavy applications.
5. Get inside of the tent and repeat the steps on the walls and floor of the tent. (be sure to have adequate ventilation)
The purpose of the seam sealer is to seal the holes from the needle and thread that was used to sew the tent together - the purpose of waterproofing (silicone or scotchguard) is to waterproof the tent (kinda like rainx for your windshield) it will make the water bead and roll off instead of soak in and through
so - therefore, they are two differnt things and you really need to do both - seam sealing is done from the inside and waterproofing from the outside
I just get a can of water sealant/repellant (like you would get for some suede shoes or whatnot) and spray all seems on the inside then do the same for the outside. This has always worked great for me.
I good sunny, breezy day is ideal to do this. I let mine dry out for 2 days it worked great!
Seam sealing the inside seams (especially the rainfly and your floor seams!) really is an absolute must for every tent, regardless of what any box, paperwork, salesperson, or manufacturer might say. It is best to use a true seam sealant, as it is made to get into those threads and the holes made by sewing and close them up.
The spray-on waterproofing is certainly also a good idea for the outside of the tent, but is an additional step of security / added protection, whereas seam sealing is a basic requirement of preparing and maintaining any tent.
But I've heard voices not in the head Out in the air they called ahead Through ripped out speakers Through thick and thin They found a shelter Under my skin -Evgeny Aleksandrovitch Nikolaev
