How To Repair Tent Seams

Dew, pelting, or a sudden downpour—water potentially can detect its manner into whatever shelter through needle holes in the seams or an accidental pinhole or tear. Whether your tent or tarp arrives seam-sealed and fully waterproof, factory-taped, or unsealed, eventually y'all may need to treat your shelter to go on the elements at bay and your shelter in expert condition.

Luckily, the seam-sealing procedure is straightforward and adequately simple.

Before starting, check with your tent or tarp manufacturer to run across what specific products and practices they recommend or warn confronting. Always follow the manufacturer'due south recommendation and your seam sealant's directions.

McNett, Kenyon, and Aquaseal are amidst the seam sealant brands on the market place. Many tent companies recommend the following McNett products:

• SeamGrip is for use on shelters made from nylon or other synthetic materials, as well equally natural fabrics, waterproof laminates, leather, and vinyl. It also can be used to permanently repair pinholes and pocket-size tears.

• SilNet is for use on shelters fabricated from silicone coated fabrics, like silnylon. It besides can be used for minor in-field repairs.

The procedure of applying the 2 is essentially the same (follow the directions for your sealant).

Preparation

To seam seal, commencement with a clean, dry tent. Pay attending to the most exposed seams—the tent floor, fly, and bottom of the tent trunk—and attachment points, which are likeliest to let in water. You do not need to seam seal any mesh.

Yous'll desire to do this outside since prolonged exposure to seam sealant without adequate ventilation can be dangerous to your health. Also, pick a warm, dry day, since it volition have a while for the sealant to fully cure.

1. Thoroughly clean your tent and rain fly. Wash the tent with water and, if necessary, a very mild, non-detergent soap (check with your manufacturer for their recommendation). Practise not apply detergents, bleach, dishwashing, liquid, stain removers, or harsh soaps as they could eat through your tent'due south textile and any coatings.
2. Rinse well.
3. Let your tent dry thoroughly, preferably pitched or hung on a line in a shady spot. Never car dry your tent.
4. Proceed to the seam sealing in one case your tent is clean and dry and pitched tautly.

The Seam Sealing Process

Make sure to pull the tent and wing taut when applying sealant.

Now comes the part where you employ the sealant.

If you're sealing your shelter for the commencement fourth dimension, and not in response to a specific leak, your best bet is to seal all the seams at once to ensure that your tent won't neglect when you're in the midst of a downpour days abroad from a fix.

Pay item attention to the most exposed seams—the tent floor, fly, and bottom of the tent torso—and the webbing zipper points, which are about probable to allow in h2o. Mesh areas do non need to exist seam sealed. Your shelter's manufacturer may recommend specific seams to seal or not seal.

Depending on the size of your tent or the area you are applying the seam sealant to, you may require an extra or larger castor to make information technology easier.

1. On the interior walls, apply painter'due south masking record one/4 of an inch from both sides of the seam. This will go far easier to use the sealant and keep the sealant from spreading out likewise far. Information technology too will give your job a professional look.
2. Apply sealant to the interior wall seams of your tent, peculiarly the lower portion. Go all the way around leaving a sparse layer of sealant extending approximately 1/four of an inch past the seams. Pay attention to filling in all of those needle holes. Mesh areas do not require sealant, although it will provide extra forcefulness in holding the stitching together. Avert getting sealant in the zippers.
3. Apply the aforementioned amount and width of sealant to whatever seams on the tent flooring.
4. Shut the tent's opening and apply some other coating on the outside of the tent, making certain that all seams are taut. Many tents come with factory-taped seams. For these tents the outside seams can be sealed for maximum waterproofness. If the record starts to peal the sealant can be used like a gum to close the seam and re-use the tape.
5. Go out the tent to dry.
6. For one-piece tents, sealing is complete.
7. For tents with a rain fly, put the rain fly on upside downward to expose the inside seams. Follow the aforementioned process to seal the wing's seams every bit explained above.

Afterwards

1. 
   For added protection y'all can seal both sides of the pelting fly here.

   Ensure that the tent is left taut to dry and that the rain fly is secured. Leave both pieces to dry fully for 12 to 24 hours or overnight, if atmospheric condition let.
2. For an added level of protection you may want to apply seam sealant to the other side of your rain fly and tent bottom.
3. After all the seams have stale comes the fun office. Set up the tent commonly and turn on the sprinkler for an hour or so. Climb inside and marvel at your handiwork. Look for any leaks or gaps in the sealant. Thoroughly testing the seams now will ensure that in that location are no surprises out on the trail.
4. If necessary, let your tent dry, then echo the seam sealing process on any problem areas.
5. Once fully cured and dry, loosely store your make clean, dry tent out of direct sunlight and exterior of its stuff sack. Your shelter is at present fix to become.

Questions and Considerations

Pay close attention to sealing the necktie-down points at corners.

Exercise manufactory-taped seams mean my tent is seam sealed?
No. Newer tents often come with manufacturing plant-taped seams. This ways a waterproof material has been double stitched betwixt the tent's seams. A factory-taped seam is usually very h2o-resistant and should agree up well in comparing to no seam sealing at all, but information technology is non the same as fully waterproof seam sealing.

The outside seams can exist sealed for maximum waterproofness.

I simply paid a lot of money. Why isn't my tent already seam sealed or taped?
Some manufacturers seam seal their tents. Some do non, due to the cost and fourth dimension involved. It can exist far cheaper for y'all to seam seal your shelter yourself. A few smaller companies requite you lot the option at an additional charge.

Shelters made from silicone treated nylon are not factory-taped since seam tape does non stick to the material.

So, exercise I demand to seam seal my new tent?
Start, always check with your tent'southward manufacturer, since most accept their own guidelines on how and where to add sealant based on the materials used and the shelter'south design.

• If your tent'southward seams are neither sealed nor factory-taped y'all volition need to seal them. Go started on a warm, dry 24-hour interval, before hitting the trails.
• If your tent has factory-taped seams you do not need to seal it. Your tent should exist quite water-resistant, though yous may want to test its waterproofness nether the sprinkler before heading into the backcountry. If your tent will be used regularly, particularly in wet conditions, consider seam sealing. An added layer of sealant will give your shelter added protection and maximum waterproofness.
• If your tent comes seam-sealed you practice not need to seam seal it immediately. However, you may want to test its waterproofing under the sprinkler. Even with seam sealing, regular inspections and maintenance are still important, especially with heavy use.

At that place are lots of seam sealant product s on the marketplace. Can I apply any sealant on my tent?
No. Specific sealants are made to treat specific fabrics. Find out what materials your tent is made from (nylon versus silnylon, for instance) and the manufacturer's recommendation. The seam sealant you lot choose should be recommended for utilize with your tent's textile.

How oft should I seam seal or spot treat my tent?
For most people seam sealing demand merely be done at the outset of the season, unless you discover that your tent is starting to leak or wear in spots. Backpackers and campers that employ their equipment specially difficult may want to utilize a coating twice a year. The easiest way to tell when treatment is needed is with regular inspections. If the sealant is missing, leaking, or cracked in sections, apply another coat.

My seams feel sticky fifty-fifty afterwards leaving my tent to dry for 24 hours. What should I do?
If the sealant is nevertheless sticky later ample drying fourth dimension, use a little talcum pulverisation to the seams later the sealant dries, so the seams won't stick to the rest of the tent.

I seam-sealed the floor. Practice I nonetheless need a ground cloth or footprint?
Yes, it'south normally recommended. A ground fabric or footprint protects your tent from the ground, prolonging its life. Exist sure the ground cloth is smaller all around than the tent and does not stick out from underneath, otherwise water can get funneled underneath the tent. Y'all can make your own ground fabric or buy i.

Annotation: Always follow the cleaning, care, and repair recommendations of your gear'south manufacturer. Follow all directions and safety information for the seam sealant you choose to use.

Source: https://www.trailspace.com/articles/how-to-seam-seal-a-tent.html

Posted by: smithtenintion99.blogspot.com

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