Many individuals enjoy camping, however, they do not know the proper way to care for a tent. It can be challenging to know the right steps to take in order to properly care for a tent. So, how often do tents need waterproofing?
Tents should be waterproofed every eight to ten years. Waterproofing tents is important to ensure that tents remain dry when being used on a camping trip. Without having a tent that is properly waterproofed, the tent may leak making a camping trip less enjoyable.
There are many things to learn and consider before waterproofing a tent. Such as the best methods and which products are best for which type of tent. After doing research, a compilation of helpful information has been provided.
Waterproofing a Tent
A tent should be waterproofed every eight to ten years or as soon as the tent begins leaking. It is important to waterproof a tent each time that a tent begins leaking in order to avoid the tent being damaged by water or even molding.
It is important to inspect your tent before packing up for a camping trip. By inspecting the tent, one is able to tell if the tent needs to be waterproofed before being used as a shelter. It is better to learn that a tent is not as water-repellent as it should be before a camping trip than on one.
It is better to waterproof a tent more frequently than to put off waterproofing your tent. Some avid campers even prefer to touch up the waterproofing on their tents every year. This can ensure that they are no leaks whenever the tent is being used. (Source)
Waterproofing is an important step to maintain the tent’s ability to be water-repellent. There are many different options for waterproofing a tent and it depends on the condition of the tent which will work best for your tent. (Source)
Waterproofing a Tent vs. Sealing a Tent
Waterproofing a tent refers to the tent in its entirety while sealing a tent is a form of waterproofing that refers to strictly the seams of a tent. Both are important when it comes to properly caring for a tent.
When someone says that they are waterproofing their tent, chances are that they are waterproofing the entire tent as well as re-sealing the seams on the tent.
Without keeping up on either of these a tent will leak. It is important to stay on top of both waterproofing and sealing a tent because both impact how water-repellent a tent is.
It is important to know where the water is leaking from in a tent so you are able to choose the correct method for repairing your tent. If the correct method is not used, the tent will continue to leak water.
There are many different methods for waterproofing an entire tent as well as resealing the seams of a tent.
Best Methods for Waterproofing a Tent
There are sprays that can be sprayed over the entire tent that can allow to enhance a tent’s ability to repel water. There are many different options to consider when selecting a spray to use when waterproofing a tent.
It is important to ensure that your tent is clean before applying any waterproofing methods. This allows the tent to be completely coated with the waterproofing liquid. If the tent was not properly cleaned prior to the application there can be spots on the tent that do not get evenly coated. This would result in parts of the tent leaking despite “being” coated with the waterproofing liquid or spray. When applying the spray, the tent does not need to be completely dried beforehand.
The process for applying a waterproofing spray is rather straightforward. Begin by spraying the outside of both the tent and rainfly. Once this is dried, make sure to coat the bottom of the tent with this spray as well, this ensures that no moisture will leak in from the ground. It is important to make sure to spray both sides of the rainfly, this helps guarantee that moisture is not leaking in from the top of the tent. If your tent seems to have a lot of issues with leaking, spraying the inside of the tent with this waterproofing spray will help decrease the leaking issues.
Depending on what the tent is made out of can also impact what type of waterproofing is required as well as the method of application needed to effectively make a tent water-repellent. The type of material a tent is made of can be found on the tag of either the bag the tent is stored in or within the tent itself.
The instructions that came with the tent can provide insight into some of the best ways to waterproof a specific tent. If the instructions have been lost or tossed, copies of them can be found online.
Fabric tents such as canvas or cotton tents, need to be soaked in water before waterproofing spray is applied. Doing this allows the entirety of the tent to be waterproofed. Without soaking the tent before applying the spray, tiny holes would be left in the canvas that did not get covered by the waterproofing spray. It is crucial to make sure that the tent is thoroughly soaked before application, this is the only way to ensure that the canvas tent is being properly waterproofed. (Source)
There are certain types of tapes that can allow a hole within a tent to be patched up. Holes can occur anywhere within the tent as a result of frequently using a tent, repairing these holes will allow the tent to stop leaking water.
The best types of waterproofing sprays contain silicone. This is a more durable spray that works on most different materials that tents are made of.
Cheapest Ways to Waterproof a Tent
If a tent is leaking underneath a rainfly, the issue could potentially be fixed by the simple use of a tarp. Instead of putting the rainfly directly onto the tent, place a tarp in between the roof of the tent and the rainfly to ensure your tent remains dry throughout your camping trip.
If water seems to be seeping into a tent through the floor of a tent, it can easily be fixed by placing a tarp underneath the tent. When a tent is placed on a tarp rather than being placed directly on the ground it reduces the amount of moisture that is entering a tent from the ground. Placing a tarp underneath a tent also allows the inside of the tent to stay warmer than if it was sitting directly on the ground.
If you are unable to waterproof a tent before a camping trip and do not have access to a tarp, doubling up on rainflies can decrease the amount of leaking that is happening.
If you are already on a camping trip and have just noticed a hole, using some type of waterproof tape can patch up a hole until you are able to obtain something to more permanently fix the hole.
There are some options of waterproofing sprays that are fairly cheap, however, many believe that these do not work as well as the more expensive sprays. It is important to consider this before spending money on something that might not actually solve the issue. (Source)
Methods for Sealing a Tent
There are different methods for sealing the seams of a tent. Before beginning one of these methods, is important to make sure that the tent is cleaned. The seams of a tent should be sealed both on the inside and the outside. One can ensure that these parts of the tents are clean by wiping over the seams of a tent with an alcohol wipe.
One method is using a sealing liquid to reduce the amount of water that can seep in through the seams of the tent. The application of this sealing liquid is fairly easy. This liquid comes with a brush which allows the sealer to be easily applied to the seams of a tent. It is important to ensure that an even coat of this sealing liquid is applied to both the seams inside and outside the tent.
A second method is using seam sealing tape. It is extremely crucial to ensure that the tent is not only clean but also dry before applying the seam sealing tape. If there is any amount of liquid or dirt on the seams, the tape will not stick as it is supposed to which will make it a less effective method.
While this seems like an easier option compared to the sealing liquid, it does not last as long as the sealing liquid.
Where to Purchase Supplies
The required supplies for both waterproofing and sealing seams can be purchased in the camping section of any local store. These sections of a store will have a small selection of products that can be used to waterproof a tent or seal the seams of a tent.
These supplies can even be purchased online through Amazon or even other stores’ online options. Online can offer more options than the camping section of a local store.
The most amount of options for products to waterproof a tent is at a camping store. These stores have a large selection of products that can be used to prepare a tent for a camping trip.
The size of your tent will determine the amount of waterproofing spray that is necessary to effectively coat the tent. If you are unsure how much would be enough for your tent, consulting an employee at a camping store can help you figure out the correct amount.
Reasons a Tent Requires More Frequent Waterproofing
If a tent is used frequently, it could require to be waterproofed quicker than eight to ten years. When a tent is frequently used, it wears out more which causes it to be less water-repellent than a tent that is only used a few nights out of the year.
Exposure to more drastic weather can cause the water-repellent on a tent to wear out faster than normal. If a tent is exposed to any harsh storms this can decrease how water-repellent a tent is.
Improperly storing a tent can cause a tent to need to be waterproofed before eight years have passed. When a tent is not properly taken care of, it can be damaged in ways that cause a tent to leak.
Why Waterproof a Tent?
Waterproofing a tent can extend the lifespan of that tent. This increases the number of years that one can continue using a tent. By reducing the amount of water that is entering the tent, the amount of damage being done by water is decreasing.
Waterproofing a tent can enhance a camping experience. This can ensure that anyone on the camping trip stays dry throughout the trip as well as protect people’s belongings from getting damaged by water from a leaking tent.
Keeping up on the waterproofing of a tent can save individuals from the hassle of having to quickly try to waterproof a tent right before a camping trip.
Things to Consider When Waterproofing a Tent
It is important to ensure that the waterproofing method you’re using is one that works for the material your tent is made out of. Certain materials need certain types of waterproofing sprays as well as different seam sealing methods. If you are unsure which method is best for your tent specifically, it can be helpful to talk to an employee at a camping store to ensure you are purchasing something that will effectively waterproof a tent.
Before waterproofing a tent, it is important to check the condition of your tent. If the tent is in good condition and not leaking at all, waterproofing a tent can be wasting money on something that is not necessary. There comes a point where a tent is too far gone to be saved by waterproofing. If a tent has too many leaks, it may not be worth attempting to fix it through various waterproofing methods. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to check the condition of your tent before purchasing supplies for waterproofing a tent.
