Inevitably when you’re camping, the weather will turn on you and you’ll eventually find yourself soggy and wet – inside your tent! It’s times like this when you really wished you knew how to seal a tent.
Before jumping right into getting the tent out of storage and setting it up, there are a few considerations that will help you determine if your tent needs some extra waterproofing.
- Is it a new tent? Tents manufactured these days are usually waterproof already, however you may want to check with the manufacturer. Some manufacturers do seam their tents while there are others that don’t due to the time and cost involved in the process.
- How will I know if I need to seam my new tent? As mentioned, newer tents are generally factory-taped, meaning that the waterproof material was double stitched between the seams of the tent. Still, this not the same as giving the tent a full waterproof seam sealing.
- How often should sealing be done? Sealing your tent is commonly done only once, before using it. However, through prolonged and constant use, your tent may have wear and tear. Inspect regularly and apply another coating as needed.
How To Seal A Tent
Now, if you want that added security of knowing that you’ll be dry and comfortable all through the raging downpour outside, it’s time to get down to the business of how to seal a tent.
- You must first make sure that your tent is clean, dry and pitched properly before starting to seam seal it. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations. Do not use detergents, bleach, or other harsh cleaning agents since they can remove any waterproof coating. Also, never machine dry your tent.
- While hanging your tent out to dry, you can, in the meantime, prepare all the materials you will need. There are actually many techniques on how to seal a tent, but we will discuss the easiest way to do it. No need to waste time and effort when something can be done better in less time. All that you will need is the sealant, a plastic syringe, a sponge, and a brush.
- Set up your tent in the garage or backyard, wherever is more convenient for you. Then identify all the seams that need sealing.
- Using the plastic syringe, seal all the seams where the fabrics meet. You will have better control when using the syringe. For instance, laying the sealant a little too thick can easily be corrected by running a sponge along the seam and prevent droplets from forming.
- For stitching visible on the outside of your tent, the reinforced corners, and around the awnings, you can brush the sealant to cover the seams in these areas by putting sealant on your brush and painting it directly.
- After doing the seams and stitches, you can now allow the sealant to dry. Leave your tent pitched for a few days and perform a final inspection. Do any touch-ups as needed.
Wasn’t that easy? How to seal a tent is a rather straightforward process. Once you’ve sealed your tent, you’re now ready to enjoy the Great Outdoors, and the weather can’t stop you from doing so. Camping and hiring may have thought you that’s better to be prepared than sorry. So once you’ve determined that your tent needs a good sealing before seeing action, then by all mean buy some sealant and start seam sealing. You certainly wouldn’t want to end up drenched inside your new tent during an unexpected afternoon rain shower.
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