Waterproofing Your Tent

Seams are where there are needle holes where water can penetrate so you need to apply a seam sealant to prevent the tent from leaking. It is not necessary to seal every seam but you should make sure that seam that is exposed to the weather is sealed. Applying a seam sealant on the interior walls won't give you extra weather protection.

Sealing the seams of a reasonably good quality tent with taped seams may not be necessary if it's not more than 3 years old. A taped seam have a glossy apperance and feels smooth to the touch.

You should apply seam sealant to a tent without taped seams. It's simply a polyurethane glue that seeps into the holes of the seams and seals it so that water cannot pass through it.

It's important to know which side of the fabric you need to apply and seam sealant. If present, you should apply on the same side as the original coating.

Before applying the seal, you should clean the surface are thoroughly. Allow some time to dry and then pitch the tent so that the fabric is tight. The tighter the seam is pulled, the better is the seam sealing.

Apply a generous amount of sealant even on the seams and allow it to dry for an hour or two. Repeat as necessary or it you want to be sure all the holes are closed.

After allowing enough time for the sealant to dry, you can begin testing the seams for leaks. Shower the the tent with water and look for leaks from the inside. You might need another person to help you with this but it's still possible to do this alone. If a leak is found, apply another layer of seam sealant on the seams where you think the water might be leaking from after you've dried the tent.

Make it a ritual to apply waterproof solution to your tent before leaving for a camping trip. The waterproof solution should be applied on the opposite side of the original coating once it is cleaned and dried. It will take a few days for the coating to cure properly. The end result could be sticky but sprinkling talcum powder over it helps.

To avoid complicating a permanent repair when your tent is punctured, avoid using duct tape as a temporary solution. Small holes can be easily fixed with a tent repair kit. Alternatively, use a waterproof nylon fabric big enough to cover the hole plus an inch or two. You then apply contact cement around the hole or on the edges of the patch. To have a nice permanent patch, use a flat surface on one side a place a pot of boiling water on the other side.