The most important thing to avoid while camping is for your tent’s roof to leak in the event of rain.
Fortunately, it’s entirely preventable.
The article will answer all your questions on how to keep water out of the tent. It includes information about when it is time for a new application, what kind you should get and ways that can help with prolonging its life.
Table of Contents
Tent Waterproofing Overview
The durability of the tent is tested by putting it through a rainstorm to see how well water penetrates into its interior. The minimum strength 3000 HH rating ensures that most storms will not be too much for this product.
You may notice some condensation on your tent if it isn’t ventilated well enough. It’s important to open up all the vents for a more breathable atmosphere, but even then you will still see water droplets forming when its raining outside and air can enter from inside through small leaks or windows that are not sealed properly.
Hydrostatic head is a measurement that tells you how much water can be repelled by your tent. Convert it from 3000 HH to millimeters for visualization purposes and see just how high the columns in question might get before they leak through.
A tent fabric with 3000 mm of thickness can hold up to a 300mm tall column.
If you want your tent to be able withstand light showers and snow, a minimum waterproofing level of 1000HH will do. However if strong gusts or continuous rain is expected then it’s best that we go over 2000 H head.
The groundsheet of your tent must have a higher HH rating, since people will sit down and lie on it. This causes the pressure to increase which could result in damage for both you as well as any other items inside or outside the shelter.
How Long Does Tent Waterproofing Take To Wear Off?
Tent fabrics are designed to keep water from leaking in through the seams. However, this thin coating can be worn away over time due to natural exposure and use it will eventually stop working as efficiently when exposed too much or if you frequently camp in inclement weather conditions like snow or rain without treatment for waterproofing tents.
The higher the HH rating of your tent, generally speaking you’ll have more durable waterproofing. The trade off is that it will take longer for this coating to wear off but again depending on where and how often you camp may be worth considering.
The type of camping you do can affect how often your tent needs to be waterproofed. If it’s mostly in cloudy areas with little rain, then the water resistant material will last for many years without needing any repairs or restorations however if there are lots surrounding sunlight and heavy storms that cause extensive damage (such as flooding), professional assistance should probably get involved sooner rather than later so they don’t worsen over time due lack proper care.
Tent Waterproofing Lifespan ?
This will depend on the type of tent you have, and how often it is used. You should re-apply waterproofing every time your protectors wear off.
You can perform a simple test at home to see if your tent is leaking. You’ll have the best results by setting it up outside and spraying water all over, looking for spots where there are leaks or places that show wetness on contact with an object inside of them (like sleeping bags). If you find any then just repeat this process until everything’s dry again.
Paying attention to the roof, rainfly and sides of your tent can help you identify any problems before they become too much.
The fabric of your tent is starting to show signs that it’s been waterproofed poorly. Before you go out into the rain again, make sure there are no leaks by spraying water on all sides with a bottle and watching how much sinks in before soaking through or else risk flooding.
Ways You Can Waterproof A Tent?
If you’re certain that your tent’s waterproofing capabilities aren’t going to suffice then it’s time to apply an waterproof coating.
It is possible to make a tent waterproof in just 3 easy steps:
- Cleanse the tent Clean the tent: You can do this with the gentle sponge and soap. Take a look at this guide to the best way to wash your tent for some helpful guidelines. It is the perfect moment to repair any holes or tears that may have formed inside your tent.
- Seal seams as seams are likely to be the source for leaks, it’s crucial to seal them correctly. Apply the seam sealant with the applicator provided or using a paintbrush. To get the best outcomes Apply the sealant to all sides of your seams. We suggest using gear aid Seam Grip the WP sealant adhesive.
- Use a water-proof solution: The kind of tent spray to waterproof your tent that you choose to use will depend on the type of fabric the tent is constructed of. Tents are made of either canvas, synthetic product, or even a mixture of both. Tents are usually constructed using synthetic materials. If that is the case for your tent and you want to waterproof it, then make use of Nikwax Tent & Gear Solarproof! For waterproofing apply a spray on your tent that is wet with Nikwax. Wait some time, then wipe off any excess product using a damp cloth. The tent should completely dry.
