Seam sealing a tent fly patch

Set your tent up in a dry, sunny spot or brightly lit room so you can easily examine all. While many manufacturers offer this as an addon service, but you can also do it yourself. There are two main ways of sealing the stitching in a tent. Bring a tube of seam grip wp with you on your next camping trip to get the job done right and stop leaks.

To waterproof my backpacking tents, i always seam seal then use sprayon waterproofing on the fabric. Let the patch cure for a day before packing the tent away. Thats where the rain will fall and you need to seal the stitching there to repeal water ingress. Allow a few minutes for seams to dry, then pitch the tent in a wellventilated location and attach the rainfly with the surface to be coated facing out. This is a two person backpacking tent that isnt that large. If you round the corners of the tape, the patch will last longer. May 18, 2018 seam sealing a tent is a must if you want to make certain that your camping trip is dry and cozy. Seams close to the floor area will need a coat of sealant applied which is likely to be a corner area between the floor and walls. Glue, goo, tapes and you outdoor gear repair the fixed. If your seams came taped from the factory, this might be tricky to do as any residual tape can disrupt the application. However, im a little lost in what else to seam seal and how. Another option apart from gluing is sewing a patch overlap that damaged area by hand. Dont forget to regularly inspect the stitching to increase the life of your tent and return to this article if you have a question. If you need to renew the water resistant coating on a fly or tent fly, try one of the nikwax products that is intended for this.

Cinching the fly tight will stretch the seams and allow for better sealant penetration and for faster drying time. A durable water repellent dwr coating helps your rainfly shed water. Wp waterproof tent sealant and adhesive gear aid seam grip 1 oz. If the tear is in a hightension area, like near a pole, its a good idea to patch the inside of the tent as well. Tyvek tent footprint w 4 ul grommet tabs for big agnes fly creek hv ul 1p tent. We paint silicone on the fly seams and add nonskid silicone stripes to interior floors. If its an old tent then it probably doesnt have sealed seams. If the tape appears to be failing everywhere, remove and discard it. Some other options are to patch your nylon tent the same way you would waterproof the seams using sealing tape and seal seam adhesive. Nov 18, 2016 you have the option of a full refund or new non seam sealed shelter. How to repair flaking polyurethane tent flies and floors. For a more in depth cleaning method, follow the steps in how to clean a stinky tent. Apply it to both the inside and the outside of the tent before covering with seam sealer.

Most tents are sold with seams already sealed, usually via seam tape. Afterward for added protection you can seal both sides of the rain fly here. In the past this tent has stood up to torrential thunderstorms in. Sealing the seams is going to be the hardest part of this process.

Lay the tent fabric on a solid surface and remove the backing on the tape patch. You can cover the seam with a seam seal tape, as found inside the seams of goretex and punylon jackets, or you can paint on a sealant. Now you are ready to apply seam sealer to your tent seams. Add years to the life of your tent and camp happy with a dry tent. Affix the patch, then place a flatbottomed pot of boiling water on top. In this case, you should not use pu sealants or those that are meant to use for seam sealing, they are not sufficient for the job. The good news is that the silicone is very long lasting, so your tent will only need to be sealed once.

Then clean the seams with isopropyl alcohol and reseal with seam. It can also be used for patching inflatable sleeping pads, repairing shoes, glueing various parts together, and a number of other uses. Learn how to do some simple tent repairs, such as fixing a pole and patching. Easy to use all you need is the tape and an iron color grey size 0. I also question the effectiveness of sealing a double walled tents seams, since a nylon tent wall itself has no other water repelling capabilities.

However, when it comes to actually putting your tent up, you notice its damaged. Under normal conditions, a tent needs a treatment every three to four years. Seam sealing guide any tent or tarp luxe hiking gear. To stop a leak in the rain fly or upper surface of your tent, apply. Learn how to use seam grip wp to repair tears and seam seal tents for. Most tent sealing products need 24 hours to dry completely, so make sure you have a designated space free from debris where the tent can be spread out for a day to dry.

Prepare your tent for seam sealing by setting up the tent and cleaning it. Seam grip by gear aid is a gear repair kit in a tube. These materials cannot be machine taped but must be seam sealed manually. It can be used to create a window patch on large holes. To get at hardtoreach places on your tent floor, turn it inside out if necessary. Some people use a brush, but that can spread far and wide. Check out our web site for more information concerning everything seen on our channel including revi. The ticket is seam grip, the same adhesive you would use to seal the seams in a tent. Once you have the pants altered, youll want to paint along the seams using the applicator brush included. This is arguably a much simpler method of patching holes in your tent, as you can just apply the tape or seam seal directly to the whole without needing a patch. Weave the thread along the edges of the hold it firmly in place. If you use this tent without sealing the seams they will become wicks that allow water to seep into the tent. Seam sealing a tent or tarp when you buy a tent or tarp made with silnylon, its best to seal the seams using gear aid silnet silicone seam sealer in order to make them waterproof in the rain.

Pitch the tent in a wellventilated area preferably outside, and in the shade. Just finished seam sealing my back up tent, i loan it out to folks hiking with me. Seam grip field repair kit when you re out in the field, your gear is subjected to rough. People always seam seal the stitching on the seams, but, to make sure its really water proof you need a bead of sealant along or better yet under the flap of the seam. How to mend a rip in a tents fabric or seam youtube. Please note that seamsealing is weatherdependent and ordering this service may add to the wait time. Imo seam sealing a tent which has a fly is like wearing two condoms. To stop a leak in the rain fly or upper surface of your tent, apply seam sealer when the fabric has dried out. Seam sealing a tent or tarp earlylite for beginners, tents, hammocks, and tarps seam sealing is the process of treating the stitch holes and seams in gear made from waterproof fabric to prevent them from leaking when it rains or snows to achieve maximum waterproofness. Seam sealing a tent or tarp section hikers backpacking blog. As i mentioned i have engaged in this practice for decades with no adverse consequences. Best way to patch a rainfly supertopo rock climbing. Once all tidy, tautly pitch the tent in a wellventilated area and grab some personal protective equipment. Set in a new grommet with a grommet setter and seal its edges with seam sealer.

A light misty all night long rain hit us at 2,000 feet on the oregon coast range and the fly started leaking at the repair point the water from the fly came into the bathtub floor at the seam where the tag is sewn in. Alternatively, a jacket can be constructed using the process of heat sealing which may or may not involve stitching fabric together, but always involves the fabrics being welded together or onto another material such as plastic with heat. In the past this tent has stood up to torrential thunderstorms in the rockies and on the plains. Wet gear can dampen the spirits of even the most adventurous outdoor enthusiast. These seams can be sealed using a special waterproof seam sealing tape referred to as tape sealing. Seam sealing silnylon tarps and tents gear aid blog. Never seam seal in cold, damp, or humid environments. Glue, goo, tapes and you outdoor gear repair the fixed line. Seal the inner, coated shiny side of the fabric only. If you select the nonseam sealed option, you will be refunded the difference between the original price of the seam sealing and the shipment of the new tent. You might not have to do it but id say youd be kicking yourself if you were out there in a downpour and it was dripping all through your tent. Use it as a tent seam sealer, sleeping pad fixer or equipment rebuilder. You can repair small tears and rewaterproof it at home for cheap. If you clean it thoroughly and patch any damage you could still waterproof it fairly well.

How to seam seal a tent or tarp section hikers backpacking blog. In these limited styles, we actually provide the seam sealer with the tent. Now, on the inside of the tarp, i see the two long black seams that run away from the trekking pole patch. If you select the non seam sealed option, you will be refunded the difference between the original price of the seam sealing and the shipment of the new tent. Macpac seam sealing of tents forums new zealand tramper. I havent noticed any leaking from the fly, but im thinking it might be time to reseal the seams on the fly before i take it out in a vancouver island winter storm where theres sure to be lots of rain.

The only longterm way to fix them is to replace the ferrule, cracked pole segment, or the. I sealed all non factory taped seams on my trango 2 when i bought it years ago with mcnett seam grip i also sealed all the points where guy out loops were sewn to the fly the main seams were all taped and they have never leaked i sealed the floor seam where it joined the sides from the inside and all points where the stake out loops were sewn on. Once you ve patched the fly, you can renew the materials waterproofing. I believe both henry shires and six moon designs provide optional manual seam sealing for an additional charge. Seal the edges of the stitchedin patch with seam sealer on the outside surface of the tent.

Sealing each seam with a good tent seam sealer will help even if the stitching has become a little looser with age. We love to find out how your seam sealing experience. Get a patch of round shape and strong thread of color that matches the screen. You should thoroughly inspect all seams to insure that they have been correctly sewn. Tent repair, maintenance, and cleaning guide section hikers. I am looking at my one year old lightheart solo, and contemplating resealing it, but the seams look and feel ok. Damaged seam tape can be repaired by using mcnett seam grip over the damaged area by treating the exterior seams of the tent.

If you just did a french seam, two fabric edges sewn together, and sewed binding strips over the seam allowances as seen on many cheaper tents, you would probably have a seam tht is less pretty, but also less likely to leak after sealing than with a faux felled seam with its line of open stitch holes along each seam. This minimizes the possibility of seam grip seeping out from under patch. If necessary, let your tent dry, then repeat the seam sealing process on any. Now one thing a lot of people forget to do is the flap on the seam. Fully waterproof, seam grip wp is an adhesive and sealant for tents and tarps that effectively shelters you from the rain. Seamsealing blocks water from entering the seam holes created when the tent is sewn. At the end of the day, if youre really stuck then duct tape may do the trick. Seam sealing will create a waterproof barrier and extend the longevity of your tent. Ive noticed that the tape covering the fly seams is coming off. Use a small brush, to make sure the sealer penetrates the small thread holes. Important exceptions are tents, tarptents and tarps made with ultralight fabrics such as silnylon and cuben.

Fix a rip by using a clear tenacious tape patch by gear aid. Even tents with taped floor and fly seams usually need some seam sealing, particularly. On older tents, you will need to seal and waterproof every seam. After you do the inside of the fly flip it over on the tent and do the same thing to the outside seams. If you happen to have spare patches of tent fabric, then you can use. I used tent and gear solarproof or something like that. In this useful video ian shows us how to do a quick and easy repair on a piece of damaged tent fabric using tenacious tape. Depending on the construction of the pants, and how the alteration is performed, you may be able to turn them inside out and paint the inner surface.

To do this you are going to to need to use a sealant on the inside of all the seams and then let dry. Seam sealing blocks water from entering the seam holes created when the tent is sewn. I recommend seam sealing then rewaterproofing the tent. Similarly, canvas tents will need taffeta repair tape and seam sealer for. How to repair fabric tears for camping tents family tent. Jan 21, 2016 the easiest way to seal the rain fly is just as mcnett states by placing the fly over the tent inside out which makes applying the sealant easier and gives it space to air out and dry.

Seam grip wp is typically applied to the underside of tent rain flies or the inside of tents. Nov 05, 2014 sealing the seams is going to be the hardest part of this process. One bottle does a 2person tent fly if you ration it out carefully. Gear aid nee mcnett seam grip is a urethane adhesive often used for seam sealing nylon or polyester tent flys. When you buy a tent or tarp made with silnylon, its best to seal the seams using gear aid silnet silicone seam sealer in order to make them waterproof in the rain. Ive got a kelty typhoon 2 tent, from the mid1990s but still in good shape.

Even tents with taped floor and fly seams usually need some seam sealing, particularly along zippers and around corners. Mcnett gear aid mcnett repair tape goretex seam tape. Seam sealing siliconesilnylon tarps and shelters terrifies many people. If a small section of seam tape on gear has peeled, use seam grip wp to reattach it. Generally you want to apply sealant to the outer tent rain fly where it has been sewn. For an added level of protection you may want to apply seam sealant to the other side.

You have the option of a full refund or new nonseam sealed shelter. If you find seam tape that is coming loose on the underside of the fly. A very simple method of sealing the seams on a tent is to erect it so the fabric is under slight tension and paint the seams with some sort of sealer. How to seam seal a tent seam sealing a tent duration. Learning how to seam seal a tent will pay off for you in the long run, and you will be grateful that you did a quality job when it starts pouring rain.

Tent fabrics that are coated with silicone elastomer. Gear aid seam grip repair adhesive and sealant for sale. Prep the seams by gently cleaning them with a rag and rubbing alcohol. Then you simply paint on the seam sealant and let it dry to restore your tents waterproofing. They include a brush, a glove, and some premixed silicone solution. Seam tape on tent fly the great outdoors stack exchange.