Last summer I was camping in the back garden with my kids (the joys of lockdown in the UK), enjoying a typically British summer, then it started to rain. Lucky for us the rain came the morning after our first night outside, so we didn’t have to endure a night of rain on the tent. However, we did notice that a puddle had started to form inside the tent. This is when we realised that we needed to waterproof the tent. So I decided to find out how to waterproof a tent.
For those in a rush, here is the simple 6 step process:
- Make sure you do this on a warm, dry day
- Carefully clean the tent
- Reseal the seams of the tent
- Apply the water repellent coating
- Leave until completely dry
Read on for further detail on how to waterproof a tent.
Why do I need to waterproof my tent?
Modern tents are coated with a waterproof membrane or have been treated in such a way as to stop moisture soaking through the fabric, usually with a waterproofing agent.
However, over time the coating on your tent will wear away and reduce the effectiveness of your tent at keeping the rain out. If you want to avoid a soggy night’s sleep, you will need to apply a waterproof coating.
How often should I waterproof my tent
The good news here is that there is no specific regularity to how often you waterproof your tent. This means that it is not a “once a year” job, unlike other maintenance.
The recommended guidance is that you check your tent before going away to make sure it is still watertight. There is nothing worse than heading away for a week-long camping trip and discovering on the first night that your tent is leaking!
Ahead of a long trip away, you should set up your tent and check for any physical damage. A key thing to look out for is bits of sealant coming off along the seams of the tent. This is a sure-fire sign that you will need to waterproof your tent.
If there are no obvious physical signs of wear on your tent, the final thing to do is to check the tent isn’t letting water in. The best way to do this is to get the tent wet, either with a hand spray or a light setting on the hose (no jet washes here). If there is no water seeping through you are good to go!
How to waterproof a tent
Waterproofing your tent is a fairly straightforward process, but it does require some special products to do it. You will need:
- Seam sealant made for tents (if parts of the seams are flaking)
- Rubbing alcohol (for the seams)
- Durable Water Repellent Coating Spray
- A soft cloth or sponge
How to reseal the seams of your tent
Pitch your tent
How you pitch your tent will depend on the type of tent you have.
- If your tent is an outer pitch first tent (meaning the outside of the tent is pitched first and is where the poles go through) then simply pitch the flysheet of the tent
- If your tent is an inner first tent, you will need to pitch the inner first and lay the fly on top of the tent inside out.
Clean the seams of the tent with rubbing alcohol
Using rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth/sponge, rub the seams of the tent to remove any loose bits of sealant that are coming away from the tent seams.
Apply Seam Sealer to the tent
The type of seam sealer you apply will depend on the material used to make your tent (polyurethane coated vs. silicon coated material).
You are applying the sealant to the inside of the tent here, so make sure you are working on the appropriate side before starting.
Use the brush that comes with the sealant to go over all parts of the seam. If the seams have a small flap where they meet, make sure to coat the inside of the seam as well as the outside in order to get the best seal.
Leave to dry
This is important to ensure the best seal possible is formed on the seams and to prevent future leaks. Make sure you leave the product to dry for as long as is recommended on the product instructions.
How to apply a durable water repellent coating to a tent
Pitch your tent
Applying the water repellant layer will be much easier with the tent up rather than folded. It is only the outer layer that will be coated, so there is no need to pitch the inner of the tent if you don’t have to.
Spray on the water repellent product
Spray on the water repellent product as per the product instructions. Make sure you cover the whole area where the leak is occurring to ensure the problem does not reoccur.
Wipe off any excess with a damp cloth
This will ensure you get a nice even coating on the tent.
Check that is has worked
Once you have resealed the seams and applied the repellent, it’s time to test it out to see if it has worked.
Just like checking your tent prior to sealing it, you should spray the tent with a hand spray or a light setting on your hose.
If there is no water seeping through, you’re good to go. If there is still water seeping through you may need to respray the tent.
How to waterproof a polycotton tent
Polycotton and canvas tents are different to standard tents in terms of waterproofing.
These types of tents need to be “weathered” in before use to ensure the best waterproofing possible. This is because small holes have been left where the material is stitched together to allow for the fabric to expand when wet.
To waterproof these types of tents, simply give the material a gentle hosing. The material will then expand to fill these holes, leaving you with a waterproof tent.
Conclusion
As you can see, waterproofing a tent isn’t a huge chore and doesn’t have to be carried out too regularly. The main thing is, test your tent before you go because you don’t want to rely on the weather for staying dry.