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get it damp!  Use the sprinkler not the jet.   The canvas will absorb moisture and that will thicken the thread and thereby tightening the weft.  This is the waterproofing bit.  As previously stated, waterproofing (silicon type) will interfere with the absorption process of the cotton fabric.

I bought a TT that had been in storage for many years and was dry as a bone.  So the first time I pitched was in a heavy dew overnight.  Dried out the following day so then sprinkled it and repeated driying out process.  The following day when I drenched it, not a drop came in.   Before process from inside I could see many tiny pin-holes (like starlettes) but after, there were none.   I have repeated the process will all my canvas including the Tamaris I have recently purchased.   No leaks and a good dense canvas.

my tardis is a 1986 version, I am not sure it has ever been waterproofed and although we have had a minor leak once (after 2 hours of very heavy rain) the rest has stood up to the elements pretty well - and we were away for a week at october half term. The awning stood up to the elements too despite me having the poles the wrong way round  - i have sussed it now!

I got mine just under a year ago and was a little bit worried about all kinds of things, but it seems a very solidly built thing and I really am loving it!

Owner of a 1989 Conway Camargue here, made of CGI (Cabanon) canvas. . Never been waterproofed, never had a leak . (Except the time the canvas blew against the bed board in a monsoon, but that's another story.) Good quality canvas doesn't need proofed unless you've done something horrid to it, like tried to clean it with detergent, or if it's got very old and thin. Once you start proofing canvas though you do need to keep topping it up every 4-5 years as has been said, as it has in effect removed the ability of the cotton fibres to swell up. It's a big and quite pricey to reproof a canvas properly and you need to be able to erect the unit for two or three days to dry properly, so it's worth avoiding if at all possible.

EELFREAK, put your Tardis up and give it a good damping down. It may drip a little during this first soak but don't panic. Let it dry then hose it again. It should not leak, unless the canvas is very thin and old. Canvas can get very dry in storage and this first damping just helps the fibres plump up again.

Quote: Originally posted by DaveWr on 01/5/2011

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Welcome back Val, long time no here!

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Thanks, Dave. Must be summer if I've come out of hibernation, eh?

Quote: Originally posted by Pauline49 on 01/5/2011

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Val, welcome back. I was wondering where you'd been. I thought perhaps you'd given up camping and were spinning full-time instead!

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Spinning is for winter. Camping and gardening are for summer time. Though I have bought myself a new travelling spinning wheel. :)

Anyway, back to the Topic....