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Sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find the answer to my question exactly any where else.

My tent is 3 years old and has been used three times (3 days to 2 weeks each) apart from that has been in its bag in a dry loft.  Do i need to re-proof it yet, or at all.  Its up in the garden at the moment and withstanding some constant light showers as we speak.

Thanks again campers

Clare

Hi

It all comes down to the cost of the tent, re polyester or cotton style tent. If the tent is a large family polycotton tent which cost say £300 then just use the tent until the fabric starts to break down (normally 5-6yrs with normal use) as the cost of re proofing will be to much. If the tent is a cotton one costing say £600 plus then yes re proof every 4-5 years at a cost of about £100 and your tent will go on and on for years.

Gary

Thanks Gary, how spooky is that, I was just about to call you to ask this very question.  My tent is polyester, cost £70, small -medium in size, but I love it. I want it to keep going until I come and see you to buy the Monty 6 or Outdoor 7.0i. 

I guess if its ok at the moment it will still be ok during half term hols in Sunny Hunny, won't it?

You dont reproof artificial fibre tents only canvas

Modern articial fibre tents are make to with stand a few years ofbeing used a couple of times a year then the actual fabric ( not the water proofing ) starts to break down and thats time to chuck it

Hi Mrs Jubbly

Yes its just not worth it, its going to cost £25 ish for the proofing so dont worry. Just enjoy until the day the fabric starts to break down.

Make sure you remind me who you are when you come in. Re the Scenic 7.0i, over the last few mega hot days the scenic sold really well as its got the two layers of fabric and was so cool compared to the other tents.

Gary

A few years for a modern fibre tent? Fabric breaking down after a couple of times use per year? I'd find a new supplier for your tents if that's how bad they are deteriorating. I've had mine in regular use for five years now and it's still as waterproof as the day I bought it and not a bit of wear on the fabric.

Look after your equipment and it will look after you.

Quote: Originally posted by averagejoe on 16/5/2008

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A few years for a modern fibre tent? Fabric breaking down after a couple of times use per year? I'd find a new supplier for your tents if that's how bad they are deteriorating. I've had mine in regular use for five years now and it's still as waterproof as the day I bought it and not a bit of wear on the fabric.

Look after your equipment and it will look after you.

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Look up the figures from the top manufacturers ,they ALL say the same thing ,they are only intended to be exposed to maybe about 16 weeks uv in their liftime before they start to break down ( which is really why some manufacturers 'lifetime' guarentees are a bit of a gimmick really as the official 'lifetime' of a tent is only really a few weeks of use ;) Ofcourse there are always exceptions and some people get a bit longer than that but it is the general expected lifetime

Quote: Originally posted by Skatty on 17/5/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by averagejoe on 16/5/2008

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A few years for a modern fibre tent? Fabric breaking down after a couple of times use per year? I'd find a new supplier for your tents if that's how bad they are deteriorating. I've had mine in regular use for five years now and it's still as waterproof as the day I bought it and not a bit of wear on the fabric.

Look after your equipment and it will look after you.

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Look up the figures from the top manufacturers ,they ALL say the same thing ,they are only intended to be exposed to maybe about 16 weeks uv in their liftime before they start to break down ( which is really why some manufacturers 'lifetime' guarentees are a bit of a gimmick really as the official 'lifetime' of a tent is only really a few weeks of use ;) Ofcourse there are always exceptions and some people get a bit longer than that but it is the general expected lifetime

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Skatty is right. The UV damage to the fabric causes the chemical bonds between the fabric and its PU coating on the inside (the treatment that give it the resistance to water) to break down. Once this happens no amount of external proofing sprays etc will compensate for this.

The obvious implications are to pitch in shade where possible and to keep a rough count of how often you use the tent. Our big Vango Quest 600 is now over  3 years old and because we have used it regularly for long and short breaks it has clocked up about 16 weeks of exposure. And sure enough, in one or two places inside the telltale signs of whitish opacity are showing that the PU is starting to come away from the fabric. At the moment this is just tiny speckles and we will get another few weeks out of it yet. We care for our tents extremely well and this damage is purely from UV exposure, not from poor care. If we had the space we would have a cotton canvas tent, which does not have this vulnerability to UV damage and can last 20+ years.