Its been raining here, after the snow, and no visble leaks yet....fingers crossed.....would it hurt to reproof it anyway? If I do would I have to do both the inside and the outside?
It won't hurt but not neccesary, if its not leaking. It may have been proofed the last time it was used? and the reproofer is quite expensive for a large tent. When it does need doing, you do the outside only. Any luck with stretching it yet?
You said you didn't have room to erect the side extension for the kitchen. if this is lying saggy or creased on itself, it may well be wet on the inside. Don't worry if this is the only part that is wet inside . If its not fully stretched out it will allow water to wick in,doesn't mean it's leaking and when erected properly it will be fine .
Waiting to see what effect the rain has before I try and see how the stretching has gone. Given the feedback I have had about the mudflaps, it may not need that much.
Its also difficult to tell given the space in the garden. Might have to pack it up and take it to a park locally and see how it goes up there.
Have you managed to peg it down at all. If not start by pegging it as far as the rubbers will stretch comfortably, even if the pegs are only just in the ground , wet it again and try hitting the pegs in a bit further and so on. Have some spare rubber bands handy though, they may have become brittle with age and perish when stretched. Most caravan or camping shops sell them, and ebay , maybe also described as awning rubbers, same thing. If they snap, you thread a band through the fabric loop and pass the other end of the band through itself.
After the snow and subsquent rain, no leaks...until a pool of water froze on the roof in two different places. When this has melted, the water has leaked through. Could this be because the cold has shrunk the fibres? Or do I know need to reproof those panels?
If you had a pool on the roof, that was because it hasn't been pegged down and stretched out correctly .
When its pegged down, the roof will be pulled straight and taut, not saggy so water won't collect on it, it will run off ,see? . And you won't normally be camping in heavy snow?
I'd try to peg the rubbers down as best you can from inside to begin with, and see how that goes before tackling reproofing personally.
Sounds to me as if it was waterproof, but due to sagginess from not being pegged down the weight of the snow and ice collected on it has made it leak. I think it would be waterproof in normal conditions, ie rain, not snow and ice.
Anyone else have any better ideas on this one? Will it need reproffing now its let water through? Or will it be watertight again once its dried out?
Can you pitch it in a neighbour or familys garden for a couple of days.?
I think Debbie's right. I think in normal use, properly pitched and pegged out it will be fine.
I think it was the conditions in which it was pitched (space & climate) that caused the leaking, and it should not need reproofing once it has dried out properly. It needs drying on the frame though.
Got the answer today....came home from work and after a downpour this afternoon. The inner tents are wet, looks like more from spray/mist, so I will take it down at the weekend and wait for better weather to re-proof it.
Ah well at least you found out before you went away in it. Don't forget it has to be 100% dry before you store it, though, maybe leave it spread out indoors for a final airing.