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Subject Topic: reproofing a polycotton tent? Post Reply Post New Topic
21/6/2011 at 10:45pm
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I bought my Outwell Norfolk lake in 2009 and after many trips rain and shine since then I think it could do with a re-proof as on our last trip to Cornwall the (inevitable) rain did not "bead" off the way it used to, any tried and tested recommendations?


22/6/2011 at 5:04am
 Location: Stoke-on-Trent
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If it didn't actually leak I wouldn't re-proof it.

Andi


22/6/2011 at 8:10am
 Location: Aston Clinton
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This is also something that I would be interested to know when do you reproof a polycotton tent as Ive never actually owned one. Is there a set time like every year or do you leave it till it leaks

I remember many years ago when we were using cotton/canvas tents we used to reproof every year so does this still apply or does the moder waterproofing solutions extend the need for reproofing

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22/6/2011 at 7:33pm
 Location: Braintree Essex
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if its not leaking don't proof it


22/6/2011 at 7:41pm
 Location: sheffield
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can I use seam sealer on a poly cotton (bear lake) ?


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22/6/2011 at 7:48pm
 Location: Stourbridge
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We have used Fabsil many times on synthetic and poly cotton tents usually works well. If the cotton tent is not too big, an iron with a warm setting helps to improve the beading of rain off the fabric.
Les D


22/6/2011 at 8:40pm
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I'd check that its maybe not got a bit dirty. A polycotton tent shouldnt need reproofed for at least 10 years - I got that on advice from the place we bought ours (right or wrong). If its not leaking there's no point. As for using seam sealer on a bear lake - yes you wont do any harm using it. One thing I would like to point out though. NOT ALL TENTS BEAD WATER! Our I genuinely cant remember our NL ever beading as the fibres swell when it gets wet and this is what keeps the rain out. You'll stain your NL too if you use fabsil - trust me I know from experience

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Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on

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22/6/2011 at 9:40pm
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HMMM to proof or not to proof that is the question,tis better to suffer the mallets and....er yes well..
what 'appened was we didnt get a leak as such, we deployed the auxillary bed pod and the Tesco double airbed our guests bought was a bit too big and where the bed pod touched the side of the tent it got quite wet this also happened in our bedpod as 'tother half stuffed a suitcase down the side of our posadas double as we had "lost" our changing room side to the grandkids and the Outwell kids room. Our Norfy did actually bead water when new and it is noticable that where the material is shaded such as under the guy rope attachment it still does, I was considering using Nikwax UV proof on the green/grey and fabsil on the black. I am aware that polycotton functions a differant way to synthetics and that you shouldnt let anything touch the inside of the tent when its raining I might try a small area of the carry bag as a tester to see what effect this has.


22/6/2011 at 11:57pm
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The reason the bedpod got wet is because it was touching the side of the tent. It's one of the characteristics of the material that the tent is made of. If you touch the tent on the inside with your hand the next time its pitched in rain and you'll see what I mean. I wouldnt worry too much, just make sure nothing touches the sides when its raining. You would be wasting your money reproofing a tent that is in effect working perfectly well.

While im here, I notice you've got the posadas double. We've just bought one and have yet to use it. Does it fit in the bedpod ok?

Hope my info helps a bit.

-------------
Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on

Cool campers use Delta Pegs.

The happiest people aren't the ones who have everything they are the ones who make the most of everything they have


24/6/2011 at 10:13pm
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Hiya Dezzie,
            it does fit (just!) but next time we may experiment with zipping out the partition have you checked your posadas over closely yet? I had to return TWO because of stitching faults/holes, I must say though we found it a lot more comfy than our old airbed we used a budget mattress topper and our sleeping bag over the top its alot more supportive than your average airbed and the pronounced creaking when you move does ease after as short time! the other good thing about it is you gain storage space underneath, yea, all things considered we are glad we bought it.


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25/6/2011 at 1:42pm
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Thanks Martin. We've got the old style rooms in our NL. (they're two separate rooms, so im hoping it fits - in saying that we used to use the intex double height queensize matress and that fit (just). I've had a good look at ours and it seems fine, but I suppose the proof will be in the pudding so to speak. It sounds like we got ours for the same reasons as you. Airbeds driving us mad!! It'll be great to have some storage space underneath them too. we've got the double for us and a couple of single ones too, so it should be a comfy place to sleep when we go in a weeks time.

Thanks for the info.


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Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on

Cool campers use Delta Pegs.

The happiest people aren't the ones who have everything they are the ones who make the most of everything they have


26/6/2011 at 11:05pm
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By the way DEZ,
               just wondering if you had the same trouble we did with the standard (pretty crappy)thumbscrew clamps on the horizontal bracing poles of your NL? I manged to break one a while ago and replaced both with "dorema" awning pole clamps these are a joy to use and good quality they clamp fast with a plastic lever much easier to use and dont damage the poles.


27/6/2011 at 8:13pm
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I havent had them breaking on me yet, but they are pretty crappy and i've a feeling the tent will far outlive them. I might try and get a few of those to keep in my repair kit when they eventually break though.

Thanks for the tip.

I've bought an Oakland XL side canopy to put at the side of the NL, so my next challenge is getting it to fit. Its almost Identical in size to the official side canopy, so im thinking it wont be too much hassle to fit it. Fingers crossed.


-------------
Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on

Cool campers use Delta Pegs.

The happiest people aren't the ones who have everything they are the ones who make the most of everything they have


29/6/2011 at 8:41pm
 Location: Yorkshire
 Outfit: Adria altea 542 dt Freelander 2
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Quote: Originally posted by martinjp65 on 21/6/2011
I bought my Outwell Norfolk lake in 2009 and after many trips rain and shine since then I think it could do with a re-proof as on our last trip to Cornwall the (inevitable) rain did not "bead" off the way it used to, any tried and tested recommendations?

I emailed Outwell recently about cleaning bird poo off our polycotton arrow lake tent (2008) (i'd brushed it off when it was dry) and also asked about reproofing as I was thinking the same as you - i.e. how often and what with.

For the bird poo they said clean with water (luke warm) with a proprietary tent cleaning fluid or natural soap with a neutral pH and reproof after washing with their Water Gaurd spray.

For reproofing, they say their polycotton is very strong and durable and waterproof it every 2-3 years, using their Water Guard product and Seam Guard for seams and toggles.

Seems to be at odds with some views on here of it aint broke don't fix it!  Still not sure whether to go ahead , that's if I can get the spray (and how many cans would it take  - doesn't seem as widespread in shops as Fabsil and Nikwax.)  The tent isn't leaking and it does bead off once the fabric is wet - which I think is how this material is meant to work.

 

 



30/6/2011 at 10:26pm
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On the bag for the NL, it says that it advises using reproofing solution/seam sealer on the seams if they begin to leak as these parts of the tent are the parts that get the most stress. So if as a 3 year old NL owner who's never reproofed it and had it out in all weathers -AND its an ex display model that was up permanently OUTDOORS for at least 4 months and still has no leaks or any other problems, I'd say if it aint broke dont fix it. If some of you who proclaim to have got bargain tents found out the price I paid for ours you would not believe me. There is NO way on earth you'd get a Norfolk Lake or equivalent tent now for that price - ex display or not. And NO im not telling.

-------------
Always forgive,Never forget;Learn from mistakes,But Never regret;People change,Things go wrong;Just remember life goes on

Cool campers use Delta Pegs.

The happiest people aren't the ones who have everything they are the ones who make the most of everything they have



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