After many hours of searching for a 2m x 6m tarp we first tried it with a frame tent just before Easter and found it leaked like a sieve but were blessed with a dry pack up. I then purchased a 5l can of fabsil and spent hours erecting it in the garden and thoroughly soaking it in the stuff in blistering sunshine and only packed away once sure it was dry.
All was good with the tarp on our recent Wales camp and it worked as we had hoped but both tent and tarp were soaked over night and had to be packed away damp yesterday
So today we got the tent and tarp out to dry and I was horrified to see the edging has signs of mildew! less than 24 hours since putting away damp.
After spending around £100 and many hours in blistering heat to get the size tarp I want and making it waterproof I am absolutely heartbroken and am determined I will still use it but still
Gutted for you, Tynx.
Even packed away in a bag, you'd expect (or is that just "hope"?) a little more time before the mildew kicked in!
Probably of no comfort to you, but at least your generosity in sharing this may at least serve as a warning to my good friends (They'll deny it, of course, but don't believe a word they say!) Geoff and Wendy, who I believe have the same tarp?
I presume you've treated it to stop the mildew spreading? Not had this experience myself (touch wood!) but I believe that's the next step?
Ah well... Chin up, Tynx. It's only a bit o' cloth, when all said and done (He say's... knowing full well that's a load o' tosh!)
------------- 2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
Gosh, that's very surprising in 24 hours! Are you sure it's mildew and not something else?
I've recently been asking that company about that very size of tarp and have just had a reply saying it's available so my finger is hovering over the Buy button. I've got a 2m x 3m from them and have had no problems. Worrying.
Yes I believe Geoff & Wendy have the same tarp as it was them that mentioned needing to fabsil it, I thought it would also aid in the prevention of mould but obviously not.
It's had a few hours of UV rays which should kill any spores and will be put out again tomorrow to be doubly sure. It's now packed back in my car but I'll take some pics tomorrow, as far as I can tell it is mould - lots of little black spots that weren't there when I packed it away. Strange how it was only the tarp though as I folded it then placed it in the middle of the tent before rolling the lot together as both were damp (not soaking wet).
Yup. Thats the one we have got. Sorry to hear that Tynx. I will get ours out and check it, although I am confident its fine. I dont know if it makes any differance but we fabsiled both sides of our tarp and we had rain with no leaks but did not have to pack it away wet.I will keep a close eye on it. Other people we know swear by it and I even know of someone who hasnt treated theirs and have had no problems with it. Thanks for the heads up on it anyway Tynx.
That is ridiculous. Last time I camped I left my soaking wet tent in the bag for four days before pitching to dry and it was still perfect. No way should it do that in 24 hours
Mould grows fastest between 25 and 35 degrees C, so it could be down to the warm spell - but if that's the case it's odd that it's localised to the hem. It could be that there was dormant growth there which would suggest poor storage by the manufacturer or vendor - probably worth taking it up with them.
It's on a thick seem, by an outside chance, that particular area may have still have been damp, when the rest was bone dry.
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