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Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 27/6/2017

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I note from the photographs that you seem to have all the vents closed which will certainly be a recipe for heavy condensation. All the vents on a tent should be open in all weathers. They are designed to create air circulation especially at roof level.

I would put a week's pension on that being condensation and had you opened those high level vents both sides you would have been able to reduce it dramatically. The inside of a flysheet will always feel moist except in really warm, dry weather and you may get the occasional drip. That is why there is an inner tent for added protection.

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Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 26/6/2017

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I thought at first it was maybe condensation, especially after you'd detached the bedroom inners and were sleeping in the living area, but those last pics clearly show how wet the rear wall is, as well as the other bedroom inner - what a nightmare for you!

You could try seam sealant (apply inside, on a warm dry day and let it cure before folding the tent down) and Fabsil to the exterior (you can get it in a spray can or just paint it on) The trouble is, you'll have to re-apply every year and there's no absolute guarantee it'll work. Might be an idea to treat it then, once thoroughly dried out, get the hose pipe on it to see if the problems are resolved.

How old is the tent and how much used? Has the fabric gone crinkly?

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Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 27/6/2017

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You don't say how old the tent is which may give some indication as to whether it has deteriorated or...it was the dreaded condensation.

It is extremely rare for a tent to leak directly through the material unless it is ancient and the waterproof membrane on the inside has broken down. It is even more rare for it to have suddenly broken down all over. It would normally wear in patches, according to what I have heard and read...because I have never managed to wear a tent out myself.

I have had a similar thing happen on one of my tents once where the roof in the living area seemed to be dripping all over the place...just like your photos. That was definitely condensation due to a combination of cold wet weather then warm sunshine, then wet again. It only happened the once then never again.

I note from the photographs that you seem to have all the vents closed which will certainly be a recipe for heavy condensation. All the vents on a tent should be open in all weathers. They are designed to create air circulation especially at roof level.

I would put a week's pension on that being condensation and had you opened those high level vents both sides you would have been able to reduce it dramatically. The inside of a flysheet will always feel moist except in really warm, dry weather and you may get the occasional drip. That is why there is an inner tent for added protection.

One other thought...I notice you have extensions on the front. Were you cooking in there due to the wet weather with all the vents closed?

Take a look at Cross Camping Video

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Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 27/6/2017

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Ah, well spotted! Yes, it does then point to condensation, especially since it's concentrated over the bedroom inners!

You've essentially got a long, sealed plastic bag, with people sleeping/breathing at one end of it.I found this via a quick google:

(www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen99/gen99801.htm) 'the average person’s
breath is about 4% water by volume. According to their calculations, that
amounts to about 20ml of water vapor per breath. If we average about 20
breaths per minute, and 8 hours of sleep, that would come to 20ml x 20
breaths per minute x 60 minutes per hour x 8 hours = 192 liters of water!

What!? That doesn’t seem possible. Well, it isn’t exactly. Remember that
you are also breathing in water vapor as you are breathing out. You
should note that water vapor converts into a much lower volume of liquid
water. So, what we really have is a potential volume of water that is
circulating in and out during breathing.'

Since the OP states water was beading on the outside as usual, it probably is simply condensation.

Open those vents and keep them open (or, get yourself a cotton canvas or polycotton canvas tent, which is breathable!)!

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Quote: Originally posted by Caligula on 27/6/2017

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Ah, the joys of plastic tents!

Anyway enough of my fatuous comments, may I suggest (and I too think this is condensation...)that IF using fabsil, you don't paint it on, but spray it with a Garden pump sprayer. Using aerosols is very expensive...
But, here's hoping and thinking that you don't have to do it???

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Quote: Originally posted by Broadside on 12/6/2018

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I had a Gelert Horizon 8 from 2011-2017, it looks to have the same fabric as yours. It started leaking quite badly in 2015 after about 15 weeks use. I painted the outside with Fabsil using a brush on a broom. The tent lasted another couple of years and was waterproof again. I’ve donored it to friends and it is still going strong.

Fabsil over the whole tent is definitely a good way to get another couple of years out of a tent.

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Quote: Originally posted by TimCESmith on 12/6/2018

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I wonder whether that panel was faultily manufactured without the PU coating and after some use the DWR coating aged enough to let water through? In this scenario prolonged rain would be a better test than a ten minute blast with the hose. The fix would be several liberal applications of Nikwak / Fabsil.

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