Outdoor picnics are always the best and most enjoyable trips in the summer. It is the time to enjoy wonderful moments with your loved ones.
Notwithstanding, preparing for each trip is not as easy as falling off a log. Most importantly, you must prepare good tents to endure bad weather.
Do polyester tents need weathering? The answer depends on several factors, such as the material, tent condition, or the weather.
The good news is that almost all of them are coated with waterproof compounds or membranes to prevent rain from seeping through the fabric. Nevertheless, this coat may wear out over time.
This article will give you an in-depth explanation. Let’s scroll down!
What Is Weathering?
In its simplest term, weathering is just soaking the cloth, which enables the fabric to absorb moisture and swell. As a result, the needle holes as well as any other small holes in the cloth will close.
It’s a straightforward procedure to follow. You simply put up your tent, use a garden hose to soak it, lay the cloth out on the ground, and leave it naturally dry. Repeat this process several times to get the best result.
You should perform weathering right after you purchase it. Otherwise, your tent may get water ingress while you are going on an outdoor picnic.
Do Polyester Tents Need Weathering?
It is quite difficult to answer this question directly as weathering depends on some factors, including the tent’s material, its condition, or camping weather. Let’s take a closer look at the following explanations.
Before you decide to waterproof your tent, you should consider its material. Not all tents need weathering.
For instance, if your tent is made of polyester, likely, you don’t need to do anything.
That’s because it is made from polyester threads and normally coated with polyurethane (PU) and treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) layer.
This fabric is extremely water-resistant, and it can withstand several meters of hydraulic pressure on its top before leaking.
Despite being famous for its permanent waterproof capacity, you’d better reproof it to maintain and expand its water repellency.
On the other hand, Polycotton is a woven cotton and polyester thread combination with a DWR coating. However, it cannot be coated with an adhesive like Polyester.
Therefore, the seams are loose and the needle holes from the seams are visible. It allows water to absorb inside unless the tent is weathered before. In this case, your tent should get waterproof.
What’s more, the tent condition also affects weathering. If it is an old tent, you always need to get it waterproof as the weathering coating has nearly completely worn out.
If it is a new one, depending on its materials to decide whether you must perform reproofing or not.
Last but not least, the weather where you plan to camp also determines whether you should waterproof your tent or not.
Don’t trust the weather! Check the weather forecast carefully before your journey. If it’s sunny or slightly rainy on that day, you probably don’t have to waterproof the canvas.
That said, during your camping days, there are heavy and continuous rains, you should waterproof the tent thoroughly before this trip.
When And Why Do We Need To Weather A Polyester Tent?
As shared earlier, not all types of tents need to be weathered. However, some low-grade products don’t have this feature. Over time, the waterproofing characteristics of a tent will deteriorate. Hence, here are some recommendations when you should perform this task.
Your tent is often exposed to direct sunlight.
During the summer, even a few days of camping might harm the tent’s cloth. UV rays harm the tent’s fabric, in the same manner, they harm the skin, so they impair the ability to withstand heavy rains of the tents.
Your tent deteriorates.
A tent deteriorates with time, especially when it is exposed to the weather, dried in the sun, and put in a sealed bag for periods. All of these things can compromise the waterproofing qualities.
The seams wear away over time.
The seams of most tents are weakened by natural forces such as rain, sun, and wind. Most tents have sealed seams when you first purchase them, but these wear out with time, enabling moisture to enter the interior.
How To Weatherproof Polyester Tents
Are you looking for the best way to weatherproof your polyester tent? Let’s scroll down to take a peek at the step-by-step instructions below.
If Possible, Choose A Warm, Dry Day
To facilitate your project, you should choose a warm sunny day. Sunlight will help the drying process faster.
Apply The Seam Sealer
Before sealing the seams, you should prepare the following required materials and tools, as shown below:
- Rubbing alcohol
- A soft sponge
- Protective gloves
- Seam sealant (depending on the material of your tent)
Follow these step-by-step directions to make your job more simple:
- Before cleaning the tent, you have to set it up. You will need to seal the inner seams and the base of the flysheet. Thus, turning the flysheet inside out to make it simpler to reach is a good idea.
- Next, use a soft sponge and rubbing alcohol to clean all parts, especially the seams. While washing, remember to wear protective gloves all the time.
- Discard any seam tape bits which peel off.
- After the cleaning process, everything seems to be clean. It’s time to apply the new sealer to all the seams.
- Leave the seams naturally dry.
Renew The Urethane Coating
If you notice something is peeling off from the rainfly interior or on the tent floor, you should apply a new Urethane coating for your tent.
First, make sure these required things are handy, including:
- A soft sponge with a harsh side
- Rubbing alcohol
- Tent sealant (depending on the material of your tent)
Here is an in-depth guide if you are unsure how to implement this task:
- Scrub the peeling coating off the rainfly and tent floor using a sponge and rubbing alcohol.
- Coat the whole tent floor or fly with a new layer of sealant. Remember to follow instructions on the packaging.
- Leave it for more than 24 hours to completely dry.
- Remove any sealant residue on other parts of the tent and your hand as well.
Renew The Durable Water Repellent (DWR) Coating
Prepare necessary materials and equipment for your project, including:
- A water-repellent spray
- A clean, wet rag
- Water
In some cases, you may need to refresh the DWR coating of your tent. Follow the guides below to make your task easier:
- Set your tent up.
- Use clean water to spray down the tent rainfly.
- There is no need to wait until the tent is completely dry before applying a new DWR coating.
- Spray water-repellent liquid straight over the covering of the rainfly.
- Wait a few minutes, and then use a clean wet rag to wipe off all water-repellent spray residues.
- Let it dry completely before storing it in a tight bag.
Tips for Insulate Your Polyester Tents For Winter Season
Camping in the winter will be an interesting experience if you know how to insulate your tents. If you plan to have trips in this winter season, let’s refer to the insulation tips below.
- Using a smaller tent is a useful method to remain warm. Small tents take less time to warm and spread the heat.
- To receive extra benefits, you should buy a four-season tent with insulation and heavier fabrics.
- Apply floor insulation using a ground tarp and an additional waterproof layer.
- Cover the tent floor with a thermal blanket.
- Bring along with a portable heater.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Polyester Tents
Polyester is one of the most popular materials for making tents because it owns properties that other common fabrics don’t have.
Unlike common fabrics, the seams of polyester tents are applied sealant to block water and moisture from accessing.
Water, dirt, grease, and oil on DWR-treated polyester tent fabric will not impact the waterproof characteristics of polyester.
They are less affected by UV rays than other fabrics like cotton or canvas.
You can take a quick look at the pros and cons table below:
| Pros | Cons |
| Excellent tear and tensile strength lightweight and compact than other materials (cotton)Easy maintenance better UV resistanceMold resistant | Non-breathable Not flexible in different weather conditionsNoisy in the windNot durable |
Polyester Vs Polycotton Tents Comparison
If you wonder about choosing between Polyester and Polycotton tents, refer to the quick comparison below.
The first criteria to purchase a tent is its waterproof property. While Polyester tents seem excellent in this aspect with high waterproofing capacity, Polycotton ones need weathering.
What’s more, Polyester material dries out extremely quickly, which avoids mold and unpleasant smells. On the other hand, Polycotton fabric needs to take much time to dry.
What Type Of Tent Doesn’t Need Weathering?
Many tents are not waterproof, but they are relatively water-resistant. They are good at lowering down the penetration process of rainwater but not actually stopping it.
The truth is that even the best waterproof tents need to be reproofed after you use them for around 1 or 2 years because they leak eventually in heavy rain.
That said, there are some types you might not need to coat it with sealant for the first time using, such as coleman, single-wall, or four-season tents.
FAQs
What If I Can’t Waterproof My Tent Before Using It?
The good news is that most tents are waterproof to some extent right out of the boxes. While camping, you might let it weather naturally with the rain. However, it’s better to apply tent sealants.
Is There A Needle Hole In The Tent Seam?
When making a tent, the stitching process can sometimes create visible needle holes along seams. Don’t stress as it’s natural! You can use a seam sealer to repair them if you want.
Should I Weather My Tent Whenever I Go Camping?
No, it is not necessary. Normally, you should only weather your tent once a year. It is enough to make the fabric to expand.
In A Nutshell
This article has ultimately got to the bottom of your question: Do polyester tents need weathering? It depends on the materials, tent conditions, and camping weather conditions.
For polyester, you may not need to do much weathering as it comes with high-grade waterproof capacity right out of the box.
Hopefully, this article will be helpful for you. Thank you for reading!
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