What is the craic, generally, with reproofing, please?
My new old TT is 16 years old. Think I'll need to proof it? What is proofing it anyway? I thought cotton kept the water out because the fibres swelled and plugged the little gaps in the weave?
If it's not been used for a while you might get a few leaks first time you hose it, hose it once, if it leaks, dry it then hose it again. If it still leaks you want a big tin of Fabsil and a garden sprayer would be easiest way of doing it.
What quantity of Fabsil should one buy for a 5m x 2.5m awning, please? Just took my 20 year old Pullman out for the first time (in those storms yesterday) and have a small leak on the awning, although the leak did seem to get smaller when I think about it. It hadn't been used for 2 years previously and has never been reproofed.
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Ask the previous owners? If they've proofed it at some point it will need redone after five years, or sooner if it leaks.
If it's never been proofed then put it up and hose it down. It may leak if it's been in dry storage for a while, let it dry out totally and hose down again. Chances are it will be 100% watertight after this second hosing but if the canvas is thin or has been contaminated in some way then it may leak and unfortunately then yes, you'll have to proof it.
Proofing is a bit of a tedious job though, two or more thin coats of proofer is more effective than one thick one and you have to let it dry out completely between coats. also it's not a job to do on site, the proofer smells which will annoy your neighbours and you shouldn't sleep in the tent till it's dry, also campsite owners tend to get precious about their grass. So it's worth putting off the awful day as long as possible. My old Conway is 25 years old, dry as a bone and never been proofed. I put this down to always drying it out properly before storage and never putting even the slightest amount of chemical cleaner on it, I brush off dried mud and bird poo with a soft brush and clean it only with plain water and a clean sponge.
Quote: Originally posted by GeeBee R3 on 22/8/2014
What quantity of Fabsil should one buy for a 5m x 2.5m awning, please? Just took my 20 year old Pullman out for the first time (in those storms yesterday) and have a small leak on the awning, although the leak did seem to get smaller when I think about it. It hadn't been used for 2 years previously and has never been reproofed.
I would give it a second chance out in rain before you proofed the whole awning. If it's only a tiny leak then it's possible some of the dreaded Bubble Mix has landed on it (bubble mix is death to cotton canvas), rinse the spot out a few dozen times with plain water and use some aerosol Fabsil on it if it's absolutely necessary.
Don't use fabsil on a cotton canvas as it's silicone based. Best for cotton canvas as is nikwax as it's wax based and let's the cotton canvas breath as it should.
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Topic: To proof?
