Thought it was about time we joined up rather than just sitting on the sideline and now seemed like a good time as we are looking for your thoughts and advice.
We have just got back from a rather damp weekend in our new tent and we are a little puzzled. We have 4 small areas (3" front to back streaks) on one panel all within about 5 inches of each other. When the canvas is dry there is no sign of them, the canvas is perfectly clean and no stains at all. However, as soon as it started raining or first thing in the morning when the tent is damp these spots appear as dark areas and are damp on the inside and drip. The rest of the tent is dry in fact the water beads straight off without even getting the canvas wet even in heavy rain but these 3 spots seem to absorb the slightest bit of moisture.
The tent is a De Waard and whilst not brand new when we purchased it a few weeks back its not even 2 years old, is immaculate and has hardly been used (16 Days in all including this weekend just gone).
Now I cant see it being a grease mark as there is not even the slightest of marks on the canvas, could it be the dreaded kids bubble mixture from a past trip is the only thing I can think of ?
So my question is: Has anyone experienced a similar problem and how or what cured it. I dont really want to be re proofing the canvas already and even if I do my concern is that these areas will go dark and stay dark when the proofing is applied.
So .... A little deflated although we love the tent and keeping our fingers crossed that one or two of you guys might have an idea or two.
Cheers all
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It does sound as if the waterproofing has been impaired, particularly if water is actually dripping through in these areas.The previous owners have maybe cleaned something off using detergent?
I'd pitch it at home and give it a good soaking and drying out, several times over, and observe. It it doesn't resolve then it sounds like you're going to have to apply some waterproofing agent (such as Fabsil) to the affected areas.
I know it may make the canvas darker and that's perhaps not the look you were hoping for but, better a few darker spots than a leaking tent? I definitely wouldn't do the lot, as it will mean re-applying on a regular basis and will impair the breathability of the canvas (one of the reasons for buying cotton in the first place).
Only other thing I can think of is for you to contact De Waard and ask if they can do anything to help, or make recommendations.
If it's all in one panel, that panel could potentially be replaced if you want to restore it to perfect condition. I suspect it'd be quite an expensive job, though. Email Pé Bouwman at: info at dewaardtenten.nl
(For some reason, when I update this post, the email address changes to add spaces. Just remove those spaces and use the symbol for 'at'.)
I think the forums are deliberately set up to snub actual email addresses in their true form, by admin. Summat to do with these 'ere compooter 'bots we see mention of, I think?
Anyway... I'd agree with Lidds... soak, dry, soak, dry, until it either improves, or you give it up as a bad lot!
Just a hose pipe on the sprinkler/spray setting. Absolutely no chemicals, detergents or scrubbing of any sort. If it is down to detergents (from previous owner), the continuous/repeated rinse/dry approach "should" do the trick.
I'm not familiar with your tent so aplogies if this doesnt make sense, but we have a darker looking damp patch on either end of our Kalahari Elite 8. It doesnt leak in but is definitely noticeable after rain.
Closer inspection gives me the impression that it could be a constant dripping from the ventilation panels a little higher up on the same panels. I'm wondering if water is running down the outside of the vent panels and dripping onto the part below. It's something I'm going to look out for next time we are away (though of course I'm hoping it doesnt rain!) and in the meantime I've bought a bottle of nikwax re-proofer to give a squirt over that part just in case
Thanks guys. Its pitched in the garden and getting a good soaking at the moment as its chucking it down here. Im going to try and wash it out over the next few days and if that does not work then I have been making a few calls today and rubbing alcohol is the secret ... or so I have been told !! I'm going to need to re-proof the one panel whatever happens but I guess it would be best to keep it uniformed and do the lot. Good luck with your ventilation panels HighSlayer.
I've been on this 'ere forum every night for just one month short of 5 years now, and never read of any mention of rubbing alcohol!
I'm not saying your source is wrong, but certainly don't rely on just one tip as being correct. Check and research before making a decision. One false move could end in the death of an otherwise fine cotton canvas tent!
Same goes for that re-proofing the one panel "whatever happens".
Cotton canvas fibres shrink when dry, effectively leaving minuscule gaps between threads, hence the breath-ability.
Once it gets wet, the fibres swell, the gaps get filled by all the fluffy threads (through a microscope) and voila, natural waterproofing!
If... and I know at this stage it's a big if... these marks are some sort of detergent, the rinsing will get rid, and the fibres will return to their former glory, and no proofing will be required.
It's not a given, by any means, and may come under the heading of best case scenario, but it is a realistic possibility that's worth staying patient for, for a little while longer.
My tip is to leave it where it is, and when it gets fully dry again, get the hose out, soak it again, and see if the leaks stop, or at least see if there's an improvement... in which case, dry and soak again.
I really wouldn't try proofing it at this stage, and I certainly wouldn't take one persons recommendation of using rubbing alcohol on it as being gospel, until I'd done a lot more research.
Quote: Originally posted by GoDutch on 05/6/2017
...I have been making a few calls today and rubbing alcohol is the secret ... or so I have been told !! I'm going to need to re-proof the one panel whatever happens but I guess it would be best to keep it uniformed and do the lot.
I'm guessing whoever told you to use rubbing alcohol is thinking you might have mildew or tree sap on your canvas? You'll definitely have to use a waterproofing agent if you go near the canvvas with that, and chances are you'll impair the waterproofing on a much larger area than is presently damaged!
Don't lose heart yet, just soak and dry, soak and dry, and repeat until you can see some change. It's far too good a tent to ruin with re-proofing. You'll affect the breathable quality of the canvas and will end up having to re-do it every couple of years. If it does ultimately come to you having to sort out these patches in a manner other than soaking, surely it's better to have a couple of darker areas on an otherwise sound canvas, than to alter the characteristics of the fabric?
OK the brakes are on and I will refrain from breaking out the rubbing alcohol for the moment. The last thing that I want to do is to seal it up with silicon if I had a choice. However, it seems that my problems are growing as I have been out in the garden this evening playing camping and I now have a collection of drips coming through the overlap zip joint between the main canvas and the extended canopy !
Ah well, the newly purchased Moroccan style lights that arrived in the post this morning look good in there....just hope it does not drip on them ... BANG !
Our Ranstad bunzing is approx 30yr old & looks mint when dry , when wet it looks like a dirty old piece of cloth ( all shades from grey to black) but still remains water tight when wet & visible dots of daylight when dry.
Canvas will carry battle scars, be it grease spatters or mildew for years to come, let it wear them with pride of holidays endured & enjoyed. Refrain from reproofing if at all possible, no doubt dewaard should be able to offer pertinent advise but if not Granny's soap flakes is always a good starting point.
------------- The cheap tat was much better quality when i was young.
I agree with all the advice about the tent panel: carry on with weathering it with water, to see if the natural swelling of fibres will seal it up. We bought a 2nd hand Cabanon Guadeloupe 2 years ago. The first time we camped in a heavy storm, we got a fine mist through the canvas for the first few minutes of heavy rain and then it ceased and has been fine ever since. Only if you get continued problems should you move to plan B and use some silicon proofing.
The leak on the zip may be a different matter. Stitching points may not completely seal with weathering if the stitch holes were a bit big. Look carefully around the zip area to see if you can spot the exact point where water is wicking through. If it is indeed just a patch of stitching I would be tempted to just treat the seam with silicone seam sealant.
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Topic: Dark patch on canvas after rain
