“Is tent seam sealing necessary?”People who have never done this would be daunted by the idea of seam sealing. Good quality tents are properly coated and can remain waterproof and weatherproof for a relatively long time. People might not encounter a problem with leaking even if they know nothing about tent seam sealing. Nonetheless, applying seam sealer to plug sewn seams is a good way to prolong the life of tents.
Seam Sealer is viscous sealant that fills stitching and leaves a protective thin film that keeps seams of all kinds of fabrics waterproof. It is colorless, washable and flexible. It works on nylon and other synthetic fabrics.
Silicone impregnated tents can be treated with silicone-based seam sealer. PU based seam sealer, on the other hand, works well on PU coated fabrics. Here are the simple steps of tent seam sealing:
- Set the tent up in a spacious working area so that you can effortlessly reach all the stitching to be sealed. Make sure there is adequate ventilation. Using a fan would help. Room temperature is most desired for best results.
- Clean the fabric surface to be sealed, including sewn seams, taped seams, pinholes and stitches. Let dry.
- Starting from inside of the tent. Apply a thin layer of sealer on stitching. Tents might have taped seams. Apply sealer along sides of the tape to reinforce the tape. Use a brush to smooth out thick areas and remove excess. You want the sealer to soak fully into the stitching.
- Examine seams from outside of the tent. Apply sealer if necessary.
- Wait at least 8 hours or even a day for the sealer to dry and cure. Test for dryness before re-using or folding the tent.
Tent Seam sealing provides longer life for the tent. Shin Dorn offers OEM manufacturing of waterproof seam sealers, ideal for tents and outdoor fabrics. For more information, please contact Shin Dorn!
Related product: Camping Seam Sealer (19017)