Has anyone ever water proofed there tents? I heard that the water proofing used on decks works good a tents, what does every one think?

Here is what Eureka told me when I asked:
"When you re-waterproof a tent (or fly) please make sure the material is
not too UV damaged and you are able to wash the old waterproofing off
(This works 95% of the time) -

-wash tent in top loaded washer (for the agitation) with any kind of
detergent (if really sticky, use woolite) -let tent air dry (or dry
without heat)

--Then to re-waterproof -we recommend a product called AquaSeal
(www.aquaseal.com) this should be placed on the opposite side of the
original waterproofing (such as put on the outside of the tent body and
the top of the fly)"

I've always just used spray silicone (Camp Dry and others) usually found in the camping section of walmart. works well. never had a problem.

Set up the tent and wet entire surface that you want to waterproof. If it is the bottom of the tent, lay the tent (gently) on its side and spray the bottom. I usually did more than one coat to be safe with several hours of drying between coats.

We have used a product called Tent Sure on our Scout tents. Seems to work good even if the old urethane is peeling.

A couple years ago I just used scotchguard on the fly of an old dome style Northface. I did two applications in one day. The sun was out so the first application dried very quickly and I waited about 2 hours and did another one. It worked just fine.

I have a Eureka timberline that's about 5 years old and have water enter thru the bottom during a good rain. Were going out for 15 days in June and I want us to stay dry.

quote fishfry: "I have a Eureka timberline that's about 5 years old and have water enter thru the bottom during a good rain. Were going out for 15 days in June and I want us to stay dry."

Re-waterproof the bottom and use an innie.

Have you tried seam sealing it? Maybe that's all it needs.

quote Unas10: "

quote fishfry: "I have a Eureka timberline that's about 5 years old and have water enter thru the bottom during a good rain. Were going out for 15 days in June and I want us to stay dry."

Re-waterproof the bottom and use an innie."

haha. I'd say use an outie. Just make sure that it does NOT go past the edge of the tent. That is a problem many people have when using a groundcloth. You end up creating a problem instead of solving it!

Another thing.. try waterproofing both the inside and outside of bottom after seam sealing

My tent has a bath tub floor, and I use a outie, 6 mil plastic cut 12 in shorter all around. I like the idea for water proofing the inside and outside.

Re-do the bottom and use an innie is my vote. ;-) How will an outie protect you if the water goes between the tent and the tarp? You know it WON'T if you use an innie.

quote nojobro: "Re-do the bottom and use an innie is my vote. ;-) How will an outie protect you if the water goes between the tent and the tarp? You know it WON'T if you use an innie."

You're right Nojo. An innie won't protect you :P hahahaa

The whole point of a groundcloth is to spare the tent (<---loook, I said it!) and, theoretically, it keeps water out in case your waterproofing on the floor fails ... tent floors are SUPPOSED to be waterproof .... if you HAVE TO USE an innie to keep water out, then you need a new tent IMO.

I think as long as your ground cloth doesn't extend farther than your tent floor footprint you'll be fine. Of course there's a higher chance to get water in the tent if you're making a pool on top of your ground cloth between the floor of your tent.

I'll 2nd the opinion... ground cloth under the tent.

By "water proofing used on decks" do you mean a substance like Thompson's Water Seal?

I wouldn’t it is made with mineral spirits. I would hate for a spark to land on my tent. If you are indeed talking about this product, I just got this from their website: "Do not use on asphalt, plastic, natural rubber or fabric, in below grade application where water pressure is a problem, or on painted or recently stained surfaces."

Use a silicon based product meant for fabrics.

inspector - The stuff I have is Wolman RainCoat clear multi-service waterproofing, it cleans up with water. It is a 100% acrylic resin.

Brent - My 6 mil black poly is cut 12 inches smaller than the tents foot print, I never have a problem with an hour or so of rain only when we have had hours upon hours of rain.

nojobro - We had a innie made out of 6 mil black poly but it was so slick that our bags and bodies would not stay in place and everyone would complain when I would end up squishing them in the corner when we slept on a slight incline.

Amok - The outie does protect the floor from puncture wounds and keeps all that ground moisture off the tents under side.

Maybe I'm use the wrong thing for a outie and a innie, is this possible? what say ye all????

fishfry: I wouldn’t use any acrylic based waterproofing on a tent either. I’m pretty sure it will prevent the breathability of the fabric causing condensation problems. You wouldn’t have to worry about the weather outside, since it could be raining inside the tent.

quote serenityseeker: "I've always just used spray silicone (Camp Dry and others) usually found in the camping section of walmart. works well. never had a problem.

Set up the tent and wet entire surface that you want to waterproof. If it is the bottom of the tent, lay the tent (gently) on its side and spray the bottom. I usually did more than one coat to be safe with several hours of drying between coats. "

Same here. Set up the 2 or 3-man tent with rainfly. Spray the outside of the fly, let dry and repeat. Take off the fly, lay the tent on its side or hang from a ridgeline and spray the bottom, dry and repeat. I also spray each side, the frist few inches from the floor in case of "horizontal" rains.

The whole process takes two cans of Scotchguard, Camp Dry, or equivalent.

Nola is right. You want a plastic sheet inside the tent, just a little bigger than the floor so it rolls up the sides. If you think putting a cloth under the tent will protect it then to that too but don't skip the innie if you want to KNOW you'll stay dry.

Time for hammocks. High and dry.