canvas tarp advice.

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Looks like a good buy.
I made my own the same size from canvas, I use it as a tarp and sometimes as a basha, never had any water ingress at all.
 
Meh. I tried proofing an old medina conquest, with a tub of nikwax cotton proof, then 3 tins of fabsil. Still leaks.

Really? - I've just redone our canvas trailer tent that the muppet of a last owner jetwashed. After a dodgy first weekend it leaked like a sieve and you could see everywhere he'd used the pressure washer on the canvas. After proofing it withstood 48 hrs of torrential rain in North Wales (including a good constant puddle on one roof section that stayed bone dry on the inside). You do have to thoroughly soak the fabric then dry it for 12 hours for best results. It is a good idea not to mix proofing agents though as they all work by different means. Fabsil is solvent based and must go onto dry cotton - other treatments require the fabric to be damp.
 
Really? - I've just redone our canvas trailer tent that the muppet of a last owner jetwashed. After a dodgy first weekend it leaked like a sieve and you could see everywhere he'd used the pressure washer on the canvas. After proofing it withstood 48 hrs of torrential rain in North Wales (including a good constant puddle on one roof section that stayed bone dry on the inside). You do have to thoroughly soak the fabric then dry it for 12 hours for best results. It is a good idea not to mix proofing agents though as they all work by different means. Fabsil is solvent based and must go onto dry cotton - other treatments require the fabric to be damp.

Actually Im lying. I dont know if it still leaks, as I've not had it under a torrential downpour since i did the fabsil. I wouldnt trust it now though without a tarp. Probably just because its old canvas?
But every manufacturer has their own proprietary method of proofing. Some claim you never have to reproof it during its lifetime.
My other ones hydrashield army cotton duck.
IDK tbh.

My original meaning was if it was me, I'd be careful, about buying something that appears cheap, and then expecting it to work when you really need it to, and it fails. Having done that myself, I know its not good. :)
 
Actually Im lying. I dont know if it still leaks, as I've not had it under a torrential downpour since i did the fabsil. I wouldnt trust it now though without a tarp. Probably just because its old canvas?
But every manufacturer has their own proprietary method of proofing. Some claim you never have to reproof it during its lifetime.
My other ones hydrashield army cotton duck.
IDK tbh.

My original meaning was if it was me, I'd be careful, about buying something that appears cheap, and then expecting it to work when you really need it to, and it fails. Having done that myself, I know its not good. :)

Generally 4 years of average use (say 3 weeks per year) is the lifetime of a proofing on Canvas - although that depends on how much rain and sun it gets in those 4 years. Usually you can just get by with a garden sprayer touch up. Make a note of any spots that are wetting out quickly and give them a squirt on a dry day. But a wazzock with a jet wash meant I had to buy an extending decorators pole and a foam pad and reproof the entire roof (5mx5m) on site - good job the weather reports were fairly accurate.

I spent the next few rainy nights twitching imagining every dripping sound was inside. But thankfully it wasn't.

Good stuff is Fabsil.
 
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We use Thompson's water seal on our parthenon-style canvasses, which lasts for two seasons of pretty "industrial" use. I am a bit wary of canvas which doesn't state that it's been fire/water/rot proofed. Granted, the fire thing is because we use them "professionally". But having a light-coloured canvas which is larger than the place you have for drying has caused us some headaches over the last few very wet years. We've even had them go mildewed while they were up and in use. Buggeration.

Cheers,
Leif
 
We use Thompson's water seal on our parthenon-style canvasses, which lasts for two seasons of pretty "industrial" use. I am a bit wary of canvas which doesn't state that it's been fire/water/rot proofed. Granted, the fire thing is because we use them "professionally". But having a light-coloured canvas which is larger than the place you have for drying has caused us some headaches over the last few very wet years. We've even had them go mildewed while they were up and in use. Buggeration.

Cheers,
Leif

Interesting as Thomsons water seal is meant now NOT to be suitable for canvas?!
At least it doesn't say you can on the tin anymore...?
 

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