Repair of the bottom of the tent made of reinforced polyethylene. Repair of tourist tents at home and in field conditions

Tent- This is an indispensable equipment for any serious hike. Modern models equipped with a durable canvas and frame made of composite materials however, even these can be damaged in use. As a rule, this happens on a hike, far from civilization, which means that any self-respecting tourist should know how to repair a tent in field conditions with a minimal repair kit on hand.

Repair of the tent depends on the nature of the damage. Damage can be caused to either the coating or the frame. In the first case, we are dealing with cuts, and in the second case, with deformation of the frame sections. Let's take a closer look at how tent repair.

How to repair a tent?

Cut repair

As with rubber boat repair, the first step is to wipe down the cut. This is necessary to clean it from dirt and water. This is necessary in order to improve the contact between the surface and the patch. To be sure, you can degrease the cut with a cotton swab with alcohol or cologne.

The patch is cut so that its edges are 1 or 2 centimeters larger than the cut. The corners should be rounded so that they do not bulge. If you are lucky and you have a self-adhesive patch at hand, then simply remove it from protective film and stick it on carefully. To ensure a snug fit, glue while stretching the tent fabric. Then smooth the patch well from the center to the edges, removing air and wrinkles.

If you are unlucky and you have damaged the fabric tent, or you simply do not have self-adhesive at hand, then you will need a tube of glue. Adhesives are different, so before using, carefully read the instructions. As a rule, 15-20 minutes is enough for the glue to set. At this time, it is desirable to place the place of gluing under the press.

When repairing cuts there is one nuance- it is better to seal large cuts with an overlap, and as a patch, of course, in extreme cases, you can use a piece of a bag from a tent - it is usually made from the same material.

Frame repair

There is always a possibility breakage of frame sections. The easiest thing to do in this case is to replace the damaged part with a spare one. If only the tube from the repair kit is at hand, then you need to shape the edges of the broken knee in order to pull the tube over them. Tape, adhesive tape or a strip of the same fabric for patches is glued on the sides. On top of all this, a repair tube is pulled tightly. If even this tube is not there, then you can try to build it from improvised materials (can or beer can, sticks or pegs).

What should be in a repair kit?

Usually, complete with a new tent, they immediately sell a ready-made repair kit with everything that can come in handy. According to the rules, it should include: a repair tube, a small amount of self-adhesive patches or a few pieces of fabric, as well as a tube of glue. It is better to repair ordinary fabric ones using glue, especially if it is wet, dirty and damp around (self-adhesive ones behave very capriciously in such conditions).

If something is missing in the kit, then it is better to take care of it right away and buy the missing one. It happens that such sets are sold separately in tourist shops Or you can assemble them yourself.

The only difficulty may arise with repair tubes, since it is difficult to find on sale separately the one that would fit you in size. Then it makes sense to purchase a spare section as a whole, and it is much easier to change it.

The task of any awning is to effectively protect the interior from precipitation, sun, wind, and cold. Even small damages reduce the protective properties of the tent or awning. What damage can be repaired at home?

Repair of punctures and damage to the awning at home

The textile part of the tent and covering awnings are made of dense fabric with a water-repellent coating. Finished goods must be completely sealed. Therefore, even microscopic holes from needles at the seams of the awning are boiled with hot air or glued with a special tape.

It is quite difficult to damage such tissue. The tightness of the tent (awning) can be broken for one of the following reasons:

In the first case, the tent should be immediately shown to the repairman. It is possible that the entire surface of the tent is worn out and beyond repair, so the master will advise you to buy a new tent.

Small "injuries" can be repaired without professional repair. How to do it right? It is not enough to simply sew the damage with a thread - such a repair will not restore the tightness of the product. The fabric must be glued and patched with a piece of a similar awning material.

For simple repair you will need a patch, a needle with a strong thread, glue for working with synthetic fabric. Textiles for the patch can be bought at a camping equipment store or cut from an unnecessary awning.

Glue is needed moisture resistant, able to withstand the load on the awning and not crack from frequent folding of the tent:

Simple gluing procedure:

Cut the patch to size 2-5 cm wider than the damage;
Sew the gap to avoid displacement of the torn edges under the patch;
Stretch the awning on a flat, hard surface;
Remove dirt and degrease the gluing site with alcohol, acetone or an alcohol-containing liquid (White Spirit, vodka, cologne);
Apply a layer of glue on the damaged surface of the awning and on the patch;
Press the patch firmly against the awning, straightening the folds on the surface of the textile parts;
If necessary, remove excess glue that has come out along the edges;
Leave the tent under pressure for at least 24 hours.

For another gluing method you will need:

Industrial (construction) hair dryer;
Silicone roller with a heat-resistant surface;
Patch;
Needle with strong thread
Glue;

For thermal method one of the listed compounds for PVC is suitable. You can also use a special thermoplastic adhesive, such as Rapid.

Tip: Try to choose a patch that is as close in material and structure as possible to the fabric of the awning.

How to repair worn surfaces and seams

After several years active use, even an awning without visible damage can begin to let water through. There may be several reasons:

The layer of polymeric water-repellent impregnation is worn out.

In the instructions for the tent, the presence of such a coating is referred to as "durable water repellent" or DWR. The polymer layer is applied to the outer surface of the tent and prevents moisture from being absorbed into the fabric.

If the DWR wears out, areas of the fabric begin to absorb moisture from precipitation. The fabric becomes heavier, heavy condensation and / or small leaks may appear on the wrong side of the tent.

To fix this problem, you will need to buy impregnation for the awning. For example, McNett ReviveX Durable Waterproofing (McNett, USA), Grangers Fabsil Universal Protector (Granger's, UK), Holmenkol HighTec Proof (Holmenkol, Germany) and others. You can restore the moisture-repellent layer yourself:

Clean the fabric from dirt;
A straight awning can be simply laid out on the floor, and the tent can be set up on the frame;
Treat with impregnation with a spray or sponge;
Dry thoroughly when unfolded.

"Home" processing of awning fabric will need to be carried out regularly, at least 1 time in 2 years. professional tools much more stable.

Important: impregnation should be applied strictly according to the instructions. Be sure to use protective equipment - goggles, rubber gloves.

Signs of a worn coating:

The textile surface becomes sticky. Parts of the tent stick to the hands or "glue".
Unpleasant "chemical" ODOUR.
Partial delamination of the coating from the fabric.

It is possible to restore the PU coating, but this process will take a lot of time. The main difficulty is to find a composition in the store for applying a new layer of PU. For example, McNett Tent Sure Tent Sealant or Aquaseal Polycoat from McNett (USA). Step by step process repair looks like this:

Remove the remnants of the old coating. To do this, you can use a non-metallic hard brush. It is easier to clean the coating if you pre-wash the tent in washing machine. It is important to use gentle detergents and wash in "manual" or "delicate" modes.
Rinse and degrease the cleaned cloth.
Unfold (stretch on the frame).
Apply evenly with a sponge or brush.
Dry unfolded for up to 24 hours.
Treat the surface with baby powder (talc), put away for storage.

The seam on the tent with PU-impregnation is leaking.

The seams of the tent, welded or glued with a special tape, cannot always be restored at home. If the parts were thermally bonded, repairs should be carried out immediately in the workshop.

To repair a seam with a peeled tape, you will need:

Before starting the repair, the awning must be laid out (stretched on the frame) with the seams outward. After that:

Remove and carefully clean off the remnants of the "factory" tape;
Degrease the seam;
Mark the place of application of glue with masking tape;
Apply a thick layer of glue so that the composition is absorbed as deeply as possible. This can be done with a soft brush or tube applicator;
Apply the tape evenly and press;
Remove excess glue from the edges of the tape;
Dry completely during the day;
Before folding, remove the adhesive tape, sprinkle the seams with talc (powder).

Tip: if gaps appear at the seam, they must be sewn with a thick thread before gluing.

The seam on the tent with silicone impregnation is leaking.

Tents with internal and external silicone coating (marking Si/Si, Sil/Sil) cannot be thermally repaired. Often, such models come with a repair kit with special patches and a silicone-based adhesive. If this is not in the set, you can repair the seams using this method:

Tip: silicone treatment is best done outdoors. It is important that the weather is dry and warm.

Urgent repair - how to make a temporary patch

In camping conditions, the tent is not difficult to repair if you have " repair kit» from glue and a suitable piece of awning fabric. If there is no such set, then ambulance» for a textile tent - any polyurethane adhesive-sealant that can be used to fasten the ends of the gap.

For repairing small tears in polyethylene tarpaulin or floor covering experienced tourists recommend using reinforced sanitary tape.

Pieces of adhesive tape, evenly attached to a degreased surface from the inside and outside tents will allow you to temporarily “patch” the leak. At home, such a patch can be fixed thermally: warm it up with a hairdryer and roll it with a roller.

How not to repair

There are two most “harmful” repair methods that masters do not recommend resorting to even to temporarily fix leaks:

Repair in the workshop: what you need to know

Any inaccurate repair, especially thermal gluing, can ruin the awning fabric. Therefore, it is better to contact the workshop. Where to go for professional repair?

The repairman will inspect the entire surface of the tent, give recommendations on the feasibility and methods of repair. It is possible that during the inspection, other damage and weakened areas of the tissue will be found.

Together with a specialist, the owner of the tent can choose convenient way troubleshooting. The workshop offers the following services:

Experts will carry out repairs better and more accurately than it can be done at home. Depending on the region, the cost of repairing 1 meter of an awning is from 700 to 800 rubles. The final price of such a service is determined by the size and complexity of the damage, the degree of deterioration of the fabric.

If the tent is torn, it is not necessary to throw it away. At home, with the help of a sealant, you can fix a broken seam, and with the help of two patches and glue, a broken one tent fabric. The main thing is to notice the damage in time, and after the repair the tent will become like new

An experienced traveler, before setting off on another trip, must carefully check all his equipment and inventory. It is better to identify any breakdown at home, which, in other matters, does not make such a discovery any pleasant.

If you find that your tent is torn, there is no desire to spend money on a new one, and the old one could still serve for several years, then you should not be upset. Almost any damage to a tent can be repaired at home, as long as it's not a giant tear, and unless the entire tent is holed up.

Tent damage can be divided into two types - divergence of the seam and rupture of the awning fabric.

If you find that the tent is torn along the seam, you will need to repair good sealant, which can be easily found in a camping equipment store. It is quite possible that you already have it at home, because many tourists recommend buying such repair tools in advance and taking them with you if you are going on a long trip.

Before applying the sealant, the bonding area must be properly cleaned. At the same time, be careful with the tent so that the gap does not go further. When the surface is cleaned, it is necessary to apply a sealant not too thick on the glued elements of the seam and the bends that cover them. Let it dry a little, then tightly connect the matter. For reliability and durability, the seams can be ironed with an iron or a stone (if the repair takes place far from civilization). A couple of hours after that, it is better not to touch the tent at all, and to guarantee reliability, leave it to dry in a dry, warm place for about a day.

If the fabric is torn directly, then first the gap should be tightly sewn up with a strong thread. After that, carefully coat the new seam with glue for raincoat fabrics. While it dries, cut out 2 patches, which should be about 2 cm larger than the gap on all sides.

As a material for patches, you can take a piece of jacket fabric. However, with some tents, manufacturers supply additional material for payments. We impregnate the resulting piece of fabric with a water-repellent agent. First, we apply waterproof glue to one side of each patch, coat the seam on both sides. When the glue has dried, repeat the procedure, give it time to dry slightly, after which we apply patches to the place of the gap from the inside and outside.

Using a stream of hot air from a hair dryer, we warm up the glues. We leave the tent for 4-5 hours, after which it will again be ready for full-functional use.

If the gap occurred already during the trip, then the hole can at least be sewn up, and the main repair work can be postponed until the return.

Have you ever broken the arch of a tent while camping? And accidentally burn an awning with a spark from a fire, pierce it with a branch, stain it with tree resin, break a zipper or tear a mosquito net?

These unfortunate accidents can spoil the long-awaited outdoor recreation and turn it into torment. To be prepared for any problem, we have prepared for you a list of what to put in your camping tent repair kit.

We have prepared this article based on many years of interaction with Alexika customers who turned to us for help with tent repairs.

How to fix a tent awning?

One of the most common problems- various microdamages of the outer awning of the tent. These include:

Sparks from a fire,
- falling cones and branches,
- accidental punctures of the awning by stones or other sharp objects.

If you have any questions or difficulties with the repair of tents, write to us, we are always happy to help you!

The task of any tent is to effectively protect the interior from cold, wind, sun and precipitation. Even a slight damage to the canvas can lead to a decrease in the protective properties of hiking equipment. However, any defect can be repaired without much difficulty at home. Read our article on how to properly seal a tent, what materials you need to use for this and what the principle of work is.

What are tents made of?

The question of how to seal a tourist tent arises by itself when one day a cut or damage of a different nature is found on the tourist equipment. In this case, most tourists are in a hurry to hand over the tent for repairs as soon as possible, not even realizing that it can be repaired at home without any problems. However, for this you will have to know some theory, namely, what material modern tents are made of.

For the manufacture of tourist tents use the following materials:

based polyester fibers- lavsan, polyester;
based on polyamide fibers - nylon, capron.

All of the above synthetic fabrics have good elasticity and strength, are resistant to abrasion, but are quite vulnerable to cuts and punctures. Also, fire carries a great danger for kapron. Even a small ember, flying out from the fire, burns through your favorite product in a matter of seconds, making its further operation almost impossible.

Types of damage

Even intentionally damaging a tent can be very difficult, but almost anything can happen in the forest. Most common causes, which lead to a violation of the tightness of the tent:

thermal damage - burning the tent with coals from a fire or a cigarette;
wear - long-term use, inaccurate operation;
mechanical damage- tears, cuts, punctures.

Each type of damage has its own repair technique, because they are very different from each other. However, minor "injuries" can be special efforts eliminate directly in nature.

Quick repair in the forest

Interested in how to quickly seal a tourist tent while camping? Most experienced tourists will advise using reinforced tape. Even a small piece of this material is enough to repair the damage right on the trip and continue to enjoy your vacation.

If you didn’t have tape with you, then you can use glue and a small piece of any fabric. All that is required of you is to cut off a suitable piece of material, and then glue it at the site of damage. After that, it remains only to carry out better repairs at home.

Choosing a patch adhesive

One more important condition not to be neglected is the choice of a quality adhesive. To repair the tent with your own hands, you will need to choose a good glue, the composition of which should have a number of advantages:

the ability to withstand the effects of precipitation and washing;
colorless, lack of smell and traces;
dense structure.

Also, the choice of adhesive should be based on the type of material to be worked on. For example, for synthetic tents, the composition of the Moment Crystal substance is best suited.

Materials and tools

Any work cannot be carried out without special materials and tools, and repairing a tent in this case is no exception. To seal a tent made of polyester or other synthetic material, you will definitely need everything from this list:

polyurethane adhesive;
patch fabric;
thread and needle;
scissors.

This is just the most necessary set tools and materials. If desired, this list can be supplemented with something. In this case, try to choose only quality tools so that the work goes quickly and without complications.

Repair cuts on the bottom of the tent

Have you torn or cut the awning of the tent? Do not rush to hand over tourist equipment for repair, because all necessary work can be easily done at home. In order to seal the bottom of the tent, you must follow a certain algorithm of actions, which will be described below.

We wipe the "wounded" surface from water and dirt. If you decide to repair the tent at home, then do not be lazy and wipe it with cologne or alcohol to properly degrease it.
Cut out the patch required dimensions. The edges should be 1-2 centimeters larger than the resulting cut. The corners must be rounded off with scissors, since they are the ones that most often begin to ride up.
Apply required amount glue (you can find out from the instructions) on the surface of the patch and the tent itself. Here it is very important to arrange the tourist tool in a convenient way.
We press the glued surface with a heavy object. Most adhesive manufacturers claim that the pressing force at the time of repair plays a much greater role. important role than duration.
We wait about 15-20 minutes for the glue to grab properly. However, you should not immediately climb into the repaired tent after this. It is better to let it stand for several days, and only then use it.

If there is a large cut, you can try to sew up the tent. However, for this you need to have at least minimal knowledge in this area. The stitches should be frequent and even, and the thread should be very strong. If you are not confident in your abilities, then it would be better to hand over the tent for repair.

Repairing a worn surface

After several years of active use of the tent, the material may begin to pass water without any visible damage. There is only one reason for this - the polymer water-repellent layer has worn out, and now use tourist equipment during rain is not possible. How, in this case, to seal the awning of the tent, or is it still worth throwing it away and buying a new one?

To eliminate such a problem, it will be enough to buy any impregnation for an awning, for example, British-made Granger's. Water-repellent material is restored easily and quickly at home according to the following algorithm.

We remove the tent canvas from the frame and clean it from contamination with water.
We lay out the fabric on the floor so that it is convenient to work with it.
We impregnate the tent with a sponge or spray.
Dry the material thoroughly in expanded form.

It is worth noting that such treatment should be carried out every 1-2 years, without waiting for the tent to wear out. You should also apply the impregnation strictly according to the instructions, using special means protection.

Repair of a raincoat fabric tent

To seal a raincoat fabric tent, you must have the same tools as in all previous cases, adding only a few cotton swabs to this list. It is worthwhile to pre-treat the surface of the tent with water and any degreasing agent, and then leave the tent indoors to dry. It is desirable that there is a fan heater or a heating radiator nearby.

After a few hours, apply polyurethane adhesive to the damaged surface. To make the layer lay evenly, use cotton swabs for this. Moreover, processing should be carried out on both surfaces to be glued, carefully lubricating the fabric along the edges. During gluing, it is necessary to maintain a technological pause, gently and accurately pressing the surfaces to each other. It is necessary to make maximum efforts, since the strength of the fabric connection depends on this.

Repair of a tent with silicone impregnation

Most often, tents with an outer and inner layer silicone impregnation are damaged in the area of the seams, so we will consider this particular repair method. If your awning is torn in another place, then repairs must be carried out in the same way as in the previous two cases.

We lay the canvas with the seams out and treat the surface with water.
We disinfect the seams and let the awning dry in a warm room.
Apply silicone adhesive in a thin layer with a brush.
We glue the surfaces and leave them to dry for 24 hours.

Be sure to dust the seams with talcum powder before rolling up the tent. It is also recommended to process fresh air in warm weather as the silicone adhesive can be very toxic. If you have a respirator, then you can spend repair work in a well ventilated area.

How not to repair

Now you know well how to seal a tent at home. However, so that you do not make common mistakes in the process, let's look at the two most "harmful" repair methods that should not be resorted to even if the leak is temporarily fixed.

Never sew the edges of the tent with a hem. This method will not save the tent from leaking, but most of the awning will be damaged by needle punctures. It sounds quite simple, but many people ignore this rule and instead quality repair only make it worse.

It is also strongly discouraged to seal any damage with "silver" tape. The effect of such a patch will be temporary, since the adhesive tape is unlikely to last more than two days, but it will be extremely difficult to remove the remaining adhesive from the surface. Sometimes this adhesive comes into contact with a moisture-resistant coating, after which it is completely absorbed into the fabric. In this case, only one thing remains - the complete replacement of fragments of the damaged canvas new fabric.

Is it worth it to give the tent to the workshop?

Now it's time to talk about whether it is worth giving the tent to the workshop to glue it, because careless handling of the awning fabric during the repair can completely render the tent unusable. This is especially true in the case of large damage. Therefore, do not completely neglect the opportunity to contact the workshop. In such establishments, a specialist will not only be able to conduct a complete inspection of the entire surface of the tent, but will also give the owner of the tent all the necessary recommendations to avoid damage in the future.

A tent repairman will be able to carry out the gluing procedure much better than an ordinary owner at home. The cost of repairs may vary depending on the region, but it rarely exceeds 700-800 rubles. Sometimes you will have to pay 1000 rubles for repairs, but this is only if the nature of the damage is very complex or the degree of deterioration of the fabric is high.

We hope that now you better understand how you can glue a tent and how to do it right at home. No one is safe from damage to tourist equipment, so every owner of a tent should be able to repair it if necessary. If you are not confident in your abilities or do not have enough time, then you can safely give the awning for repair, but be prepared to part with a certain amount of money. In other cases, it is still worth gluing yourself, since there is nothing complicated in this.