Leaking Tent Floor

We had the same problem years ago, I carefully waxed the actual thread on the seam and then stuck a strip of heavy duct tape over the seam on the underside of the tent.
Never leaked again and have only replaced the tape twice in 20 odd years.
When putting the tape on be careful to have the floor flat and even, clean and dry and don't stretch the tape as you apply it.
Pay attention to getting the ends sealed, either up under a lip where it joins the canvas or if it is a tent with the join exposed then a smear of silicon to seal the end.

Hi Peter,

Thanks for reply and info. What type of wax did you use.


JD

Have you given any though to putting shadecloth under your tent?. It would allow water to run through but still stop grass,leaves etc from sticking to your floor. I guess most of us have been caught using a tarp or plastic to protect the floor area and only whne it rains the obvious becomes evident. I use Liddys waterproofing and have found it to be excellent on our Southern Cross Camper

BCF and a few other camping stores have McNett tent floor sealant and seam sealant.
Have a look here; http://www.mcnett.com/
look under tents.
The seam sealant is a clear polyureathane paste that stays flexible after it dries.
Ive used both products on my 12 yr old Salewa hiking tent, it seems to have cured the Titanic syndrome it had the last time it rained (water coming in everywhere).

Cheers

good luck with sealing the seam.
personally i always use a tarp under the tent, but do not leave any part of the tarp sticking out to prevent pooling between the tarp and tent floor.
might end up with a few inches of dirty floor around the edge, but better than seeping in.

Most reputable camping shops should stock Sevylor Seamseal. Hiking shops will more than likely also stock aquaseal. The seamseal is an awesome product and lots of hikers/mountaineers will keep it in their first aid kits. It will stop anything getting through. If your tent rips in strong winds or something like that, just sow it up with dental floss and cover it with the seamseal and it will last for years. Use it on your boots if your rand starts to peel off.
Shade cloth is good, however just make sure you fold the tarp back under the fly and you should be ok.
Good luck.