Tents- Silnylon Seam Sealing

You will need the following:

Neutral-cure clear RTV silicone. One small tube is sufficient for most tents.
Mineral solvent, such as that used to clean paintbrushes.
A small brush with which to apply the seam sealant.

1. Erect your tent and adjust the fly so that it is tight over the poles.

2. Mix the silicone with the solvent in equal parts. This can be hard work and will take some time, though the process can be accelerated by use of a drill with a paint-mixer attachment. You need for the mixture to be smooth in consistency and milky in colour, as this allows for good penetration of seams.

3. Using the brush, apply a thin coat to all the exterior fly seams. This may take some time, so if the mixture starts to thicken in the pot due to evaporation of solvent, mix in a few more drops of solvent. Some manufacturers of seam sealant suggest applying sealant to the inside of the fly seams, but we have not found that this provides any noticeable improvement.

4. Some people advocate the application of strips of the mixture to the interior of the floor, as this reduces the tendency of your sleeping bag or mat to slide on the silnylon. We think that this is a very good idea.

5. The sealant will take some time to cure, at least 12 hours. You can lay your tent flat during this time, using waxed paper to separate seams from other parts of the tent, however we recommend the tent be left erected. The longer it is up, the better the seal will be. When fully cured, the sealant dries to a clear matte finish that is almost invisible.