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Penetration
Choose tents waterproofed with silicone in preference to polyurethane and acrylic coatings. Silicone spray penetrates the spaces in a tent's fibers rather than sitting on the surface. Thus, it won't rub or peel off as will polyurethane waterproofing sprays. The flexible bond it forms with the fabric fibers alleviates stress on any one area. Silicone is a widely used aquarium sealant because of its ability to resist water penetration. It dissolves very gradually when exposed to water due to its inherent hydrophobic structure.
Re-application
Re-apply silicone waterproofing whenever you notice your tent's roof and rainfly sagging during a rainstorm or after a heavy dew. Silicone is durable and stands up to water penetration for a long time. However, even silnylon tents made of silicone-impregnated nylon will lose some of water repellent qualities after prolonged use. Set up your tent at home and spray on the waterproofing before you go on your next camping trip.
Frequency
Apply a new coating of silicone waterproofing once a year if you occasionally go camping. Apply it twice a year if you use your tent nearly every weekend. Abrasion from setting it up, taking it down, stuffing it in the trunk and bundling it up in a sack will cause silicone degradation. Frequent outings during rainy weather may dissolve small quantities of silicone. If your tent sees infrequent light use, it may not need retreatment for several years. Washing a tent with detergent will also remove some of the waterproofing, so you should reapply it more frequently if you notice wall sagging during a rainstorm.
Seams
Apply a seam sealer around the doors, windows, floor and zippered openings of your tent even if it's new and never been used. Silicone won't adhere to synthetic threads. During the manufacturing process, sewing needles leave behind minute holes that will leak in a heavy downpour. The seam sealers are available in small tubes and are usually brushed on or squeezed on using a needle-nose cap attachment. Keep the sealer off zipper teeth so they won't stick while in use.