I did a show in Philadelphia this past weekend, and my Flourish Trimline Canopy leaked horribly during a moderate rain, no wind, no thunderstorm. Just a straight rain. Now, admittedly, my canopy is 8 years old (purchased new in 2005). But I only do 4-7 shows each year, so it's really not in that bad of shape. I've dutifully patched any pinholes and I've used Seam Grip on the areas where the wind straps attach and sometimes exert pull on the vinyl.
I was VERY unhappy with the performance of the canopy this past weekend because other exhibitors around me with Show Off and Light Dome canopies did not have the same problems. In fact, they were blissfully bone dry inside their tents.
But within just a few hours of an average rate of rainfall, my Trimline canopy was leaking terribly along the midpoints of the armature, right down the centers of my walls. From what I could tell, it appeared that the seams themselves were allowing the rain through the pin holes of the stitches.
I called Flourish on Friday after having to close early in order to keep my wood frames from getting damaged. They advised using a vinyl glue like the product used to repair swimming pools.
Has anyone else encountered this issue? How did you solve it?
At this point, I'm willing to either meticulously go around and re-seal the seams with a third-party product, or just invest in a whole new canopy that would be compatible with my 10' x 10' Trimline frame. Frankly, I've never been happy with this canopy because it is too short at all four corners. Whenever it's going to rain at a show, I'm obliged to improvise white garbage bag patches at the corners of the canopy because the sash is only about 3" and it barely overlaps the tops of the walls at the corners. The corners will always let in water if I don't patch them in some fashion because the velcro closures are way-y-y too snug with the puny little sash that barely covers the wall tops.
The problems I had this past weekend were in the middle of the walls, starting at the top. The rain was not wind-driven nor was it that heavy at the time the tent was already leaking so badly (the heavier rain came later that day). I'm not pleased because a couple of my pieces were water damaged, and I need your help so that this does not happen again.
Thanks,
Sarah Pollock
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Christine I do have the old one still. It's in fairly good shape except for one zipper that falls off the starting end if you're not careful. I kept it as a spare. It needs a bath. Contact me offlist. Info@parkerparker.net
Did you buy the canopy new? I would suggest you contact Flourish Co again and tell them your story and how unhappy you are. They are really good people and it may be a situation that they can help you with more ideas. We have several of their tops and have been using them for quite a few years and have never had any trouble with them in all sorts of weather. We are constantly attending shows. I couldn't be more pleased with their quality. It would probably be a helpful call for you to make again!
Sarah Pollock > Judy GoodwinJune 11, 2013 at 11:15am
The canopy was purchased new. I did call on Friday and I did specifically ask to speak to a customer service manager because I was so unhappy (at that point, I was sitting in my hotel room with two water-damaged works, trying to dry them on the bed after closing early while other exhibitors were able to remain open until the heaviest rain moved in later in the day).
The young woman, Sage, was professional and courteous, but unwilling to pass me up the food chain and also unable to specifically describe how today's canopy design would be any better than what I have now. She offered me a "deal" on a used canopy, but I told her, "Well, I already have a 'used' canopy now." Ultimately, the vinyl glue was the best suggestion.
Chris Pawlik > Sarah PollockJune 11, 2013 at 1:01pm
You said in your first post you have had this for eight years, is this the first time it has leaked? I know you said you don't do that many shows per year. How is it stored when not in use? Just wonder if at some time it got over heated.
Hi, It has leaked at the corners from day 1 - that's why I had to start using the garbage bags. I learned that trick from another exhibitor with the same problem at a show here in PA a few years ago. The velcro corners of the canopy have always been so tight that it was nearly impossible to seal off the closures, and if we were on uneven terrain it was even more difficult. I've had to use the garbage bags to close off the gaps. But when it started leaking at the midpoints of the walls, apparently through the canopy seams this past weekend, that was a new, unpleasant development.
I store it folded when not in use. I keep it in our garage. It's unlikely that it got overheated in there, although it is possible that it could have gotten overheated in our parked van on days preceding or following art shows in the summer.
Jim Parker > Sarah PollockJune 11, 2013 at 11:35am
It really does sound as if the top has been stretched across the seams. It should not leak like that through the seams, ever. Call them back, ask to speak to Luke or Tom.
The frame of the Trimline is the most durable you can buy. A new top may be your best answer if the seams have been stretched past the point where Seam Grip or vinyl glue will keep it watertight. I suspect this isn't something that just happened overnight from your description. It sounds like this particular top never fit the frame very well and over time, the seams pulled apart, allowing water to seep in through the gaps. You should not have to pull it that tight to get it to fit around the top frame, and it should be possible to completely close the top corners just by fastening the velcro sash corners.
Good news! I just spoke to Luke and they're going to send a new top to me on a trial basis to see if it fits over my canopy frame better. It should arrive before my next show and I'll give it a try in our backyard to see if it's better. I'm optimistic and hope that this will resolve the issue for future rainy shows.
Older Trimlines had the problem with the sash collecting water. They've changed the design since, and it doesn't happen now. You can fix an older tent by clipping holes in the sash at the bottom to create weep holes. You can use a paper punch or just make small slits every foot or so where the sash folds at the bottom.
I have three Trimline roofs, and have NEVER had a problem with leaky seams. Alison's assessment seems accurate. You may not be able to seam seal this top adequately if that's the case.
If I were you, I'd keep the frame and replace the top. The cost for just a 10x10 top is about half the cost of a completely new system. I bought a new top for my Trimline this year, and it is a bit baggier than the older top. But the weight of the four walls will even that out. Better a bit too loose than too top. It should be snug around the corners where the sash velcros, but not as snug as you describe.
I have never had to seam seal any of my Trimline roofs in almost 10 years of use. SeamGrip will do the job, but you will need several tubes to do all the seams. Vinyl cement seems like a bit of overkill, as it will actually dissolve the vinyl in order to bond, and if it is indeed too tight to begin with you'll just manage to mess it up beyond repair. It sounds like you may need a new top anyway. SeamGrip is worth a try, though.
You don't happen to have a used 10x10 trimline top for sale? Most of the plastic connectors on mine have broken and it is starting to really show its age around the corners. Just a thought.
I appreciate your thoughts. I had the exact same concerns about using vinyl cement, so I'll probably try the Seam Grip first.
I need to protect my work better than what happened this past weekend. But I'm loathe to invest in a new top because I've never mis-treated my existing top and, in total, it probably has about 30 shows of use. Some exhibitors do that in a single season!
It does have wear and tear, but I blame this bad leak problem on the overall skimpiness of the design from Day 1. It's possible that the seams got stretched over time because it's always been very snug around the velcro corners, and it's usually been impossible to cover the wall tops at the corners without augmenting with white garbage bags.
Before I spend more money with them, I'll try the Seam Grip and then look for some sort of assurance that they've resolved this design issue.
Replies
Did you buy the canopy new? I would suggest you contact Flourish Co again and tell them your story and how unhappy you are. They are really good people and it may be a situation that they can help you with more ideas. We have several of their tops and have been using them for quite a few years and have never had any trouble with them in all sorts of weather. We are constantly attending shows. I couldn't be more pleased with their quality. It would probably be a helpful call for you to make again!
The young woman, Sage, was professional and courteous, but unwilling to pass me up the food chain and also unable to specifically describe how today's canopy design would be any better than what I have now. She offered me a "deal" on a used canopy, but I told her, "Well, I already have a 'used' canopy now." Ultimately, the vinyl glue was the best suggestion.
You said in your first post you have had this for eight years, is this the first time it has leaked? I know you said you don't do that many shows per year. How is it stored when not in use? Just wonder if at some time it got over heated.
I store it folded when not in use. I keep it in our garage. It's unlikely that it got overheated in there, although it is possible that it could have gotten overheated in our parked van on days preceding or following art shows in the summer.
It really does sound as if the top has been stretched across the seams. It should not leak like that through the seams, ever. Call them back, ask to speak to Luke or Tom.
The frame of the Trimline is the most durable you can buy. A new top may be your best answer if the seams have been stretched past the point where Seam Grip or vinyl glue will keep it watertight. I suspect this isn't something that just happened overnight from your description. It sounds like this particular top never fit the frame very well and over time, the seams pulled apart, allowing water to seep in through the gaps. You should not have to pull it that tight to get it to fit around the top frame, and it should be possible to completely close the top corners just by fastening the velcro sash corners.
Older Trimlines had the problem with the sash collecting water. They've changed the design since, and it doesn't happen now. You can fix an older tent by clipping holes in the sash at the bottom to create weep holes. You can use a paper punch or just make small slits every foot or so where the sash folds at the bottom.
I have three Trimline roofs, and have NEVER had a problem with leaky seams. Alison's assessment seems accurate. You may not be able to seam seal this top adequately if that's the case.
If I were you, I'd keep the frame and replace the top. The cost for just a 10x10 top is about half the cost of a completely new system. I bought a new top for my Trimline this year, and it is a bit baggier than the older top. But the weight of the four walls will even that out. Better a bit too loose than too top. It should be snug around the corners where the sash velcros, but not as snug as you describe.
I have never had to seam seal any of my Trimline roofs in almost 10 years of use. SeamGrip will do the job, but you will need several tubes to do all the seams. Vinyl cement seems like a bit of overkill, as it will actually dissolve the vinyl in order to bond, and if it is indeed too tight to begin with you'll just manage to mess it up beyond repair. It sounds like you may need a new top anyway. SeamGrip is worth a try, though.
Jim:
You don't happen to have a used 10x10 trimline top for sale? Most of the plastic connectors on mine have broken and it is starting to really show its age around the corners. Just a thought.
I need to protect my work better than what happened this past weekend. But I'm loathe to invest in a new top because I've never mis-treated my existing top and, in total, it probably has about 30 shows of use. Some exhibitors do that in a single season!
It does have wear and tear, but I blame this bad leak problem on the overall skimpiness of the design from Day 1. It's possible that the seams got stretched over time because it's always been very snug around the velcro corners, and it's usually been impossible to cover the wall tops at the corners without augmenting with white garbage bags.
Before I spend more money with them, I'll try the Seam Grip and then look for some sort of assurance that they've resolved this design issue.
Thanks for your ideas,
Sarah
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