Plastic or tarp over canopy - rain predicted - Forum

Richard L. Sherer December 23, 2023 at 10:49am

Rain and leather don’t mix. My tents are custom made with heavy vinyl. All on the sewn sems are sealed with silicone as are any pinholes developed from rolling up on the ground. The three walls of merchandise are draped every night wit 4 mil plastic sheets (12’ drop cloths or cut 10’x12’) tucked over top bars and clipped to pegboard hooks with clothes pins. Besides rain, condensation overnight can also bea problem in Colorado mountains in the summer. We wipe the inside roof with towels before taking down the plastic sheets. I also carry a 30’x30’ “emergency tarp” to cover entire booth if there is a disaster.

Matt Uden December 22, 2023 at 9:31am

I use waterproof canvas tarps as a cover, works great.

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Karole Bowlds October 9, 2011 at 2:48pm

I use a 30x30 clear painters drop cloth INSIDE the canopy top-I take one corner and place it between the top canvas and the peak pole BEFORE fully extending the tent. I use clamps at the corners and sides to lock into place once the sheet is positioned. Then I just extend the tent fully, and continue with my set up. My Encore II started leaking just this year, and as every show I have done this summer has been rainy and damp, I have started doing this. It works. The excess plastic hangs down past the scissors on the OUTSIDE of the sidewalls, directing any water flow outside the tent. Not on my jewelry!

Connie Mettler September 21, 2011 at 5:30pm

Jim, what do you do with that awning at night?

It's true about Karyn.

Jim Parker > Connie Mettler September 21, 2011 at 5:59pm

The awnings always come down. We've seen tall trucks hit the bars and take out tents. Happened to my friend Darren; happened twice at Arts, Beats & Eats. ('Course you know that, Connie! Yikes!)

Plus idiots may try to chin themselves if drunk and happy.

If a storm threatens, the awnings come down pronto. The walls get closed if the wind is strong, but only as a last resort. Mark McKinnon lost his 9x20 at Columbus this year in exactly that situation. If the front is open and the wind gets in, it's sail time. Not sale time.

Connie Mettler September 21, 2011 at 4:27pm

We never put anything over the top, but did always make sure nothing was on the ground, or that at least it was elevated under some 2 x 4's or something like that. We took everything off the walls and put it in boxes that were also off the ground and sometimes (if real bad weather was coming) pulled all those boxes into the middle of the booth and covered it all with either a tarp or plastic and bungeed around the stack.

P.S. You should see Jim's setup. I was across from him at a show recently and had a good look at his setup. It is impressive. No self-respecting rain would dare go near him or "it." It is a structure to behold. Luckily Jim is young and strong and ready to leap tall buildings when constructing it. I should have gotten a photo.

Jim Parker > Connie Mettler September 21, 2011 at 4:57pm

I have the best booth partner in the world to help keep the hatches battened down, too. Ms. Karyn is younger, stronger, and also much better looking than me! Plus she wields a mean zip tie!

Here's a shot of the booth from earlier this year. This is entirely natural light.
- Chris King > Jim Parker September 21, 2011 at 5:26pm
  
  Awesome - I appreciate the picture of your canopy. Great light. I show glass plates so use tables and risers. I am so lucky to have found this group - wish I had when we began but I am learning from my mistakes and ever so much more from everyone here.

Ann Marie Crosmun September 21, 2011 at 9:36am

Good Morning Christina-years ago (around 10 or so), we were doing Shaker Festivals. We were required to have "canvas" sides and toppers for our E-Z ups. We found Erb's Tarp Shop (he is Amish, located in Pennsylvania). We sent him our E-Z up, and, he created 4 zip up walls and a topper that velco'ed to the poles, and, zipped to the walls. Erb is a canvas/vinyl boat cover maker. He reversed the canvas for us so that the canvas side was on the outside and the vinyl side was on the inside. We have NEVER had a leak, not even a drop. He sent us 3 or 4 samples of canvas colors (all variations of white) for us to choose from. But, also a good tip for prevention of pooling--zip-tie 2 hula-hoops in each side of the top corner....I'll ask my husband to post a photo for you later this evening. A side note; at the Neptune Festival (about 6 years ago), during the night, someone put a horizontal slice in the wall--I was able to sew it up with record thread and it has been perfect ever since. No leaking from that slice either.

bruce ferguson > Ann Marie Crosmun September 21, 2011 at 10:50am

hello ann, i just washed my e-z up after several years of dirt and grass venues. i had good luck on the outside, but when i cleaned the inside with oxyclean a bunch of white film came off. this left some clear areas. does this mean i washed off a protective coating?

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