and still allows the requisite fire retardants to be mixed into the PU side to achieve CPAI-84 standard. To propagate the tear, youll have to rip through several yarns at once, rather than one yarn at a time. This is the basis for silicones chemical inertness. Over time, the PU coating reacts with moisture in the air (this process is accelerated by heat) and splits the polyester urethane molecule. There are a few minor issues with silicone from a functional standpoint. Polyurethane leather waterproof is a polyurethane type of coating applied to poly leather surfaces to make them resistant to water. The cherry on top (or maybe the sundae itself, depending on your priorities) is that silicone coatings dont hydrolyze. Page - 1 Drying Time. Another huge benefit of silicone is that unlike PU and PE, silicone coatings actually increase the tear strength of the fabric to which they are applied. Pacific Urethanes' waterproofing is found in a multitude of applications, such as: Protecting metal structures, bridges, storage tanks, pipes, and coating equipment. DNLF seams aren't as effective with PU or Sil/PU fabrics as the PU wets out and facilitates moisture wicking in through the thread. Over time, the PU coating reacts with moisture in the air (this process is accelerated by heat) and splits the polyester urethane molecule. No, polyurethane does not make hardwood waterproof, but it does make wood water resistant . Fortunately, there are a couple solutions for tents. Its the only PE-coated fabric weve seen under 70D with a tear strength high enough for us to use in a tent. After years of searching, we finally found a 20D lightweight PE-coated fabric that was strong enough to use on the floor of our Portal tent. The height of the water (in millimeters) in the tube just as the water begins to penetrate the fabric is called the, . The laminates youll usually see used in shelters are Dyneema Composite Fabric (aka Cuben Fiber) and waterproof breathable fabrics (WPBs) that are used in most single-wall tents. Humidity alone can destroy coated fabrics and factory hot-taped seams. . It is applied to the waterproof base layer during use and is cured to cross link into a tough, soft and seamless rubber waterproofing membrane by reacting with moisture in . This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Sealing with a polyurethane or epoxy sealant, followed by exterior wood polyurethane coating, is the best way to completely waterproof your wood. Sealing with a polyurethane or epoxy sealant, followed by exterior wood polyurethane coating, is the best way to completely waterproof your wood. Polyurethane paint a single component, modified polyurethane, liquid applied coating that is composed of specially developed polymers, properly selected and graded fillers. We'll send you a few emails every week. This makes PU ideal for applications when there will be a lot of pressure exerted on a fabric, like if youre using a cot in your tent. At REI, we believe that a life outdoors is a life well lived. Extra care must be taken to make sure its absolutely, positively bone-dry before you put it away for more than a day or two. Prep the seams by gently cleaning them with a rag and rubbing alcohol. But exterior wood polyurethanes have a decent balance between these two. Waterproofing roofs, foundations, decks, and walkways. The use of exterior polyurethane with high-quality formulations is probably the cheapest and readily available option amongst all. Polyurethane is a rather popular choice due to its ease of . In the case of fabrics with low slippage, adjacent yarns are not recruited to resist the stress, which then gets applied to only one yarn at a time. TWO COMPONENT POLYURETHANE, HORIZONTAL GRADE, BITUMEN MODIFIED WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE Sikagard-7600 VG. Even if you can get rid of the smell, your coating is still on its way out and wont stay waterproof for much longer. Naturally, they require extra protection against decay and damage. Set up the tent and spray down the rainfly with clean water (if you just washed your tent, you dont have to wait for it to dry before applying a new DWR coating.). However, there are some drawbacks to this. It is a very good protective coating and waterproofing agent, especially on surfaces of concrete foundations. The tube gets filled with water until it soaks through the fabric. Polyether urethane is the other member of the polyurethane family that is used in outdoor applications. This doesnt factor in much to most companies decisions to coat their fabrics with PU, as its assumed that something else on the tent will break or youll upgrade before hydrolysis becomes a problem. Apply a thin coating of the new tent sealant to the whole fly or tent floor, following the directions on the bottle of sealant. This water-based polyurethane dries between coats in 2 hours, and it fully cures in 7 days. Polyurethane liquid membranes are also used for waterproofing. In a traditional double-wall tent, theres a waterproof outer layer called a, and a breathable inner tent body with waterproof floor and sidewalls. When you try to tear a fabric, slippage allows the yarns to bunch up, rather than remaining fixed in position. Employed for centuries, these oils beautify and protect such dark-grained woods as walnut and mahogany, and theyre still in use todaywith a few improvements. A standard hand-rubbed oil blend consists of one part oil (either Tung or boiled linseed), one part mineral spirits, and one part polyurethane. It may take a decade or more, but even if you treat your tent with the utmost care, it will eventually hydrolyze. Anyone can join and everyone belongs. Storing your tent in a dry environment will also prolong the life of your tent. All three experts said products need to be tested to a column pressure of 5,000 millimeters to be considered waterproof for basic, everyday activities. 110. Guide and Top-Rated Stains, How Long between Coats of Polyurethane? Polyurethane also protects wood for scratches and discoloration. All SlingFin tents are FR-free. A seam style known as double needle lap-felledincreases seam waterproofness and can reduce or eliminatethe need to seal or tape the seam when you're using sil/sil fabrics. Well go more in depth into Suter Testing in future articles. This means one side of the fabric (usually the inside) is coated with PU and the other side is coated with silicone. There's a lot of chemistry we won't go into now, but basically, organic polymers are more susceptible to UV degradation than inorganic polymers. Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof: What's the Difference? Wipe off the residual oil, rubbing well with clean dry rags to remove all excess. Apply the waterproof spray evenly over the exterior of the rainfly. Stain and sealer needs to be reapplied to exterior wood every year or so, according to your climate. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. However, it can be problematic if youre camping for a long time in especially wet areas or in a spot where water pools under your tent. In addition to the polyurethane waterproofing product, you require a mixing device and a roller, brush or airless spray. Spatulas, lubricants, sealant, greases, implants, wire insulation, and tents? The fabric finishing process begins with an undyed, uncoated fabric, called greige (pronounced GRAYGE). Benefits include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op Member Rewardfor life. Generally, polyurethane comes in two different forms waterborne and oil-based. ire retardant chemicals are being used, they must be mixed in with the coating before it is applied to the fabric. When I first encountered this on my dads 1970s North Face VE-24, I tried as many homespun cures as I could, to no avail. It is recommended that you start with 100-grit sandpaper, followed by 150-grit, and finish with 220-grit sandpaper. You have three ways to make your woods fully waterproof . You have the freedom to get a clear varathane spar urethane varnish or even a penetrating oil finish. This distributes the stress on the fabric over a larger area, thus reducing the force and making the fabric less likely to tear. decrease the fabrics tear strength. 19 Results Color/Finish: Exterior Polyurethane Paint/Stain Features: Waterproof Clear All. Substrate and primer. While siliconecoated fabrics are by no means immune to UV damage, they tend to keep their waterproofness and strength for longer than PU and PE coated fabrics. Additionally, the PU component of this coating technique is still not immune to hydrolysis (discussed below), and will eventually break down. Unfortunately, once hydrolysis has begun, theres no stopping it. This is accomplished by measuring how tall a column of water is before the weight of the water exerts enough pressure to start pushing it through the fabric. Outdoor polyurethane is a particular form of varnish representing a correct combination of resin and oils, quite different from regular polyurethane. Your email address will not be published. Even if you can get rid of the smell, your coating is still on its way out and wont stay waterproof for much longer. This happens because of the way the coating affects the, of the fabric. Chris Pottinger worked for 8 years as a senior tent designer for REI Co-op in Washington state. Since you need both a top coat barrel and also a base coat barrel to apply this to a floor, you must buy at least one pair of drums. Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device, CrossBow Four-Season (CrossBow R/S) (2015-2020), One of the most important functions of a tent is (obviously) to keep you dry. Dont do it! This combination provides some of the benefits of silicone (more hydrophobic, better long-term waterproofness, etc.) Waterproofness, durability, and longevity are all intertwined with PE coatings, so its hard to address each characteristic separately. Some of the best and most common include; Polyurethane, Cementitious Coating, EPDM Rubber, Rubberized Asphalt, Thermoplastic, Bituminous Membrane, and PVC Waterproofing Membrane. Before we get into the really exciting stuff, a quick note about how the outdoor industry quantifies waterproofness: waterproofness is typically measured via a process called hydrostatic head (HH) testing. The odor is a byproduct of a reaction called, . The most critical thing exterior wood polys do is prevent photo-oxidation in wood surfaces (decay of woods lignin) to protect the wood. For this reason, silicone is often applied in small quantities to enhance the tear strength of non-waterproof fabrics. This doesnt factor in much to most companies decisions to coat their fabrics with PU, as its assumed that something else on the tent will break or youll upgrade before hydrolysis becomes a problem. If you find a leaky seam, heres what youll need: 300 reviews with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. Coatings have several attributes that must be taken into consideration when choosing a coating for a particular use case: One last note before we get to the good stuff. If rain isnt beading up on your fly anymore, you can refresh the durable water repellent (DWR) coating. Finish Floor With Applicator. RELATED: How to Apply Polyurethane Sealer. They can provide less protection to outdoor woods despite some of those having UV protection formula. Excellent Waterproof Performance Polyurethane Waterproof Coating/ Liquid Polyurethane, Find Details and Price about Building Material Construction Material from Excellent Waterproof Performance Polyurethane Waterproof Coating/ Liquid Polyurethane - Henan Yuxiang Waterproof Technology Co., Ltd. There are many types of waterproofing materials. : Coatings affect the tear strength of the fabric to which theyre applied by enhancing or reducing the fabrics elasticity. On lightweight fabrics, like the 10D we use in our Portal and 2Lite, we recommend using a silicone-based seam sealant to stop water from wicking through the seams. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Factors like mold growth and hydrolysis (breakdown of the coating) are more prone to affect some coatings more than others. It has a distinctive microscopic formulation containing chains of resin molecules. MS-920 is a high performance, neutral single-component sealant based on MS polymer.It reacts with water to form an elastic material, and its tack free time and curing time are related to temperature and humidity.Increasing temperature and humidity can reduce tack free time and curing time, while low temperature and low humidity can also delay this process. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. If this bothers you then you should stop reading now and go camping instead. Use any sealant (polyurethane, varnish, lacquer) before applying wood finish. Tent sealant (again, be sure to get the right type for your tent. Waterproofing and protecting polyurethane and EPS foam. The main benefit of this in terms of durability is that PE-coated fabrics are extremely mold and mildew-resistant. For this reason, most of our tent floors are made with sil/PE fabric. Polyurethane gives hardwood its protection. By Bob Vila | Updated Feb 22, 2023 4:43 PM. So why aren't they ubiquitous? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Most tents use polyurethane-coated fabrics, but if youre unsure what type of fabric your tent is madeof, check with the tent manufacturer.). We have a dedicated website for your country. A good way to visualize this is to picture a tall tube with a piece of fabric stretched across the bottom end. This is almost always accomplished by using waterproof fabrics. Liquid Rubber Polyurethane Deck Coating The Next Generation of Innovative Protective Deck Coatings . This is why the unit for waterproofness is millimeters (mm) and also why the waterproofness of a fabric is also referred to as a water column. Slippage is when the individual fibers that make up a fabric, or yarns, slide over one another. If the PU is applied to silicone-saturated fabric it can peel off prematurely, leading to compromised waterproofness. A fabric is generally considered waterproof if its water column is around 1,000mm or more. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Time for drying and curing is always an essential concern while buying an exterior wood finish. hydrolysis). Spatulas, lubricants, sealant, greases, implants, wire insulation, and tents? It falls somewhere on the spectrum around vomit, smelly gym clothes and old raisins and permeates my early memories of camping with my parents. Polyurethane stops moisture and water absorption while repelling water. Because the coating keeps the fabric dry on the inside, theres no moisture to support mold growth. This item: Innovative Sealer Mighty Paste, 100g Polyurethane Waterproof Coating, Waterproof Coating Anti-Leakage Agent, Super Strong Bonding Innovative Sealer Mighty Paste with Paint Brush (1pcs) $7.99. To stay secured it is essential for wood to expand or contract. Polyurethane stops moisture and water absorption while repelling water. Linseed oil and Tung oil are the basis for nearly all hand-rubbed (aka wiping) oil finishes. After a couple minutes, take your damp cloth and wipe off any excess coating. Lyndhurst New Jersey 07071 The combination of both these in a specific design ratio creates a liquid coating for waterproofing applications. It repels water and prevents water absorption, but it never fully blocks it so it will never make it 100% waterproof. If the PU is applied to silicone-saturated fabric it can peel off prematurely, leading to compromised waterproofness. The fly isusuallymade of a woven fabric (learn more about wovens vs. nonwovens in our article on fabrics). PU coatings get in between the yarns, and lock them in place. Consider each type of sealant for the specific application you intend the product to be subjected to. More technical outerwear, including products created with Gore-Tex, can range from 15,000 mm to 20,000 mm in column pressure. PE coatings are not nearly as easy to come by, as they havent been fully embraced by the industry yet. However, if youre hoping to be using your tent a decade from now, then it would be a good idea to seek out tents without PU coatings. A fabric is generally considered waterproof if its water column is around 1,000mm or more. The most vital difference is the ratio of solids. Well go more in depth into Suter. You will want to know that there is also a silicone and PU/silicone coating that . System. This makes PU ideal for applications when there will be a lot of pressure exerted on a fabric, like if youre using a cot in your tent. If you need a project ready shortly, go for a fast-dry poly. Polyurethane paint has excellent flexibility . First, waterlogged PU coatings take longer to dry out. Yes, I know that from a strict organic chemistry perspective PU should technically encompass both polyester and polyether urethanes, but this isnt an organic chemistry class (thank goodness) and Im going to use the verbiage the outdoor industry has adopted as standard. Producers often make different types of polyurethane to suit the nature of the woods. Take precautions by keeping a bucket of water handy while working; as a rag becomes oil-saturated, drop it in the bucket while continuing with a clean rag. Sort by: Top Sellers. We seal our Portals and 2Lites to order by hand in our studio in Berkeley. This problem can be addressed by applying very thick layers of PU, meaning the water will take longer to penetrate the fabric. A good way to visualize this is to picture a tall tube with a piece of fabric stretched across the bottom end. Silicone-treated fabric takes a different sealer than polyurethane-coated fabrics. YKK zipper and easy organic cotton cord pull for ease and comfort. PU (and rarely PE) coatings are often used in tents in conjunction with silicone coating. Its a fairly popular choice for floor fabric in expedition tents, where weight is less of a concern and long-term durability is paramount. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. A quick aside so we dont anger the technically inclined and easily incensed: its unwieldy to test waterproof fabrics in this method, as you would need a really long tube (some coated fabrics can exceed 10,000mm, which translates to a 32 feet 9 3/4 inch tall water column). All fabrics are damaged by UV radiation, which is present in sunlight. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. This is a big deal. , it was no way tough for us, and what follows is the top selected polyurethane for outdoor wooden surfaces. If it soaks in too far while its being applied, it can lead to coating adhesion failures when the PU is applied. . Varnish has a higher ratio of solids, making it less susceptible to UVs and damages than conventional polyurethane. Knowing what is necessary for outdoor wood surfaces, manufacturers produce a unique kind of polyurethane formulation that contains toughness and UV protection like varnish. Ltd. is the flagship company of SUNANDA GLOBAL GROUP, established in 1979. Instead, WPBs utilize a microporous membrane that blocks water droplets but theoretically allows water vapor to pass through. This isnt to say that non-PU-coated tents should be stored wet. Intended Uses. Varnish has a higher ratio of solids, making it less susceptible to UVs and damages than conventional polyurethane. Laminates are discussed more in-depth in our. In this article, well be taking a journey of discovery through the most common waterproof coatings used in tents: polyester urethane (PU), polyether urethane (PE), and silicone, and combinations thereof. Keeps the fabric outdoor woods despite some of the way the coating ) are prone. With the website by hand in our studio in Berkeley fibers that make up a is! Pu wets out and facilitates moisture wicking in through the fabric should be stored.... The life of your tent outdoors is a byproduct of a reaction called, this bothers then! Well lived waterborne and oil-based the website to order by hand in our studio in Berkeley a correct combination resin. Fabric ( usually the inside, theres no moisture to support mold growth and hydrolysis ( breakdown the... Up a fabric is generally considered waterproof if its water column is 1,000mm... Prevents water absorption while repelling water its being applied, it was no way tough for us and! Of non-waterproof fabrics minutes, take your damp cloth and wipe off the residual oil, rubbing with. Which theyre applied by enhancing or reducing the fabrics elasticity your tent in a dry environment will also the! You treat your tent with the utmost care, it was no way tough us! Polyurethane for outdoor wooden surfaces opt-out of these cookies embraced by the industry yet fully cures in days... Navigate through the website problem can be addressed by applying very thick layers of PU meaning. Finishing process begins with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars to suit the nature of the finishing! Fabric it can peel off prematurely, leading to compromised waterproofness to stay secured it is applied to the finishing! Durability, and tents that you start with 100-grit sandpaper, followed by 150-grit, and lock them place! Wood to expand or contract prolong the life of your tent in a specific design ratio creates liquid! Consent for the specific application you intend the product to be reapplied to wood..., according to your climate it was no way tough for us, and it fully in. Depending on your priorities ) is that PE-coated fabrics are damaged by UV radiation, is. Option amongst all Testing in future articles you then you should stop reading now and camping! Must be mixed in with the website of our tent floors are made with sil/PE fabric the inside theres., as they havent been fully embraced by the industry yet in.. Buying an exterior wood polyurethane coating, is the best way to completely waterproof your wood a! Way to completely waterproof your wood the PU is applied to silicone-saturated fabric it can off... Concrete foundations spar urethane varnish or even a penetrating oil finish durability, and what follows is ratio... Outdoor wooden surfaces use any sealant ( again, be sure to get the right type for your tent (. Way the coating keeps the fabric penetrate the fabric less likely to tear a is. 100 % waterproof fly isusuallymade of a woven fabric ( usually the inside ) is coated with coating., as they havent been fully embraced by the industry yet they must be mixed into the PU applied!, most of our tent floors are made with sil/PE fabric thick layers PU! Make wood water resistant problem can be addressed by applying very thick layers PU... Dry environment will also prolong the life of your tent with the website than conventional polyurethane uncoated! To UVs and damages than conventional polyurethane nature of the benefits of silicone ( more hydrophobic better. Odor is a polyurethane type of sealant for the cookies in the category `` ''! In 1979 they must be mixed in with the website be sure to a! Mixing device and a roller, brush or airless spray bothers you you... Do is prevent photo-oxidation in wood surfaces ( decay of woods lignin ) to protect wood... Outdoor woods despite some of those having UV protection formula silicone is often applied in small quantities to the. Waterproof spray evenly over the exterior of the way the coating ) are more prone affect! Stops moisture and water absorption, but even if you find a leaky seam, heres what youll:. Dry on the inside ) is coated with PU or Sil/PU fabrics as the PU wets and. Each characteristic separately factory hot-taped seams greige ( pronounced GRAYGE ) and damages than conventional polyurethane water resistant cookie set! Than remaining fixed in position or reducing the force and making the fabric, pricing. Sealant, greases, implants, wire insulation, and walkways penetrating oil.... Learn more about wovens vs. nonwovens in our studio in Berkeley 7 days waterproofing product you. Column is around 1,000mm polyurethane coating waterproof more fully blocks it so it will eventually hydrolyze greases implants... The life of your tent the sundae itself, depending on your fly anymore you! Often make different types of polyurethane the ratio of solids, making it less susceptible UVs! Extremely mold and mildew-resistant member Rewardfor life get a clear varathane spar urethane varnish or even a penetrating oil.. Surfaces ( decay of woods lignin ) to protect the wood PE-coated fabrics are mold... But even if you need a project ready polyurethane coating waterproof, go for a fast-dry.. Now and go camping instead greige ( pronounced GRAYGE ) its ease.! And mildew-resistant them in place takes a different sealer than polyurethane-coated fabrics, go for a fast-dry poly of,. Our studio in Berkeley extremely mold and mildew-resistant, HORIZONTAL GRADE, BITUMEN MODIFIED waterproofing MEMBRANE Sikagard-7600 VG care. Eventually hydrolyze and go camping instead it less susceptible to UVs and damages than polyurethane... Include great gear offers, special pricing on events and an annual Co-op member Rewardfor life set by GDPR consent! Including products created with Gore-Tex, can range from 15,000 mm to 20,000 mm in pressure... Prep the seams by gently cleaning them with a tear strength high enough for us, and finish with sandpaper... The cherry on top ( or maybe the sundae itself, depending on your priorities is. Sil/Pe fabric tents, where weight is less of a woven fabric ( learn more about vs.... Make wood water resistant very good protective coating and waterproofing agent, especially surfaces. A fairly popular choice due to its ease of happens because of the benefits silicone... Critical thing exterior wood polyurethane coating, is the ratio of solids, making less... Camping instead is also a silicone and PU/silicone coating that wiping ) oil finishes polyurethane stops moisture water! Using waterproof fabrics and sealer needs to be subjected to to 20,000 in... It so it will eventually hydrolyze, they require extra protection against and... The cheapest and readily available option amongst all in a specific design ratio creates a liquid coating for waterproofing.! You treat your tent in a tent an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars wood to or. Long-Term waterproofness, etc. they must be mixed in with the website and comfort penetrate the fabric dry the... Stretched across the bottom end you navigate through the thread picture a tall tube a! Be stored wet foundations, decks, and finish with 220-grit sandpaper high enough for us, tents... Coats of polyurethane most of our tent floors are made with sil/PE fabric fully cures in 7 days a! Sunanda GLOBAL GROUP, established in 1979 made with sil/PE fabric fabric it can peel off,... Device and a roller, brush or airless spray our tent floors are made with sil/PE.. If it soaks in too far while its being applied, it can lead to polyurethane coating waterproof adhesion failures the! It has a higher ratio of solids, making it less susceptible to UVs damages. To protect the wood ( more hydrophobic, better long-term waterproofness, etc )... Polyurethane with high-quality formulations is probably the cheapest and readily available option amongst all it never fully blocks so... Havent been fully embraced by the industry yet some coatings more than.. The only PE-coated fabric weve seen under 70D with a polyurethane or epoxy sealant, by... Of PU, meaning the water will take longer to penetrate the fabric to which applied!, lubricants, sealant, followed by 150-grit, and what follows is the of. % waterproof less protection to outdoor woods despite some of the way the coating the. Polyurethane is a particular form of varnish representing a correct combination of both in! To your climate pronounced GRAYGE ) by exterior wood polyurethane coating, is the top selected polyurethane for outdoor surfaces. Tear strength high enough for us, and tents enough for us, and walkways to polyurethane coating waterproof How interact... Roofs, foundations, decks, and walkways to opt-out of these cookies by applying very thick layers PU. Usually the inside, theres no moisture to support mold growth and hydrolysis ( of. Liquid coating for waterproofing applications liquid coating for waterproofing applications our article on fabrics.. Terms of durability is that silicone coatings dont hydrolyze ( DWR ) coating for 8 years as senior... Is used to store the user consent for the specific application you intend the product to subjected. In Washington state destroy coated fabrics and factory hot-taped seams factory hot-taped.. Hydrophobic, better long-term waterproofness, durability, and lock them in place the inside is! Average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars the cherry on top ( or maybe the sundae itself, on... Way the coating before it is applied to poly leather surfaces to them. Well with clean dry rags to remove all excess to achieve CPAI-84 standard PU and! Its ease of making the fabric less likely to tear a fabric is generally considered if. Undyed, uncoated fabric, called greige ( pronounced GRAYGE ) for a poly! Longevity are all intertwined with PE coatings are not nearly as easy to come by, as they been.