[MR] Opinions please, ground cloth or super ground cloth?

[David Chessler]

------ Original Message ------
Received: Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:42:21 AM EDT
From: Gina Shelley <paintedwheel at hotmail.com>
To: <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Subject: Re: [MR] Opinions please, ground cloth or super ground cloth?

> 
> 
>  I cannot speak for one material over another, but no matter what you intend
to use, make absolutley certain to fold the overlap back under the tent. 
> 
>  
> 
> I wish I had a nickle for everyone I saw at Pennsic who sets their tent on
top of a spread out tarp, and who ends up with their tent in a pool of trapped
water when it rains. The  excess edges of the tarp will funnel water right
under your tent. 
> 
>  
> 
> Spread out your tarp, lay your tent out on top of it where you want it to
go, then carefully fold the exposed edges back and tuck them under the tent.
THEN set up your tent. 
> 
>  
> 
> You'll be happier, and more importantly, you'll be drier. 
> 
>  
>
The advice to put the lining in the tent is good. Punctures occur from the
inside. Also, a tarp outside the tent can, as noted above, funnel water under
the tent. Such water will work its way through most kinds of waterproof cloth
because when you step on it, there is high pressure. It's also easier to clean
the tent if you can pull out the cover for the floor. If you do put a plastic
floor in the tent, use bulk sheet polyethylene from the hardware store. It
will last well enough, and will not bother you to throw out (recycle). If it's
a bit oversize and on the inside, just run it up the walls a couple of inches.
 

Plastic is the material of choice for water proofing, but you will want to
cover it with something.