ground cloths

[silas thatcher]

until recently, i have been using plastic tarps from the hardware store ,and covering it with canvas drop cloths as a ground cloth... recent rains have shown that water still bleeds through the woven plastic tarps...

i think it was patrick hand that mentioned cnavas treated for an effective ground cloth is heavier than you would believe, which makes it close to impractical ( for him on an airplane )

short of using plastic sheeting, what else is available as an effective h2o barrier ??

[Dorian Lasseter]

Patrick's correct, treated canvas, either painted with an oil base paint, or something like Thompson's water seal, makes the canvas heavy. Unless you use some very light weight canvas, which I'm not sure how well that'll hold up to wear n' tear...

As for plastic tarps, go to the hardware store and see if you can get a roll of 5 mil plastic sheeting... I've used it at work and we bought it in 10 foot wide by 200 foot length rolls. That under your canvas will work better than the woven tarp material...

YMMV...

Yrs & c,

Dorian

[LadyBarbossa]

Yup.

You can do that, or obtain a sod cloth or some treated Sunforger canvas from a carrier and make your own sodcloth (which is not that difficult). Never really had a problem with rain though. How odd. I've always used those cheap Aztec style woven rugs and they've been fantastic.

~Lady B

[captscurvy_nc]

I've always used painters drop canvas from Lowes. If I'm worried about heavy rains I use the 5 ml plastic between two pieces of the drop canvas. Never had any problems

Edited October 3, 2010 by captscurvy_nc

[capn'rob]

In the case of rain I use the closest Hilton!

[wes1761]

I made oil cloth using Olympic brand cedar deck stain (left over from actually re-doing deck!) I brushed it on heavy on both sides and let it hang in the shade till dry/non tacky/no odor. I then buffed it with a smooth stone....it does have a bit more weight, but it works. And the color kinda looked like an old faded out "spanish brown" or oxide type finish.....<BR><BR>The local dollar tree has pre-packaged painters drop cloths 8 x 10ish for $1.....

[Jas. Hook]

In the case of rain I use the closest Hilton!

Capn' Rob -

You and M'lady Patricia are of one mind, though she prefers Hampton Inn.

Jas. Hook

[Capt. Bo of the WTF co.]

Check with your local sign company that makes those vinyl graphic billboards and see if you can get a used one or partial one, cut it up to fit your floor needs. that's what I have used and will again if/when I start camping again. They will last several seasons before needing replaced and are not too heavy.

Bo

[renfairpirate]

You could also try and a old pool liner and cut it to size

[Edward O'Keeffe]

In the case of rain I use the closest Hilton!

Capn' Rob -

You and M'lady Patricia are of one mind, though she prefers Hampton Inn.

Jas. Hook

I heartily agree, although I am a Marriott man meself, the breakfast buffet is better.

[Guest]

My ground cloth is shrunk canvas (washed in Hot water and then dried on Hot) that was then painted with 50-50% linseed oil and turpentine mixture; then allowed to completely dry in the shade for about a week (think Oil soaked rags and spontaneous combustion...)

The ground cloth isn't too heavy, but I wouldn't use the linseed oil/turpentine mixture to waterproof a tent.

[MarkG]

My ground cloth is shrunk canvas (washed in Hot water and then dried on Hot) that was then painted with 50-50% linseed oil and turpentine mixture; then allowed to completely dry in the shade for about a week (think Oil soaked rags and spontaneous combustion...)

The ground cloth isn't too heavy, but I wouldn't use the linseed oil/turpentine mixture to waterproof a tent.

I use a commercial canvas tarp and choose high ground. The only time I ever had a real problem was at Hampton Blackbeard Festival in 2009 when there was no high ground.

The last time I needed a tarp I got it from here.

Mark

Edited October 6, 2010 by MarkG

[silas thatcher]

for a couple of weeks, it had done nothing but rain, so the ground was soaked... the water was actually bleeding through wherever any weight sat on it... after walking in a few times, i could see my footprints soaking through the plastic tarp and the canvas on top of it !!

[callenish gunner]

I have used plastic shower curtains with canvas over ...in rains like you can get in that valley by the Wentzville park I'd consider a few pallets with plywood over them; then hidden by a canvas tarp! That valley turns into a swamp very quickly!

[Iron Jon]

I used some old Tyvek for a ground cloth with my backpacking tent. It's the stuff they use to insulate and weatherproof new homes. It goes between the plywood sheeting and what ever siding they cover it with. If you've never seen it at a construction site it's the same "plastic type" paper material they make those Priority Mail envelopes out of. It's waterproof, lightweight, packs really small, and nearly rip proof. Sometimes you can find cut-offs in the trash around new construction, or you might be able to offer someone on the site $5 or so for a big piece. One side is printed with the logos but you can use it white side up under your canvas and it blends in pretty good.

edit - (...and some people sell it by the foot on eBay too!)

Edited October 7, 2010 by Iron Jon