Hole or tear in your stretch tent? Here is what you need
A hole in the canvas, a tear at a fixing point or a seam coming loose: with the right material you repair that yourself, without replacing the canvas. You need two things, a repair patch made of stretch tent canvas and flexible repair glue, and our repair kits contain both. For a single tent in the garden just as much as for a rental fleet checked over after the season.
Why small damage is repaired straight away
Stretch tent canvas is always under tension. That is what gives the tent its shape, and exactly why a one-centimetre hole does not stay small. At the next set-up the tension pulls the damage further open. Repair it now and it stays a single patch. Leave it a season and you are looking at a new canvas.
Use material that moves with the fabric. Ordinary glue or duct tape sets hard, lets go under the first load and usually takes a piece of canvas with it. Flexible repair glue stays flexible and waterproof after curing, so the repair moves with the canvas instead of tearing out of it.
Which repair kit do you need?
Four kits with the same materials in increasing quantities. Choose on the largest damage you expect, not the average one.
Repair kit Small — 2 round patches of Ø 20 cm and 2 tubes of flexible glue of 15 grams. For holes and light damage. The kit you keep in the trailer.
Repair kit Medium — 2 patches Ø 50 cm, 2 patches Ø 20 cm and 2 tubes of glue of 90 grams. For small to medium tears and damage around fixing points. The sensible choice if you own one or two tents.
Repair kit Large — 4 patches Ø 50 cm, 4 patches Ø 20 cm and 5 tubes of glue of 90 grams. For several repairs in a row, such as the end-of-season check on rental stock.
Repair kit XL — 1 rectangular patch of 120 x 75 cm, 4 patches Ø 50 cm, 4 patches Ø 20 cm and a 1 litre tub of flexible glue. The only kit with a large rectangular patch, so the one to pick after storm damage or a long tear in the middle of the canvas.
Prefer to order separately?
Everything in the kits is available on its own. Repair patches in Ø 20 cm, Ø 50 cm and 120 x 75 cm, all in chino beige. Repair glue in tubes of 15 and 90 grams and in a 1 litre tub. So you top up exactly what you use.
How to repair a hole or a tear
- Clean the canvas around the damage and let it dry completely. Glue does not bond to dirt or moisture.
- Lay the canvas out flat, with no tension on it.
- Choose a patch that overlaps the damage by 10 cm all round, so the tension spreads over a larger area instead of pulling on the tear.
- Cut the patch round, or with rounded corners. Sharp corners are where the next tear starts.
- Spread the glue thinly and evenly with a sponge or brush, and wear gloves. Using the 1 litre tub? Stand it in hot water for 60 minutes before use.
- Press the patch down and weight it, so it bonds across the whole surface. Keep the weight on for at least 16 hours, longer is better.
- Let the repair cure for 24 hours before you tension the tent again. Do not work in full sun or in freezing conditions.
The full instructions and the contents of each kit are in this article about the repair kits.
Emergency repair during an event
Tent is up and it has to hold now? Transparent repair tape seals a hole or tear on the spot. The tape is 7.5 cm wide, available in 1, 2 and 10 metres, and moves with the canvas. Treat it as a bridge: once the tent is down, make the repair permanent with a patch and glue. You will not get 24 hours of curing time during an event anyway.
Why buy your repair material here
- Patches made of the same stretch tent canvas the tents are made of
- Flexible repair glue that stays flexible and waterproof after curing
- Four kit sizes, from a single hole to storm damage
- Every part available separately, so you top up what you use
- Suitable for private and professional use
- In stock and ready to ship
Frequently asked questions
Can I repair a hole in my stretch tent myself?
Yes. With a patch and flexible glue you handle most small and medium damage yourself. No sewing machine or special tools needed.
Is the tent still waterproof after a repair?
Done properly with flexible repair glue, the spot is waterproof again once the glue has cured.
How long does a repair need to cure?
24 hours. Keep the patch weighted for the first 16 hours so it bonds across the whole surface. Do not tension the tent until the glue has cured completely, not even briefly to see if it holds.
How large should the patch be?
Allow 10 cm of overlap all round the damage. If you are between Ø 20 and Ø 50 cm, take the larger one. Too big is never a problem, too tight is.
What colour are the repair patches?
Chino beige. On a beige canvas the repair barely shows. If it has to stay invisible on a different colour, get in touch with us.
Tape or a patch?
Tape is temporary, a patch with glue is permanent. Use tape to get through the event, then repair it properly afterwards.
Everything for repair and maintenance
Browse the complete repair kits and patches, the repair glue or all stretch tent maintenance products.
