How To Repair Tent Mesh Like A Pro

When camping, there are many problems that you may encounter before going on camping trips, and one of the most important of these problems is the problems with the tent, and the most common of these problems is the problem of damage to your tent Mesh .

Your tent is supposed to be your favourite place on a camping trip, but when the tent Mesh is torn, this is not a good thing, and many insects will find their way easily to your tent, and you will find a lot of annoying mosquitoes inside the tent. 

But don’t worry, you can skillfully repair the torn mesh fabric. In this article, we have made a step-by-step guide on how to rehabilitate your tent and get your tent back in good shape, and at the end of the article, you will be able to repair any holes you encounter in your tent. 

Items You Will Need For A Tent Repair

We make a list of the items that you need to repair your tent. These items should be in your tent repair kit. We have divided them into two parts, one for straight cuts and one for drilling. 

If your tent is torn straight, you must bring the following items:

Sewing Kits:

1. A sewing machine.
2. Thread.
3. A tape or adhesive patch for the mesh netting.

If you cannot use a sewing machine, you can use glue, which is a good alternative in repairing your tent, as it provides a flexible seal, is water-resistant and is very useful.

• Bring scissors.
• Bring a cotton ball.
• Bring an alcoholic swab or rubbing alcohol.

Read More: The best camping gear

If your tent has a hole, you must bring the following items:

A mesh patch kit:

1. This kit comes with a sticker or a cloth patch, and it also contains glue or adhesive tape.
2. If you cannot bring this set, you can use a sewing machine instead, but you must take into account that this method takes a long time, but it will provide you with extraordinary results than the mesh patch set. 

• Bring scissors.
• Bring a cotton ball.
• Bring an alcohol swab or rubbing alcohol. 

Mesh Tent Repair: A Step By Step Guide

For Mesh with a Straight Tear

If your tent has been torn straight or large, you can repair this damage yourself. Also, you can repair the damage by sewing or applying repair glue, as these two methods will provide the same necessary results, but you must do it correctly.

The first step: Prepare the tent net:

Before repairing, you must clean your tent and remove all the dirt from the place you want to rehabilitate to have long-term results. 

Lay the damaged area on a flat surface and clean the affected area using water or a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Leave it until it is necessary before you continue with the repair.

Step Two: Get the Mesh on the Machine:

You should read the information on your sewing machine as the thread you want to pass through the sewing needle must be of the same fabric as your tent’s web.

In order to sew the torn area as required, you must hold it tightly and evenly, and you must place the edges in such a way that they overlap each other. And this will ensure that the tear remains closed.

You can sew the torn edges together, preferably using the sewing machine that you use on a zigzag stitch pattern.

After that, apply the adhesive tape. The importance of the tape lies in strengthening the stitching function. And this will ensure that this area will not be torn again.

Then, bring two pieces of mesh tape, where you should cut them in a circular motion, as the corners of the rectangular pieces should tend to scatter after a while.

Place the pieces over the newly surrounding area in order to make sure that they are suitable for them. After examination, remove the adhesive layer from one piece and place it over the sewing area.

Hold the tape and mesh together tightly and then rub it and continue this for a while in order for them to bond with each other securely as you must smooth out all the ripples. 

Turn your tent over to the other side and repeat the process you carried out in the repaired area where you should allow the patch to recover in order to get exceptional and perfect results. Leave it for up to 24 hours. 

Alternative second step: Use tent repair glue as an alternative to sewing:

This method is a great alternative if you cannot use a sewing machine. 

This method has many benefits, which are that it does not require the use of many tools. It is also considered water-resistant.

Remove the dirt from the affected area, either by using water or using alcohol. And place the damaged area on a flat surface. Don’t forget to wear gloves in order to protect yourself from the glue.

Put the torn areas on top of each other evenly, and you must make sure that there are no voids, and you must put the tent repair glue over the damaged area very carefully and leave a little overlap.

In order to be sure that the repair is long-lasting, you should allow it to cure for up to 6 hours and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Once the glue dries, you can apply the glue to the other side of the fabric as this will be safer. 

For Mesh with a Hole

Step one: Prepare your tent:

Lay the torn area on a flat surface and then clean this area by wiping it with alcohol and leaving it to dry. You can also use a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.

Second Step: Get the Mesh Patch Kit:

Bring a set of mesh repair patches and place them on the torn or damaged area in order to make sure that the patch overlaps the edges of the hole so that it ranges from a quarter-inch to an inch.

Take the adhesive backing out of the patch and place it on the hole tightly in order to get the best results. Repeat the process on the other side of the net.

Sometimes in the repair kit, there is repair glue instead of a patch, and when there is glue, you have to put the glue on the piece of cloth and then put it on the hole together for pressure.

In order to make sure that there is a suitable bond and in order to make sure that there are no ripples, rub the area that you have repaired for some time and then leave it to treat for 24 hours.

Alternative second step: use the sewing machine:

If you cannot use the mesh patch kit, do not feel any worries because you can fix it by sewing the patch.

Bring your patch by cutting a piece of mesh fabric where you must make sure that the piece overlaps the edges of the hole by at least a quarter of an inch. If you don’t, you will find there is a hole that needs to be repaired again after a long time.

Put the cloth on the hole and make sure that they are aligned. The grains of the net and the fabric must be in one direction and in this way you will move both materials together easily and smoothly.

When you have aligned the two materials correctly, gently slide the pins through. So that they stay in place while you sew.

Bring your sewing machine and then sew the patch using a zigzag stitch pattern.

When you have finished stitching completely, trim the edges of the fabric as this will prevent the fabric from fraying in the future. 

You can also use cloth repair tape on the edges of the patch. It will secure the area and will not wear it out. The tape is waterproof. Accordingly, you do not have to worry about leaks in the future. 

How To Fix Other Tent Problems

Regardless of any rips and holes that can occur in the tent, there are many problems that you can find in tents, and these problems include broken poles, broken fasteners and bent and broken tent stakes.

All of these problems will prevent you from enjoying your trip, so let’s get to know some of these problems and how to fix them smoothly. 

Fixing Tent Leaks

There are many causes of leaks in tents, the most important of which is the tent holes, which we learned how to fix at the top, and there are some reasons related to the fabric of the tent.

In order to fix the leakage of the tent layers, you will first need to remove all the dirt using alcoholic detergents and then you can apply a sealant.

Many tents come with waterproof membranes, but with time the tents lose this layer, and this waterproof layer can also be lost due to the tent being exposed to some chemical cleaners.

For that, avoid using such detergents, and you can repair the waterproof layer by installing a water protector for the tent. We have previously created a guide on How To Waterproof A Canvas Tent.

Repairing Bent Tent Pegs

One of the most common problems that you may encounter on camping trips, and the bending of the tent stakes is one of the many problems, especially when using cheap stakes, and even some high-quality stakes tend to bend, especially after being exposed to many roads.

In order to fix these bent wedges, you can do this by bending them again by hitting them with a hammer and putting it back again. If you still can’t fix the problem or face some difficulties, you will need to heat the wedges over a fire, which makes hammering on the wedges easier. 

We have created a guide on how to fix the tent zipper.

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