tent-floors-msg – 8/7/16

What to use on the ground in your tent or your period pavilion.

NOTE: See also the files: tent-fabrics-msg, tent-interior-msg, tent-painting-msg, tent-making-msg, tent-setup-msg, tent-care-msg, p-tents-msg, pavilions-msg, p-tent-const-art, tent-dsguises-msg, tent-sources-msg.

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I have done a limited amount of editing. Messages having to do with separate topics were sometimes split into different files and sometimes extraneous information was removed. For instance, the message IDs were removed to save space and remove clutter.

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Thank you,
    Mark S. Harris                  AKA:  THLord Stefan li Rous
                                          Stefan at florilegium.org
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Date: Wed, 7 May 1997 22:41:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Andrew Tye <atye at efn.org>
To: An Tir <Steps at antir.sca.org>
Subject: Re: period pavilions

On Thu, 8 May 1997, Lynnette E Storie wrote:
> I have made the greatest find ever!!!
> I have managed to acquire a period type pavilions for $3. It appears to
> be a double french bell. We have attempted to put it up and have mostly
> succeeded.
> My question for those who have pavilions is, what do you put on the
> floor? Do you just leave it as what ever material it is set upon? Do you
> recommend plastic underneath( considering our weather)

Ivar here,

First, congratulations on the find.  Second, let me ask a couple of
questions. Does it have a floor sewn in?  If not, does it have mud-flaps?

If the answers are 1. No, and 2. Yes, I'll tell you what I do.  First, you
can be pretty secure with no floor by turning the mud-flaps out.  This
helps channel run-off away from the inside.  However, there are no
guarantees that the ground cover is nice so you may eventually want to get
a floor.  (Also, for French Bells, a floor makes setting up much quicker
and easier.  You know where the perimeter is to drive the stakes.)

What I do is have two separate floors.  First on the ground in a piece of
Visqueen, (polyethelene sheeting used for vapor barrier in crawl-spaces),
cut to the footprint of the tent.  Then over this goes a floor I had made
by the local tent & awning company out of heavy waxed cotton duck.  I then
set the tent up on top of it.  After the tent is staked down, the
mud-flaps MUST be tucked under the Visqueen and make sure that none of it
peeking out.  If you don't, you can be assured that it WILL rain and a
goodly portion of it will invite itself inside and form a nice deep pool.
If, on the other hand, you rig it properly you will be dry inside while
most others are wallowing.  Additionaly, you can start layering up old
ersatz oriental rugs inside for comfort and verisimilitude without
worrying about them getting soaked.

I hope this is of some use,

Ivar Hakonarson
Adiantum.


The Cathedral Steps - Kingdom of An Tir email list
From scoffman at on-ramp.ior.com Fri May 23 19:42:22 1997
Date: Thu, 8 May 97 01:10:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Steve Coffman <scoffman at on-ramp.ior.com>
To: Lynnette E Storie <mohr_store at juno.com>
Cc: steps at antir.sca.org
Subject: Re: period pavilions

At 12:39 AM 5/8/97 EDT, you wrote:
>Greetings Gentles,
>I have made the greatest find ever!!!
>I have managed to acquire a period type pavilions for $3. It appears to
>be a double french bell. We have attempted to put it up and have mostly
>succeeded.
>My question for those who have pavilions is, what do you put on the
>floor? Do you just leave it as what ever material it is set upon? Do you
>recommend plastic underneath( considering our weather)
>All comments and suggestions taken in the manner given.

        In our climate, I highly recommend plastic sheeting under whatever
type of pavalion/tent you use.  If you have a seperate floor of some type of
heavy material (cotton duck, canvas etc.) or a built in floor, it will save
wear and tear on the floor, and will help keep moisture (and mud)  from
seeping through the flooring.  I recommend you use 6-8 mil pastic poly
sheeting (available at any hardware store, genenrally available in clear and
black), and cut it just slightly smaller than the footprint of your
pavilion.  If you have any extra sticking out from underneath your pavilion,
when it rains (notice I didn't say if :)  it will pool up, run underneath
your flooring,  seep right up into your pavalion, and you'll find yourself
waking in a nice pool of water.  You'd be suprised at how little of a
rainfall it takes to flood a tent when you have some nice plastic scoops
sticking out from under it.  :)  Also, if you can find one of suitable size,
those blue plastic tarps work as well, and are a bit heavier.  I've seen
them in white and brown on occasion too (I use one for the floor in my
Viking A-frame myself.)

        As a bonus, it helps protect the floor from sticks, shrubby plants,
pine cones, etc., and it's a lot cheaper to replace a piece of plastic than
a pavilion floor.  And, if the weather is nice on pack-up day, the plastic
makes a nice dry place to fold up your pavilion rather than on soggy ground
(and keeps it clean too.)  That is of course, if the pavilion isn't a soggy
mess itself.  Nothing much more fun than packing up a nice, cold and wet
tent early on a chilly morning.  :)  Besides camping in the SCA I've been
backpacking and camping for 17 years, so I'm quite familiar with that.  :)
Anyways, good luck and happy camping!

        Etienne d'Avignon


From: Holly Cochran <ulfaidan at flash.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Tent Floors??? or not?
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 1997 16:36:59 -0600

Cece Thompson wrote:
> This year is my 4th Pennsic and I just got my first period tent.  It's
> not huge (a 12' x 16' French Bell Wedge) but it'll do fine for my
> husband and I.  My question is...... Should I plan on covering the
> ground inside the tent with some sort of floor.  I've seen it done with
> and without.  I lean twards without.. I'm not afraid of bugs, we'll be
> sleeping on a raised bed.  Seems like a lot of trouble.  Please give me
> the pros and cons.
> Adela DeBruges
> Aka: Cece Thompson

As someone who has done both, I recommend taking at least some sort of
floor for under and around the bed--waking up and stepping on soggy dewy
grass is kinda icky. Also, gives you a cleanish place to stand and get
dressed.  Also, I recommend something under the food storage area, and
setting your luggage on something dew proof.  Damp mildewy clothes are
not fun.  Usually you can pick up a few carpet remnants for cheap that
will work, or used plastic backed drapes, that work pretty well. We are
currently putting down plastic tarps underneath, between earth and
cloth, to help with the moisture aspect. Added bonus is it cuts down on
the bugs.

Ms. Aidan


From: lesterw at mindspring.com (Lester Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Tent floors?
Date: Fri, 02 Apr 1999 20:45:21 GMT

My tribe and I have been camping in period tents for almost seven
years now.  All of these are homemade.  We use builders plastic as a
ground cloth.  You can find this at the hardware store on rolls.  Make
sure you get a thick piece so sticks and such don't put a hole in it.
It is inexpensive and you can trade it out whenever it wears out.  cut
a piece that is the diminsions of your tent plus 12 inches over on all
sides.  When you lay out the plastic, allow the excess to stick up
around the inside edges of your walls.  As long as the plastic goes up
the walls you don't need a trench or anything.  Use your bed, rugs,
icechest and other stuff to anchor the edges of the plastic along the
walls so it can't fold over.  We have withstood 4inches of standing
water in this manner with nothing getting wet and we live in the south
where it rains buckets!  

Also if your canvas from Wal-mart is not waterproof it will leak in
heavy rains or really long rains no matter what you put on it.  The
canvas that is made for Sailboats called sunforger is waterproofed at
the factory and stays that way ( at least for seven years anyway).  It
is worth the expense to stay dry!

Good Luck.  I wouldn't camp any other way, but in a period tent.  They
breath so much better in hot weather and hold up better in the wind as
long as you reenforce your rope and grommet attatchments!

Blodwen, Tribe Zareefat


From: Martin Catt <lodovico at flash.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Tent floors?
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 1999 19:48:18 GMT

The simplest and most durable off-the-shelf solution is to get a
rubberized painters drop cloth. They (usually) have a cloth side, with
the drip-proof white rubber side on the opposite. I've found them at
large home improvement chains like Home Depot or Lowes. Their advantages
are that they are QUIET (they don't crinkle like plastic sheeting when
you walk on them), they fold up easy, and they don't look so ungodly
unperiod when you put the cloth side up. Their disadvantages are that
they cost more than simple pastic sheeting -- you just can't chuck them
when they get distressed beyond practical use without a twinge in the
pocketbook. They ARE more durable than plastic sheets, and can be washed
(by hand with a hose).  

Lodovico


From: "Giovanini Gregory" <p.legates at worldnet.att.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Tent floors?
Date: 5 Apr 1999 01:52:07 GMT

Use a cheap plastic trarp, cover it with a yard sale poly fake persian rug
or the grass stuff or poly carpet for marine use, if it gets muddy hose it
off when you get home. Also use an inflateable air matress to get you up
off ground and it is water proof, floats too if it rains too much, or use
as a raft if good weather and near a lake.


From: Tanya Guptill <tguptill at mail.teleport.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Tent floors?
Date: Mon, 05 Apr 1999 13:42:46 -0700

CapnCarp wrote:
>  What you need to do is get several sections of the canvas/cotton duck material, sew it in the internal dimensions of your tent (plus about an extra 8" on each dimension, and paint it with a good-quality matte-finish latex housepaint">

<snipped more good info from here>
________________________________________

A canvas floor is also an easy way to chart how big your tent will be
when staked out.  Mark the places on the floor where your tent stakes
will go for the perimeter of the tent, and stake your tent down
(PARTIALLY) before you insert your poles.  This may help you use less
people to set up your tent, since you  don't need anyone to hold the
centerpole/frame while you have someone else frantically stakes down the
tent.

Anything you can do to get your bedding off the ground is probably
wise.  If you are not able to do a bed, how about couple pallets with a
futon or a straw mattress?  Maybe you can barter a skill or item you
have for someone to put together a simple rope bed for you.

Mira 
-- 
MEDIEVAL PAVILION RESOURCES
http://www.teleport.com/~tguptill/tent.html
Barony of Three Mountains, An Tir


From: bronwynmgn at aol.comnospam (Bronwynmgn)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 05 Jul 2004 15:17:09 GMT
Subject: Re: 10x10 ground cloths?

>Anyone know of a source of pre-sized 10x10 groundcloths/dropcloths for 
>inside tents? 

Remember that pre-sized plastic tarps aren't really the size they are sold as
(for example, look at, say a tarp being sold as a 10x15.  Somewhere on the
packaging it will say something like "finished size 9' 6" by 14' 6 ").

That said, one of the Sports Authority stores near me used to sell tarps cut to
the footprints of their modern tents, so you could, for example, buy a fitted
tarp for a hexagonal dome tent.  I don't remember if they had square ones or
not, but as some modern tents have square footprints, and 10 x 10 is not an
uncommon size for modern tents, you might get lucky.  It was at least a year
ago that I saw this, so I don't know if they are still carrying them.  You
might also check more camping-based stores like REI (easily findable at
REI.com) or Eastern Mountain Sports.

Brangwayna


From: folenzo at yahoo.com (Francis Herman)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: 10x10 ground cloths?
Date: 6 Jul 2004 01:06:05 -0700

Gwen Morse <morsej at none.net> wrote:
> Anyone know of a source of pre-sized 10x10 groundcloths/dropcloths for 
> inside tents? The ones made out of the plastic-based weave for painting 
> and the like? I have a Panther 10x10 wall tent and I'm too cheap to pay 
> the $100 for a canvas top/plastic bottom cloth that fits :).
--snip-- 
> Gwen

Try this:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=12273&memberId=12500226

Or, if you want something a bit nicer:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=12172&memberId=12500226

Disclaimer: I have no connection to Campmor, except as an occasional
customer.  They do have a nice size-selection of tarps, though.
-Otfrid Ammerthaler


From: "Michael Grossberg" <geejayem at earthlink.net>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: 10x10 ground cloths?
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 15:09:57 GMT

"Gwen Morse" <morsej at none.net> wrote
> "1.9 oz. per square yard reinforced high count taffeta nylon. Very light
> and flexible. Waterproof urethane coating. Grommets at all corners and
> about 3.5 feet apart on the hems. Finish sizes are slightly smaller.
> Made in USA."
>
> Anyone know if 'nylon taffeta' is the crinkly/noisy nylon?

Yes, it is


From: herveus at radix.net (Michael Houghton)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: 10x10 ground cloths?
Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2004 16:32:56 -0000

Mark S. Harris <stefanlirous at austin.rr.com> wrote:
>Greetings from Stefan li Rous,
>
> bronwynmgn at aol.comnospam (Bronwynmgn) wrote:
>> >Anyone know of a source of pre-sized 10x10 groundcloths/dropcloths for 
>> >inside tents? 
>
>It looks like my posting yesterday didn't happen, so let me try again.
>
>I have never found a tarp to exactly fit my 17 x 17 pavilion. I have 
>used one a little larger, and folded over one section of it. I have also 
>used two smaller tarps and overlapped them in the middle.
>
>Plastic tarps tend to crinkle as you walk on them. You can eliminate the 
>noise and make the interior of the pavilion less modern [looking] by spreading 
>some throw rugs on top of the plastic. I use several that I picked up at 
>flea markets and garage sales.

In our shop, we lay down a plastic tarp, then cover that with rush mats,
then lay rugs over top of that. It looks nice, and is nice under foot.

We're not trying to do an impression of "selling out of a tent", but
rather "selling out of a permanent shop" where the walls and roof just
happen to be a pavilion. 

yours,
Herveus
-- 
Michael and MJ Houghton   | Herveus d'Ormonde and Megan O'Donnelly
herveus at radix.net         | White Wolf and the Phoenix
Bowie, MD, USA            | Tablet and Inkle bands, and other stuff
                          | http://www.radix.net/~herveus/


From: bronwynmgn at aol.comnospam (Bronwynmgn)
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: 06 Jul 2004 11:38:13 GMT
Subject: Re: 10x10 ground cloths?

>Plastic tarps tend to crinkle as you walk on them. You can eliminate the 
>noise and make the interior of the pavilion less modern by spreading 
>some throw rugs on top of the plastic.

Putting a lightweight canvas painters tarp, available at Home Depot and such
places, on top of the plastic also eliminates an amazing amount of the crinkly
noise.  They are also washable, so you can throw them in the washer and get rid
of the muddy footprints and ground-in grass.

We use two plastic tarps for our 15x24 oval marquis (one for each end, not one
on top of the other), covered by two canvas tarps, with a few rugs spotted
around for color.

Brangwayna


From: Gwen Morse <goldmooneachna at yahoo.com>
Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Subject: Re: Synthetic Canvas?
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2004 17:25:37 -0400

On 1 Jun 2004 21:00:22 -0700, puff at darksleep.com (Steven J. Owens)
wrote:
>Last Pennsic (2003) was a wet, muddy affair for us (down in the 
>swamp) with some stretches of days of damp and dank.  This Pennsic
>looks to be more of the same.
>
>While I'd like to obtain natural canvas tarps for a more period 
>look, even if it were financially feasible, I don't think it would
>be a good idea.  Mildew in these conditions is inevitable.  In 
>fact we did have some canvas last year, and it did get mildewed, 
>in spite of being treated.
>
>Does anybody know of any sources for polyetheline tarps that aren't 
>as blatantly, obnoxiously modern as the typical blue or green tarps?
>Something that could be easily ignored at a distance of 30 feet?

I don't, but, I've heard of "rubber-coated canvas" being available. It
was used liberally in the camp next to us at Pennsic 33.

The default use is apparently for tarps for trucks, but, it can be
gotten for other uses as well.

Along with being resistent to rotting/mildew, it can be marked with
arms or other images.

It was used in a kitchen shade, a yurt covering, and possibly one
tent.

Gwen


From: Myfanwy ferch Eifion <myfanwy at pug.net>
Date: March 25, 2009 7:55:13 AM CDT
To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>, Yasun Dancing Tyger <yasun at lists.pug.net>, GulfWar camping list <gulfwars at lists.houselucerna.net>
Subject: [Bryn-gwlad] Plastic mats

I found a pretty decent place to order some of the plastic mats that look like rugs.  They can be found here:
http://www.carealotpets.com/item-detail/?ItemID=1901E

It doesn't look like shipping will be less if bulk orders are done or not.

[ Polypropylene Mat

Polypropylene mats provide a barrier between your dog and the environment. Use as ground cover for an exercise pen or patio mat for an RV. Tightly woven to form a smooth surface, yet allows liquid to pass through easily. Polypropylene mat is quickly cleaned by hose or brush. Can be folded for easy storage. Assorted patterns and colors, our choice. Choose 4 x 7, 6 x 8, 9 x 9, or 9 x 12.
    -Stefan ]

Myfanwy


Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:09:26 +1100
From: "Yseult de Lacy (Chris Robertson)"
	<yseult_de_lacy at optusnet.com.au>
Subject: Re: [Lochac] Small moats allowed for Festival for Period
	Tents?
To: "The Shambles, the SCA Lochac mailing list" <lochac at sca.org.au>

Alfar wrote:
<<< Spoke to Glenworth people. The answer is no. [about being allowed to dig trenches around tents - Stefan]
 Mind you, moats around tents have minimal affect in stopping the water coming in. To be effective you would need place your tent on a small mound and then dig a moat around it.
 From doing 23 festivals, you should raise the edges of your floor and attach it  to the walls. It worked for my A frame, even through the occasional flood that occurred at Tara. >>>

What he said about floors.  Get a polytarp,  fold the edges up, and safety-pin them to your walls (your can safety-pin the corners of the tarp together to reduce bulk.

It works.  It's not pretty, but it works.  This is why the design for the floor in my pavilion-making instructions looks like a child's wading pool.

--Yseult


From: Stefan li Rous <StefanliRous at austin.rr.com>
Date: January 4, 2011 11:40:01 PM CST
To: the-triskele-tavern at googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: {TheTriskeleTavern} Re: Preparations for Gulf Wars

On Jan 4, 2011, at 4:41 PM, Alianore de Clare wrote:
<<< Plastic rugs????  Pray tell.....I am intrigued!
Alianore >>>

These are woven mats that started showing up about ten years ago. First the place to get them was at dog shows where they apparently first proved popular. Nice for washing down dogs on, I guess. I got mine at a large oriental grocery/everything store here in Austin. I got them when they were on sale. Unfortunately the day I picked to go by and buy them turned out to be the Chinese New Year and since most of the shops and restaurants in the shopping center were oriental, there was a huge crowd and parking was real difficult to find. Someday I've got to go back when it isn't a madhouse.

They are probably available online, but I haven't looked.

The ones I got were the largest they had at, I think, 8 ft x 10 ft in size. They are made from recycled plastic and are woven in a middle-eastern style pattern. White and a color. The front and back are negative patterns of each other so even if you end up with a pair of duplicates you can reverse one to get a different pattern. 

They are woven, which means the water can seep up through them, but it also means that any water that does come in from the sides or doors, just drains through to the soil underneath. I've tried to use various plastic sheets and tarps before, but being waterproof any water that gets in, tends to pool in the low spots. I *hate* stepping off my nice, warm platform bed with large, poofy air mattress and warm sleeping bags and blankets into a pool of cold water...

Since these mats/rugs are made of plastic they don't soak up any water that gets on them and since they are sewn together in 4 ft? strips, they naturally fold on those lines and then can be folded or rolled the rest of the way. Much easier than trying to fold big sheets of plastic. They look enough like oriental carpets that you don't have to disguise them and they don't crinkle and rustle when you walk on them like the plastic tarps do.

My pavilion is 17 ft. x 17 ft. on the inside at the floor, so I use four of these mats overlapping in the center under the center pole. I think I ended up with 1 green and white, 1 blue and white and 2 brown and white ones.

Stefan
--------
THLord Stefan li Rous    Barony of Bryn Gwlad    Kingdom of Ansteorra
  Mark S. Harris           Austin, Texas          StefanliRous at austin.rr.com


From: elizabeth at crouchet.com
Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] plastic mats
Date: July 7, 2011 3:53:25 PM CDT
To: bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org

On Thu, Jul 7, 2011 at 3:46 PM, s1ren <s1renwoman at gmail.com> wrote:
<<< I've seen some for cheap at garden nurseries, and places like Big Lots and
Garden Ridge, but they were always garishly colored and tropical in theme.
But perhaps with some hardcore spray paint...?

~ Mad >>>

The ones at the chinese market look a lot more like a persian rug and
don't need the extra time and expense of the spray paint. And they are
often just a little sturdier. The cheap ones are designed to last a
season of summer use. The chinese ones are designed to be used indoors
as daily floor cover or for dog shows, I think. Not sure how the spray
paint would hold up, the 'sticks to plastic' spray paint I have used,
did not.

Claire


From: daria at asgardfarms.com
Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] plastic mats
Date: July 7, 2011 3:48:58 PM CDT
To: bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org

I remember taking a class years ago where we took regular old cotton trigger and made painted floor cloths.
They were cool looking, machine washable and as I recall – period (could be wrong on the period part)
 
Daria Riley
http://www.asgardfarms.com
http://www.backyardvikings.org


From: gwenneth40 at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] an unsolved personal mystery (tents and pavilions)
Date: July 7, 2011 2:25:50 PM CDT
To: bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org

I do not like ground covers.  I find they get much filthier and
muddier than the actual ground does.  Then they get stinky and moldy.
If there is grass, I prefer to walk on that.  If it is a dirt floor, I
put down a couple of small throw rugs.

Gwenneth


From: murfnik at hotmail.com
Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] an unsolved personal mystery (tents and pavilions)
Date: July 7, 2011 3:01:20 PM CDT
To: bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org

Our pavilion is big enough we've been able hang a wall across the middle and have the front as a sitting area, and then put a regular tent, concealed in the back. And even attached floors in modern tents are no proof against creepy crawlies. I've come back to my tent during the day to find fire ants crawling everywhere and had to wait until the sun went down to get them out.

But yes, an attached floor is not a feature of a "period" tent that I've ever seen.

Kate.


From: Wolf <wolfman at darkhorde.org>
Date: July 7, 2011 2:16:42 PM CDT
To: Barony of Bryn Gwlad <bryn-gwlad at lists.ansteorra.org>
Subject: Re: [Bryn-gwlad] an unsolved personal mystery (tents and pavilions)

s1ren wrote:
<<< After my previous pavilion plans petered out, I began perusing
pictorials and tutorials on the internet, poking around for period
pavilion possibilities.   Raise your hand if you're tired of the Ps.
Awesome. Me, too. >>>

I'm finding hours and hours' of awesome info to read out there, and
lots of examples by some very creative people, but I have yet to come
across ANY mention of tent floors.  Are we not making tents with
floors, here??  How on earth do you keep the ants, scorpions, spiders,
and mud out of your tent without a floor attached to the walls like
modern tents have??  ACK!

Bored at work today,
Madylyn
=======================================


I have yet to actually see a period-style pavilion built with an attached 
floor (either from the professional makers like Panther, or from people
making their own).  

Most period style setups (even moving up into the civil war time period
recreations) have seperate tops and sides (and more than one section to
the sides on all but the smallest ones) - to have a sewn on floor the 
floor and sides would have to be ONE PEICE of canvas - this would be almost
impossible for most normal non-steriod pumping bodybuilders to lift (not
to mention having to ship it as one overweight piece if purchased).

Typical setup involves putting whatever is used for the floor down, putting
the top and poles up, then attach the sides.  Having the sides permanently
attached to the floor would mean you'd have to walk and step all over them
while putting the top up, and you'd lose the option to set up the pavilion as
a day shade/top only structure.

I generally use some tarps, with carpeting over the tarp to minimize the 
visibility of the ugly blue plastic.  Yes, the risk of something with
more than 4 legs showing up is there - that risk plus the heat pretty
much sum up the reasons I don't camp in the summer around here.  Up
at Pennsic when I used to live close enough to go I never had real
problems - and at Gulf wars it is usually early enough in the year
that the nasties are minimal.  

My "Plan B" if I HAD to do a camp out in a high risk season where I
knew there would be unpleasants en masse would be to put a small
mundane dome tent on the bed and use it like a canopy bed - leave all
the rain covers off and use it as a screen dome for sleeping.  I have
not executed this plan yet but its in my brain as an option....

Keep in mind the period pavilions also don't have screens - so a
sewn floor would NOT be a guarantee of an insect free tent.  What
I HAVE done when I have had to camp during summer has been to 
lay my floor tarps down and set the poles and top up, and then
go around the perimiter with a good dusting of Sevin dust or some
other appropriate powder/crystal insecticide, than put the walls on.
I usually end up with flies, bees and wasps at Gulf Wars, and one time
at one of the Ren Faires I had a small snake under the carpet...I watched
the lump slither across the floor and saw the snake briefly when it
came out from under the floor outside the tent and went off into the
trees.

The long and short of it is, period camping does have a higher risk
of "things" coming inside - which is why modern tents were developed
the way they are.


To: SCACreativeFrugality at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: We went to an event this past weekend and discovered a few thing
Posted by: "julian wilson" smnco37 at yahoo.co.uk smnco37
Date: Wed Oct 27, 2010 5:56 am ((PDT))

If you are planning to make a floorcloth for your tent, DO take a look at the "Med. Encampments" yahoo. group's Photos, my Album showing a considerable number of pictures of many medieval floor tile designs still "in-situ" at Winchester Cathedral, and at the Church of the Hospital of St. Cross, Winchester, amongst other places. There's nothing like pictures of the real thing to provide inspiration. I posted that Album specifically for people wanting to paint replica medieval floorcloths for their tents.

Lord Matthewe Baker, 
Insulae Draconis, 
Drachenwald.


From the FB "SCA Period Encampment" group:

Bonnie Brid Swansbrough
June 4 at 8:53am · Las Cruces, NM
My camping buddy and I have just gone in together to buy a Midwest Round Pavilion (no spoke and hub). We've been told to cut a plastic tarp to make the floor and cover that with rugs or another canvas tarp to fit. Does anyone have one like this and can offer us any words of advice on setting up and using one? We've been happily waterproofed in a Field and Stream Lodge tent for a couple years now so looking for insurance to stay that way in a proper round pavilion.

LadyAiedel Roxy Lacy 
I bought a tarp and canvas drop cloth from home depot AFTER measuring the diameter of my tent. 15'. I bought a 15x30 tarp, folded it in half, then in quarters and used a tape measure to cut a circle of the double layer. I lay that out over my ground flaps to seal out run off and arrange the canvas over that. I did not cut or wash the canvas, I like the flexibility of being able to fold up walls and have a porch of sorts ...

Ivan Bliminse 
Use painter's tarps from Harbor Freight. They're cheap, heavy duty, and best of all cheap.

Ed Moore 
round swimming pool covers are precut and hemmed if you can find one the right size. I bought one at big lots end of season sale for 75% off.
June 4 at 1:11pm

Rich Brown 
I cut a piece of string equal to my tent's radius. With a helper and a sharpie marker, we drew an appropriate circle on the plastic tarp and canvas drop cloth and then cut them out.

Brad Moore 
I have a very similar tent, and found that a round swimming pool liner with carpets over the top works quite well.

-------

Michael Armen
August 5 at 11:28pm
What is the best type of period looking flooring to use in a tent?

Sue O'Connor 
me, i use floor rugs that look appropriate from the junk store. ;-)

Carrie Bear 
Whatever you can find that comfy, inexpensive and that you don't mind if it gets dirty and stays dirty. I've got a huge "Oriental" rug that I use

Hildegard Bergerin 
I usually put down blue tarp, then canvas painters tarp, followed by oriental looking rugs, or something nicer depending on the possibility of rain/mud.
August 5 at 11:58pm

Roy Worrall 
Go to your local soft furnishing (furniture re-cover) store and ask if they have any discontinued fabric swatch books. Get as many as you can and disassemble the books. Sew the squares together to make a big enough rug.
8/6/16 at 12:01am

Chuck Johnson 
I use a blue tarp covered in a few 8x10 rugs
8/6/16 at 12:46am

Eleanor Leycestershyre 
My Panther Pavilion has a fitted canvas floor with a waterproof interliner stitched in. Over that, I put four large oriental looking rugs. Very snug...warm...and very few critters.
8/6/16 at 12:53am

Janet Vernon 
A Big grass mat

Lynette Nusbacher 
On a well-drained spot, grass.

Otherwise, I rather fancy a painted canvas floorcloth.
8/6/16 at 2:16am

Stephanie Philpot 
If you're looking for something maybe a bit easier to clean, you can find kid's play mats in wood grain.
8/6/16 at 8:10am

Fay Hall 
We use horse blankets as rugs, much more packable than big ol'Oriental rugs.
at 9:05am

Melanie Black 
Get a bunch of that green outdoor carpet. You can also practice your putts on it
at 9:54am

Zara MacCallum 
I've got the panther floor in my viking tent. I didn't think "oriental" rugs worked with the look or the earlier period so I use "reed" woven rugs. Others use cowhide rugs. http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/30270316/

Fina Ingen Aeda 
We have a ground cloth, and over that put layers of upholstery fabric remnants, or woven rugs. We have a couple of rugs that we use in high traffic areas, and remnants elsewhere. The remnants don't take much space to pack and are easy to wash but not stay put well.

John Minard 
Julius Caesar had a mosaic floor carried around in sections for his campaign tent. :)
8/7/16

Kellee Isle 
I put down a tarp with canvas drop cloth sewn onto it, and a cow skin rug on top.
8/7/16

Sid Fugate 
the walmart has plastic rollup rugs made from milk jugs that are cool.. washem with the hose and rollem up again... in the rv section at the super walmart.

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