Custom tents have transformed the outdoor event landscape with their versatility and purposefulness. Major events like tradeshows, exhibitions, farmers’ markets and corporate parties cannot be imagined without custom outdoor event tents. You can also take your printed canopy tent to the beach or hold barbeque parties in its cool shade in your backyard.
So, what makes them so essential?
ü Custom tents provides you all the safety you need from sunburns and untimely showers. They also act as protective shields in cold weather.
ü There’s nothing better than an event tent to construct a temporary brand pavilion in a tradeshow. It can be custom printed to display brand logos and slogans. And it is light enough to be transported anywhere.
ü Custom tents are extremely durable, meaning they prove to be assets to businesses, big and small, in the long run.
The canopy is the all essential part of the tent that shields you from the elements. Popular materials for canopy construction are PVC and polyester, and this brings us to the topic of our discussion. There’s a lot of confusion among general users about PVC canopies. With this article we intend to dispel at least some of them.
What is PVC?
PVC or polyvinyl chloride is a popular polymer used the world over in manufacturing everything from buckets to vehicle parts. Along with PET and PP, two other popular polymer varieties, PVC is the most ubiquitous manmade material used in largescale production of consumer goods and accessories. No wonder, tent manufacturers love it.
Ø PVC sheets do a good job of blocking UV radiations.
Ø They are naturally waterproof.
Ø They can be rendered in any colour during the manufacturing process.
Ø PVC custom tent canopies are extremely easy to print on, meaning you can have your tent customised with your favourite graphics and slogans.
Ø PVC tent canopies are also extremely durable, meaning – with some basic caretaking – your tent will last you a lifetime.
Comparing PVC, polyester and poly-PVC
ü Polyester is a woven fabric, but PVC isn’t. It is just moulded into sheets at the time of manufacturing.
ü Polyester tends to be lighter and more foldable than PVC. It is also a better insulator by virtue of being a woven fabric. But it tends to bobble as well.
ü PVC is heavier and a bit unwieldly compared to polyester. But thick sheets of PVC are very good at blocking UV rays.
ü Both are equally good at being customised to suit people’s tastes.
So, how do you marry these materials to get the best of both worlds? Enter poly-PVC! It’s a woven fabric with alternating strands of polyester and PVC. The end result is something that carries the strengths of both materials.
PVC coated fabrics vs. PVC laminated ones
To the uninitiated, the quality of a length of PVC is synonymous to its thickness and weight. But that’s not how things actually work. There’s more to PVC grade than just thickness or weight. Quality markers like tensile strength, resistance to abrasion and temperature resistance help segregate different grades of plastic, and hence PVC.
The latest innovation in the tent manufacturing industry involves fabrics that are either coated or laminated with PVC.
PVC coating involves lathering an underlying fabric like polyester or canvas with generous amounts of PVC paste. The layering is done such that the thickness of the coat is consistent across the surface of the fabric. PVC lamination, on the other hand, involves heat-pressing a thin film of PVC on the fabric’s surface.
So, how do they compare?
Ø PVC coating is certainly more expensive than lamination. But the additional expenditure pays off. PVC coating lasts significantly longer than lamination.
Ø Lamination works best for small event tents and outdoor party tents used for recreational activities like camping.
Ø Large PVC coated custom tents work brilliantly as brand pavilions in trade shows. They are also used quite often to host gala events like fests, corporate parties and weddings.
Ø Both techniques are equally effective against the elements. Rain or shine, they hold their ground and protect people from the whims of nature.
Ø Coated fabrics are better insulators. So, if you are planning your outdoor event in the winter months, a PVC coated tent is what you need.
Ø Coated fabrics tend to be more rugged and resilient to wear and tear compared to the laminated variety. Saying so, PVC laminated tent fabrics are by no means flimsy.
So, which one should you buy? It boils down to your budget really. Why not go for a PVC coated tent canopy, if you can stretch your budget a bit!
Endnote
A custom tent is an accessory designed to serve as an asset to users. You can take it camping, employ it for brand promotion in trade shows, or use it as an outdoor seating area for guests in your café or restaurant. With a bit of care, it can last you a lifetime and save you a lot of money. But remember, buy your accessory from a reputed manufacturer only. Make sure you peruse product descriptions and terms of warranty before placing your order.
