I'm considering purchasing a CCS 1.9oz Tundra Tarp. The item description on their website says the tarp comes with seam sealer. Does this mean I will need to seal the seams myself? Or is the included seam sealer just for the future after factory-sealed seams wear out?

Kendis
Yes you will have to seal the seams. The seams come unsealed.
Easy to do, just spread it out, seal them and let it dry.
Carl

I have 4 CCS tarps and have never sealed the seams. I would only seal if you are sleeping under it.

kjw: "I have 4 CCS tarps and have never sealed the seams. I would only seal if you are sleeping under it."

+1

I didn't seam seal mine on my first couple trips, but then it started leaking just enough to be annoying so I seam sealed.

I have never noticed any leaks. Maybe after 48 hours of rain my tarps could have some drops coming through the seams. I don't know. Usually it doesn't rain solid. Your tarp can be soaked and if it stops raining and the wind is blowing hard enough it is bone dry in half an hour. After seam sealing my MSR Hubba and MSR Hubba Hubba (because they leaked after a few years) I would use curved syringe to put the sealer on along with the brush CCS sends. It can get messy. I saw the curved syringe method years ago on youtube channel "theoutdoorgearreview" - he has two videos now on seam sealing tarps and tents. Until it becomes a problem I am leaving my tarps unsealed.

If you have space in the garage to lay it out, it only took me about 30 minutes to seal all the seams on a 10x10.

Hmmm, I've never seem sealed mine, and it's never leaked. Many years.

One of my CCS tarps began leaking about 10 years in so I sealed them all, easy project and no more drips to worry about.

Probably should, but I never have and still have the tube somewhere. No problems encountered over several years, but maybe I should put that on my list of projects.

I'm on my 5th or so year with my 10x14' and I don't recall ever having a leak, but I'll likely seal it this year given that I use it for my hammock fly more often than not. I'll give it a good mild soap and rag wipedown and get 'er sealed.

If there’s a decent rain at all, the seams will leak. It’s not a weakness of the product, it’s just inevitable when you have to make hole to see it up. I didn’t do mine at first, and the seams dripped the first time it got wet.

I’d do it just so you KNOW it won’t be a problem if you’re stuck under it all day.

It will definitely leak if you don’t seal the seams. The sewing needle pokes through the material and the rain will wick through and get you wet. It is very easy to seal your tarp.