Awning Floor

[J_374226911]

Hi,

Can anyone recommend what flooring to have down in the awning? We would like it as carpety as possible, would astro turf be best?

Thanks,

 

[MikeP]

It depends on how long you plan to be on one site. The better and more comfortable the material, the greater the damage to the grass. So your comfort for a week could easily be a curse to people using the pitch for the remainder of the season. One week of abuse can ruin a pitch for several months.

I refuse to use a groundsheet, and I wish more sites would ban them or inist they are lifted daily.

 

[AnnM1]

Thank goodness there are others out there who feel as we do about ground sheets (of any type). We never use one and find when taking down the awning at the end of our stay there is such a small thin line around where the base of the awning where the grass was going ever so slightly yellow (but which very quickly recovered when it saw the 'light of day'.

If we experience a particularly wet period we go to the supermarket and pick up a couple of cardboard boxes. Flatten them and then lay then on the soggy ground. These can easily be lifted (or replaced) with little damage being done. It is also a cheap alternative.

It annoys and saddens me to see "PITCH OUT OF ORDER" due to the inconsideration shown by some people.

 

[emmerson2]

Hear hear Ann!

 

[J_374226911]

Ok, thank you. we have only stayed on hardstanding pitches so far so not had to worry so much. Will keep that in mind if we stay on a grass pitch.

 

[SteveW77]

What some people don't seem to realise, is that some of us actually have to sleep in our awnings, or maybe you all think that we should up sticks and move every two or three days.

If so maybe you would all rush forward and offer to help with the move.

Steve W

 

[MikeP]

Fair point Steve W, and people using tents with stitched-in groundsheets don't have much choice either.

It's probably true that we have all seen the real culprits. They lay a huge plastic sheet under their groundsheet (either breathable or not) to keep it clean, thereby ensuring that the grass will be dead within about 5 days.

I have also seen people lay carpet in an awning. If they want carpet, why not go to a cottage or hotel? OK, the grass can get a bit soggy but it's all part of the rich experience.

 

[crusader_5040706]

ann we also use cardboard if the ground gets wet in the awning its a good way to get rid of stella and carlsberg boxes !!!! jim

 

[NorfolkMike]

Here we go again, we are all caravaners but it is amazing how many hymn sheets that we all sing from.

One pays the site owner to park ones Van and awning. NOT for the ability to wreck his site.If a load of youths ran amock you would be the first to complain yet by not respecting the ground you are creating more damage.

If you need to sleep in the awning that fine, but lift the liner during the day. Use a breathable groundsheet. While they are not perfect they do help, particularly if you lift them every few days.

There is nothing wrong or un-trendy with being considerate.

ttfn

 

[Val & Frank]

Crusader Jim

A man after my own heart, No finer way to recycle the beer boxes than to use them as a ground sheet !!!---)))

Val & Frank

 

[jennifer_374227268]

hi, thanks for that bit of information new to caravaning not yet got awning or ground sheet. what would you recommend so as not to affend experienced caravaners like yourselves. Dont want to be falling out with neighbours before we have got started.

jen

 

[MikeP]

It's not so much whether or not you will offend experienced caravanners, but more whether you care about grass pitches and those who will occupy them after you.

If you don't have to sleep in your awning, my recommendation is to choose (if you can) a pitch which is level and well drained, then keep your shoes on - i.e. don't use a groundsheet. You'll only waste loads of time sweeping it.

Just one week with a heavy groundsheet can ruin a pitch for a couple of months as it would probably require re-seeding. And the new grass will not be as strong as the original, meaning that it might take only 5 days of groundsheet use to kill it in future. And so on and so on.

Most of us have been there - arriving at the allocated pitch (usually the last one) to find that it is either mud (Easter to Whitsun) or dust (summer). It's not nice.

 

[AnnM1]

Hi J

We stay on hardstanding pitches at the beginning and end of the season. We find cardboard useful to protect our pets feet when we take the porch awning.

 

[AnnM1]

ann we also use cardboard if the ground gets wet in the awning its a good way to get rid of stella and carlsberg boxes !!!! jim

Couldn't agree more!!!