Which groundsheet?

[Morganic]

Can someone advise me which groundsheet to buy for my awning. Do I need the breathable type or can I still use the pvc type?

 

[Bazz1]

Breathable is best as it tends not to kill the grass and leave a pitch unusable for the next camper. Better still dont use one at all. If there is a good covering of grass then why cover it, it's only when it gets really wet that theres a requirement for a small mat to remove your wellies andclimb into the van,Bazz.

 

[Oldfogey]

This is not a straightforward issue.

I always used a PVC groundsheet, but a couple of sites I wanted to use require breathables, so I picked one up cheap on ebay (as always)

FOR breathables;

Much nicer underfoot,

Less damaging to grass,

Bbetter looking,

Water drains away through it

AGAINST breathables

More expensive,

More difficult to clean when muddy,

Heavier,

Bulkier

More expensive,

In heavy rain, I have had water come UP THROUGH the sheet!

To some extent it depends what your awning is for. Ours is the lounge of the unit, so a good groundsheet is desirable, though we have operated without. The breathable feels more like a carpet, but the experience of water rising up through it was most disconcerting, and unsatisfactory.

I'm still not certain where I stand! (As long as it's not in a puddle).

 

[catherine_5040027]

This is not a straightforward issue.

I always used a PVC groundsheet, but a couple of sites I wanted to use require breathables, so I picked one up cheap on ebay (as always)

FOR breathables;

Much nicer underfoot,

Less damaging to grass,

Bbetter looking,

Water drains away through it

AGAINST breathables

More expensive,

More difficult to clean when muddy,

Heavier,

Bulkier

More expensive,

In heavy rain, I have had water come UP THROUGH the sheet!

To some extent it depends what your awning is for. Ours is the lounge of the unit, so a good groundsheet is desirable, though we have operated without. The breathable feels more like a carpet, but the experience of water rising up through it was most disconcerting, and unsatisfactory.

I'm still not certain where I stand! (As long as it's not in a puddle).

Agree with your comments Oldfogey, breathable ones are brilliant for the grass,but only useful to the caravaner when theres no rain.We use ours as little as possible,they really are not worth spending out on for the whole awning.

catherine

 

[JimP]

You can get slight second breathable groudsheets off eBay - bargain!

 

[Bri2]

Again, depends on your site preferance. I prefer an Hard standing all year round and the breathable is much kinder underfoot on said with no shoes on. I have used it on grass and even the breatable will leave the grass yellowy if left for a time.

Down to personal choice at the end of the day.

Brian

 

[Claire_374227325]

When you use an ordinary pvc groundsheet, the grass will die. Even with the breathable type, if you pitch up for a week or more, when you lift the groundsheet the grass will appear yellow and flat, BUT, it is not dead, it usually recovers quite quickly.

Saying that, if you are away for a long time, in dry weather it is considerate to lift the groundsheet for a few hours and let the grass breathe for a while.

 

[wombat1]

If you stay at a Caravan Club site you are required to lift your ground sheet daily if you are pitched on grass.