annex_matting Here’s an annex floor that makes great sense when camping.

The problem with a poly tarp (plastic tarpaulin) as a floor covering, is it collects dirt which is then transported into the sleeping areas of the tent or camper making for regular cleaning or sweeping. Then if kids come in from playing with sand on their feet, the poly tarp is about to get punnished again.  In situations where the ground is damp or soggy, an impervious floor covering over the natural ground is almost essential, but for the sake of this topic we will be referring to coastal camping or areas where conditions are dry and the stay is less than a few weeks in any one place.

Consider the benefits of a knitted fabric with a high tensile strength that is water resistant and you have the ideal floor covering for your camper annex.

Shade cloth, also commonly referred to as Sarlon cloth, greenhouse shade or horticultural shade cloth is a knitted fabric using a polyethylene base material.  Knitted shade cloth is much stronger than woven shade cloth and is suitable for a wider range of applications.  Common uses for our shade cloth include:

  • Horticultural usage
  • Agricultural applications
  • Fencing mesh for cutting visibility and dust
  • Scaffolding mesh for the building industry
  • Creating shade sails, and shade covers and canopies over pergolas
  • And a caravan annexes.

This material is well suited to temporary floor covering in camping situations as it allows dirt and sand to fall though. It provides a dry surface for wet feet so works affectively in the camp shower also.  Also used under tents as a base, what a good idea!   At departure, simply pick up the cloth and shake out the debris, roll or fold it up with less damage to the ground than if you had of used a solid floor or poly sheeting.

Domestic shade cloth refers to shade cloth which has tape-filler knitted into the fabric.  This helps create a higher UV or block out.  Commonly referred to as “domestic grade shade” because it isn’t designed for tensioning up over large structures (such as commercial greenhouses).  It still has excellent longevity.

Commercial shade cloth
refers to a range of monofilament shade cloths.  What this means is that there is no tape-filler in the cloth.  To get the density, the knit is tighter.  Essentially, monofilament shadecloth is a bit like bulky fishing line knitted together.  The tighter the knit the heavier, and stronger the cloth.  The heaviest monofilament cloth is an 80% Commercial Grade Shadecloth which has a 306 GSM (grams per square metre) weight.  Compare that for example to a 30% grade monofilament cloth which has a 90 GSM weight. Both will serve well as an annex floor, the heavier grade however, will be more than twice the price and unnecessary by comparison.

To get a price on our heavy duty knitted outdoor shadecloth annex floor, shipped to your door, CLICK HERE!  Be sure to include the size of your annex and colour preference.  Stock Currently Unavailable