A gable-style tent is a favorite type of shelter for an outdoor party. Supported with aluminum or steel tubing and covered with a thick fabric or tarp, the gable tent is light enough for you to set up with the help of a few friends but sturdy enough to keep guests well protected during the party. Before you set up a gable party tent for your party though, take some time to plan the design for it. You will soon be on your way to designing a gable-style party tent. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Decide on the size of the gable party tent. Smaller gable party tents are usually around 10x20 feet. Party planners suggest that for a party where most people will be standing, plan for around eight square feet per person. In a 10x20 tent (or 200 square feet), this would give you room for about 25 guests. This is considered the minimum though, so if you will have guests seated, plan for a larger tent.
2. Design the angle of the gables. The gables for a party tent can have a range of steepness, so plan carefully for how steep of an angle you want on the gables. This will have an affect on the amount of tubing you will need the amount of roof material required to cover the entire top of the tent. Additionally the angle of the gables will affect the sturdiness of the tent: higher gables on a smaller tent could jeopardize the safety of the tent. Most gables run from around 100 degrees in angle to upwards of 120 degrees or more. Gables of 110 to 120 degrees are generally standard on medium-size tents.
3. Select the type of tubing you will use to support the gable tent. The tubing usually comes in standard heights, but the width is not standard and will require your decision. Supporting pipes will range in width from about ¾ inch to around 2 inches. Bear in mind that the larger your tent and the higher the openings in it, the wider the pipes should be to support the layout of the space and the extra weight from the roof material.
4. Select the appropriate connection fittings. The connection fittings will also range in size, so be sure you have the right fittings for the width of the tubing. Additionally acquire all of the connection fittings you will need. The supporting poles will require fittings to connect them securely, and each angle of the gable will require a separate fitting. Most connection fittings are fairly inexpensive per fitting but they add up, so budget accordingly.
5. Choose the roof material. While a gable party tent is by no means a permanent structure, you still need to select a roof material that can withstand several hours attached to the roof of the tent. Most tent manufacturers recommend a strong fabric or a thick tarp, which you can purchase or rent specifically for a gable party tent. Bear in mind that a tarp might be noisier if there is wind during the event, so look into the different options (and noise potential) carefully.
6. Select the ropes or cables that will secure the tent to the ground. Although the supporting poles should be safe, the extra ropes or cables will ensure there is no danger of the tent collapsing in case of wind or minor weather. The ropes or cables will attach to the top part of the supporting poles and to large spikes hammered into the ground, so plan for the same number of ropes or cables that you have of supporting poles along the length of the tent.
Tags: party tent, gable party, connection fittings, roof material, ropes cables