What is included in a site visit?

Site visits are essential in our industry and are conducted for a variety of reasons. A typical visit consists of assessing the given area, taking/recording measurements, and discussing with the client(s) to apprehend and accommodate their needs. This post is designed to give our clients and readers a thorough understanding of what our company looks at when we arrive at each site. In a nutshell, we seek to correspond the size of our tents as precisely as possible to the dimensions of space we are given. It may seem as simple as pulling out your measuring tape and measuring your yard, but there is much more to consider. In start, we must look upon any form of obstructions. This doesn’t necessarily include moveable items such as tables, chairs, and barbecues, but rather trees, large bushes, sheds; things that we cannot move. It is easy to assume tents can encompass these obstructions or be placed on top of one’s trees. Unfortunately, tents are built from the ground up and do not have this ability. In order for a tent to be installed, there needs to be enough open space to build the tent on the ground. Another point to acknowledge at a site visit is are electrical lines, wires, large branches, and awnings - things that typically are stretched out in the air and again, cannot be moved aside. Electrical lines have proven to be less worrisome as they are usually out of the way, but our company has come across many cases where they are not. If there is a risk that the peak of the tent will touch an electrical line, we likely won’t be able to install that tent. Again, branches don’t usually pose as a threat provided they are not very dense or heavy. If certain branches obstruct our tents but lack size, we discuss the potential removal of these branches with our customers. Now, when the tent is up in the air, it needs to be secured so it doesn’t topple over from environmental factors outside our control (wind/storms,etc.) This is where we direct our attention to potential blockages on the ground. The fixtures we use to secure tents include ratchets, spikes, and concrete weight blocks. Ratchets can be connected to the top corners of a tent and connected to a fence, deck, or house. They are very easy to install and provide great support. Spikes on the other hand, are two feet long and hammered into the ground. They are the most secure method for holding down a tent and cannot be seen. If the tent is going in your backyard, we suggest that you use this method. The spikes don’t damage your lawn as are only an inch in diameter. Concrete weight blocks are the last option and for obvious reasons. They are large and usually an eye sore! If possible, avoid concrete blocks! Last but not least, when we measure a space we typically deduct a few feet from the perimeter. The reason we do this is because we need room to install the tent! For example, if you have exactly a 30x30 foot space, we won’t be able to put up a 30x30 tent. You would need a 33x33 space for this to be accomplished.