Backyard Tent Rental in Calgary AB

How to prepare your yard for tent setup day

You have picked the tent. You have locked in the guests. In fact, the crew is going to arrive tomorrow morning to set up. Here are some things that you can do before we show up so that things can go smoothly and quickly!

Many AB folks don't realize that doing a little bit of preparation beforehand allows us to set up faster. We see this repeat every single week! By preparing your backyard, you can easily cut setup time almost in half and have fewer complaints from your neighbors about the disruption and your guests can get to the party on time.

The Night Before

1. Walk around the space for the tent and remove any toys that the dog left out, garden hoses, sprinklers, etc. Anything that is sticking out of the ground can cause a problem for staking.
2. Mow the lawn the day before. This will give a nice finish to the grass that you will want under the tent, and it will help us see when we are staking and leveling the tent.
3. Mark any areas that you know about for underground sprinkler systems, gas lines, underground cable, etc. A heads up for us is a big help. A utility mark out is even better!
4. Move all furniture, planters, and fire pits away from where the tent will go. We need 4-6 feet around the whole tent area for the guy wires and stakes.
5. Make sure you have a clear path from the street or driveway to your backyard. Our trucks are carrying heavy things, so having an open gate and clear sidewalk without bikes or bins really helps.

There's one other important thing: watch out for low hanging branches. Before the set-up day, prune or remove branches that are reaching into the tent area. I've gone into people's homes in Altadore and Bridgeland that were beautiful old trees that covered the tent tops.

Doubt the grade in your yard? Don't worry. That's normal. Most backyards in Calgary have some grade to them. A slight grade is okay. We can handle this for you with leg extenders for the frame tents. If there's a steep grade on your property, send a picture our way and we can discuss how to handle that.

And don't worry about the condition of the grass. It doesn't need to be a lawn or golf course. The grass needs only to be clear, cut low and not soaking wet to drive stakes. If there is rain in the forecast the night before, that is okay. It is no problem. We do this every week all season here in Alberta.

Need help with backyard tent rental?

403-735-6133

Plan Your Event. VIBE Event Rentals is ready to help.

Tent Anchoring and Weather Proofing for Alberta Homes

Summer storms come in fast in Alberta. It can be sunny in the morning and in a quick twenty minutes it has turned into sideways rain. This occurs every week during the summer season. That's why proper anchoring matters just as much as the tent choice.

Your backyard tents need to be weather-proofed. They need to hold up to the weather in Alberta. Alberta weather can be fierce. We can have heavy windy chinooks even in summer. The weather can change in a blink and bring a hailstorm, which happens most often in southeast Calgary in the neighborhoods around Cranston and Mahogany. Your anchoring needs to be planned for your property specifically.

How We Anchor Tents on Different Surfaces

Ground type varies on every property. A newer build in Auburn Bay might have shallow topsoil over clay. A property with an acreage a few km west of Calgary may be soft loam. The anchoring varies accordingly. This is how it will usually break down:

• Stakes for the ground: driven steel stakes into the soil that is angled.
• Water barrels or concrete weights: used when a tent is on a patio or driveway.
• Mixed set ups: driven stake anchors are used on the perimeter of a grass lawn, while weights may be added on concrete near decks or walkways.
• Ratchet straps and tensioning: our crews will adjust these once the tent is on to make sure the tent is completely secure.

We typically use a combination approach. It is uncommon for backyard tents in Alberta to rest on perfect level, soft ground. One corner could be near the garden, and another on a concrete pad. That's normal; we walk the site when it's being planned. Anchoring is only half of the battle. The fabric used, height of the peak, height and length of the sides, and wind conditions affect the ability of a tent to stay up. A high peak pole tent is affected differently by the wind than a frame tent is. We plan for the event date, and the window in the weather forecast and direction. If winds pick up at some point in your party, partial sidewalls can be removed or rolled up. We want your guests to never give the tent a second thought while they're eating and dancing, and that confidence comes when the tent is properly anchored and secure before any of your guests arrive.

Setup, Takedown, and what happens on the event day is what makes people nervous. You have the tent figured out, you've measured the area, and now you're wondering if the party day works like this: Here's the honest truth: You shouldn't have to do any of this. We'll have it done for you from start to finish. When we arrive with the tent, we'll bring everything, we'll install it, and we won't be going until the tent is anchored and ready for your party guests. Here's the order:

1. A few days before the party, we confirm with you what time range we will deliver the tent to your location.
2. We will arrive, do another walk with you to inspect the ground and final location, install the tent and secure the anchors, and verify that each and every sidewall and peak will be secure.
3. If you will be using lighting, dance floor, tables, chairs, etc., we will install them next.
4. We'll complete the event with you before we leave so that you have a full view of the party area.
5. After you're done, we'll return and take everything down.

The party day usually works out according to plan. But it's AB weather, and winds come on and off with surprising speed. We are well versed on weather conditions, especially those of our neighborhoods such as Deer Ridge and Woodbine and quickly know when and how things will change. Any changes made are done at the location, with the equipment available to us.

What about the lawn? Many backyard party tents are staked, and some small holes are made in the lawn, but usually the holes disappear within 1-2 weeks. Let us know ahead of time if you have underground sprinkler lines or septic tanks so we can take them into account. And after the party, when do we clean up? Never. We will remove all the equipment, and you should have no more concern of a damaged lawn. We hear from people time after time: I can't believe how quickly everything went in! Can it be set up beforehand? Usually, yes. It takes all the stress off of both the setup crew and the customer. Everyone arrives on the morning of the event, and it's all standing there. That alone is a relief. Need any help or guidance? We'll walk you right through it. We'll help answer any questions that you have by having you give us a call.