How to Repair a Seam of a Bounce House

Bounce houses are prime sources of entertainment for children of any age. Kids enjoy them at birthday parties, carnivals, street fairs and many other social events. However, the houses sometimes tear at the seams, either through misuse or accidental cuttings. Patching material is available for repair, whether the bounce house is made from cheaper lightweight vinyl or commercial-grade PVC for use with continuous air blowers. Some models come packaged with repair materials, while others require it to be purchased separately.

Things You'll Need

• Vinyl bouncers:
• Vinyl repair material
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• Tube of repair adhesive
• Small brush
• PVC bouncers:
• Damp sponge
• Needle
• Strong thread

Instructions

Vinyl Bouncers

1. Isolate the area of split seam, identifying the entire length of the split.

2. Cut a piece of the vinyl repair material that is twice as large as the area to be repaired.

3. Gently clean the surface to remove any dirt or debris, and then lightly scuff the entire area that the patch will cover with fine-grit sandpaper.

4. Spread the repair adhesive liberally around the split seam with a small brush, and place the patch material down squarely over the area. Avoid creating any folds or creases in the patch or vinyl bouncer material.

5. Apply even pressure to the patch for 30 seconds, and then let the area cure for approximately 20 minutes before inflating the bounce house to check for continued leaks.

PVC Bouncers With Continuous Blowers

1. Prepare PVC material seam areas by thoroughly cleaning them to remove any debris, dust or stuck-on materials.

2. Using a commercial-grade fabric thread, stitch the seam with a needle rated for PVC use. Position the stitches closely to minimize additional leaks.

3. Inflate the bounce house to check the seam strength. Slight leakage is acceptable, but if the seam repair is not holding well, it may need to be restitched.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid touching the glue side of preglued patches. Oil from fingers will dull the adhesive and cause a reduced-quality bond.

• Gorilla tape is sometimes strong enough to hold small seam tears.

• Duct tape will not hold against the pressure for very long and should be avoided.

• Use only water or mild soap when cleaning the seam area. Chemicals can damage and weaken the material.

References

• "Bounce House Rental Company"; Tim Roncevich and Steven Primm; 2009
• "New Fix-It-Yourself Manual: How to Repair, Clean, and Maintain Anything and Everything In and Around Your Home"; Reader's Digest; 1996