Marquees are large, grand tents used for private gatherings, corporate entertainment and are frequently used by the events industry. They come in different shapes, sizes, colours and fabrics, and sizes range upwards from about 3 metres by 3 metres. They are popular because they are transportable to any location and they can help to keep you sheltered from the elements no matter what the weather throws at you.

Many companies offer marquees for sale but if you want to buy a reliable marquee that does the job you want it to and offers value for money, then there are some points you should consider. These points should also help you if you want to buy marquee accessories.

There are many styles of marquee available such as oriental canopy, modular canopy and multispan marquees. Some require a team to build and others are easy to erect pop up marquees. The size and style of tent are going to be down to personal choice, but the materials the tents are actually made from should be thought about very carefully.

There are typically three types of cover material available for marquees: polyethelyne (PE), polyester and vinyl. The most expensive material is vinyl, which is heavy weight, durable and weather resistant and therefore usually used on commercial marquees. PE is the cheapest type of cover material and is totally waterproof. The downside is that it looks cheap and rustles very loudly if a tear becomes established, causing the material to shred quickly in high winds. Polyester marquees are somewhere between the two. They look good, feel like normal fabric and are strong and durable. The best polyester marquees have a PVC coating inside that makes the fabric hang nicely on the marquee and keeps out water.

Check that the marquee cover is fitted with velcro connections along the entire length of the side and leg panels. The Velcro should prevent water and wind getting in which can cause real discomfort to anyone using the marquee.

The frame is also important. A marquee with anything less than 38mm diameter tubing will bend and break in windy conditions. The thickness of the steel in the tube also matters and should be at least 1mm to be of any quality. The best marquees also come with steel fabricated corner joints. Cheaper marquees use plastic joints that are prone to snapping frequently so are not good.

As well as checking the cover material and tubing, there are probably some key accessories you will want for your marquee too. These are things such as wooden flooring or privacy curtains. Privacy curtains are perfect if you wish to hide an ugly corner of your venue or want to provide complete privacy in your marquee.

Interior linings will add a nice finishing touch and they can be purchased in any colour and in a pleated or plain finish. They complement and decorate the interior of the marquee according to the chosen theme or colour scheme of the event. Starlight linings can add a stunning finish to a marquee too and should be considered for evening events.

Budget will usually constrain what marquee you can buy, but shopping around will help you get the best deal. Whoever you choose to buy from, remember that professional companies always hold stock of spare parts and should be able to provide you with good after sales care.  Make sure that your chosen company comes up to scratch and that you choose the right marquee for you.

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