Clearspan v Sailcloth Marquee
There are two main marquee structures that are the most common for modern day wedding and large scale events. They both have their places depending mainly on the look and style of the event you would like to create. These two structures are called Clearspan or Sailcloth and we have highlighter their key attributes below:
Clearspan Marquee
- “clear-span” meaning no internal poles which prohibit furniture/dance floor placement
- More interior spec options (clear roofs/walls, blackout linings, more lighting options)
- More advanced flooring systems
- Can be used all year round due to higher wind load speeds
- Great for the traditional “white wedding” look
- Typically 10%-15% cheaper than a sailcloth cost
Sailcloth Marquee
- More suitable for rustic/festival styled weddings & events
- A more decorative structure from the exterior
- Taller grander feel inside
- Has internal poles which does prohibit placement of furniture/dance floor
- Can only be used between April – September
- Coir matting flooring rather than hard floor & carpet as flooring
- Typically 10%-15% more expensive than a Clearspan option
What is a Clearspan Marquee?
A clearspan marquee is an metal framed marquee with PVC sides and roofs. They have no supporting poles in the middle, hence the term “Clearspan”. They have a singular peaked roof like a standard house with flat gable ends allowing these structures to be installed up against buildings if need be to serve as an extension.
Clearspan v Sailcloth Marquee: Clearspan Marquees are an aluminium metal framed tent with no supporting poles in the middle with PVC plastic roofs & sides.
Clearspan Marquees also are fitted with more suitable flooring systems such as hardwood flooring & carpet. Whereas Sailcloth marquees tend to be fitted with coir matting.
Clearspan doesn’t mean the roofs or sides are transparent however they can be if you prefer that look. Clearspan marquees require no guy ropes for support so they don’t require any additional space than the size of the structure itself. This is why clearspan marquees are better if space is limited.
Clearspan v Sailcloth Marquee: A Clearspan marquee doesn’t mean the roofs or walls are transparent – however the roofs, walls or ends can be transparent if preferred.Clearspan Marquees are fantastic for the traditional “white wedding” look.
They’re also the perfect blank canvas for your event. Linings and lighting rigging can be easily added to these strong structures and they can be easily installed on grass or a hard surface.
You have more lining choices with clearspan marquees too – such as white or white pleated linings and blackout starlight LED linings.
They tend to be the favoured choice as they offer far more flexibility and are more cost-effective too. You have a greater choice of heating and lighting options as well as different styles of lining too.
You can add levelled flooring systems as well as glazed walls and doors to clearspan marquees for a more premium finish, as they are far more of a versatile temporary structure. They can withstand up to 60mph gale force winds with make them a more favourable and safer choice if your venue is in an open and venerable space like a field.
You can also add on several Clearspan Marquees together if need be, too.
Clearspan marquees come in three meter width variations, starting from three meters wide to 15 meters wide and can be made as long as you wish in three meter length bays. The lowest height of a clearspan marquee is 2.4m but this can be raised up to 3m. Due to the lowest height of these structures is at 2.4m this allows most building doors to open up into the side of a marquee as an extension to the building.
A Typical Clearspan Marquee Floorplan
A clearspan marquee, meaning there are no supporting poles internally, means you have greater flexibility in where you can place your furniture, dance floor and bar area etc
What is a Sailcloth Marquee?
A sailcloth marquee is a marquee with singular, double, triple or quad peaked roofs and supporting poles in the middle of the marquee itself. They are more suited for a rustic wedding feel and they made of a canvas material rather than a more contemporary PVC. A sailcloth marquee can only be installed on grass as they do require guy ropes for structural support.
What works well with a sailcloth marquee:
- Coir Matting Flooring
- Rustic Wooden Chairs & Tables
- LED Fairy Lighting & Festoon Lighting
- Wooden Bars & Dance floors
- Outside Exterior Festoon Lighting
They do have internal support poles in the middle which will require a bit of planning in regards to where to put furniture, dance floor, bar & stage etc.
A sailcloth marquee are better suited for more rustic of country style weddings. Their grander appearance make sailcloth marquees a great option for weddings.
If you are looking for a sailcloth marquee you will need 2-3m of additional space all around the size you require for the guy ropes.
Typically Sailcloth marquees are 12m wide and come in 6m length increments (e.g 12m x 18m, 12m x 24m etc). They are taller than Clearspan marquees and offer a more grander feel in terms of appearance than a clearspan marquee as they are a taller structure.
They don’t tend to have such a high wind resistance compared to a clearspan marquee so consider this if your venue or area is in quite an open and venerable area.
A Typical Sailcloth Marquee Floorplan
Due to the support poles in the middle with a Sailcloth marquee, a little more thought needs to go into the placement of furniture, dance floor & bar area
If you’re having any event other than a rustic wedding, we would always recommend Clearspan marquees as they are slightly cheaper and have more customisable options inside. However if you have your heart set out on a rustic styled wedding then a Sailcloth option would be your best choice!
Get a Sailcloth Wedding Marquee Quotation Here
You can get a quote for a Clearspan marquee with our online quote calculator below. If you’d like a quote for your rustic styled wedding, you can get a quote for a Sailcloth marquee hire below:
If you are planning your wedding and unsure on either a clearspan wedding marquee hire or a sailcloth wedding marquee hire please book a site visit with us online and let’s start planning your wedding today!
Mark Hammond | Director
Abacus Marquee & Event Hire
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If your wedding/event has less than 40 guests coming you may be better off with our sister Company, Party in your Garden Marquee Hire
