What are the Best Uses for Vinyl Tarps?

When it comes to choosing the right type of tarp for your needs, Vinyl Tarps are a great option. Vinyl is a heavy duty material that is waterproof and UV ray resistant while also withstanding an incredible amount of wear, tear, and extreme temperature fluctuations, making it perfect for a wide variety of outdoor applications. There are many different types of Vinyl Tarps on the market from Heavy Vinyl to Clear Vinyl to Fire Retardant, so you are sure to find one that fits your specific needs. In this blog post, we will investigate the best uses for Vinyl Tarps and Covers.

Vinyl Tarps are incredibly versatile with countless uses and purposes. They can be utilized for trucking, construction, roofing, landscaping, industrial, commercial, services, military, agriculture, hunting, fishing, camping, athletic fields, gym floors, and around the house. Heavy Duty Vinyl Tarps are extremely popular and one of the best-selling categories of tarpaulins because of their adaptability, durability, and reliability generating extraordinary value.

What is Vinyl?

Vinyl Tarps are made from heavy duty material that is manufactured with high density, cross woven polyethylene terephthalate scrims that is coated with a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film laminate. This process creates covers that are 100 percent waterproof, very strong, and long lasting. Vinyl Tarps hold up amazingly to the harshest conditions and environments for the long haul. Most of these covers are included with strong grommets (eyelets) inserted in the hems and spaced evenly around the entire perimeter to be used to help safely tie down the tarps. Vinyl Tarps are secured to structures and other things with fastening items such as zip ties, bungee balls, rope, and tarp straps.

Depending on your requirements there is a Vinyl product from light duty on up to super heavy duty applications in a vast range of material weights, thicknesses, specialty features (such as fire retardant, anti-static), and a variety of common and effective colors including the very popular Clear Vinyl products. Vinyl Tarps are a versatile tool for securing and protecting your possessions, supplies, people, and spaces. Can Vinyl Tarps be painted? In many instances for uses including banners and sports team covers, Vinyl Tarps can be painted. This all depends upon the adherence and chemistry of the paint products used in the graphics.

What is the difference between Vinyl and Poly Tarps?

Vinyl and Poly Tarps both look alike and provide very similar protection. They are both waterproof and hold up to the elements well. Poly Tarps are made with woven polyethylene that is coated with polyethylene laminate. As mentioned previously, Vinyl Tarps are made with polyethylene terephthalate coated with PVC film. Overall, Vinyl Tarps are denser and a bit heavier duty than Poly Tarps making them stronger and much longer lasting, which is also represented in the pricing. Although Vinyl Tarps are a bit more expensive, the investment is more than worth it in protection and especially in the life of the cover.

What are Vinyl Tarps used for?

If you are looking for a heavy duty tarp that can withstand water, weather, sun, and a lot of wear and tear, Vinyl Tarps are a great option. There are nearly unlimited uses. Below are selections of the most common uses for Vinyl Tarps and Covers:

Residential Applications

Look around the house or out in the backyard. I am sure that you can find quite a few uses for a Vinyl Tarp. Vinyl Tarps are excellent for covering firewood piles, a tractor out back, patio furniture, grill, or provide wind and rain protection for a kennel or chicken coop. One of the most popular Vinyl Tarp products used around residences are Clear Vinyl Tarps. These sturdy and crystal Clear Vinyl Covers commonly come in thicknesses of 20 or 30 Mil. Clear Vinyl Tarps are used with patios, porches, enclosures, and decks to help block the wind, rain, and snow as well as a barrier against pests allowing homeowners to continue to use these spaces and enjoy the views at times they normally would not, especially as the weather gets colder.

Construction Projects

Vinyl Tarps are a valuable tool for all types of construction related operations. These covers are ideal for protecting equipment, materials, structures, and covering roofs during new building or repair work. Vinyl Tarps can be hung and used as dividers and temporary walls or to shield people and areas from certain dangerous operations such as welding, grinding, or sawing. Heavy Duty Fire Retardant and Anti-Static Vinyl Tarps are a necessity in many of these tasks where fire and flame hazards are present. Specialty Vinyl Tarps such as Lifting Tarps, Snow Tarps, and Anti-Static Drain Tarps only help aid the productivity and safety of construction jobsites.

Outdoor Landscaping

There are many activities when talking about landscaping and there are a lot of Vinyl Tarps that can help aid in these tasks. Because they are durable and resist tears, punctures, and abrasions and easy to handle Vinyl Tarps are great for landscaping. Lighter material weight Vinyl Tarps are great for catching clippings and leaves like a drop cloth and then conveniently pull or haul the trimmings away. They also help keep the grass clean and protected around digging projects where the sections are lined with the protective covers. And of course, Vinyl Tarps are excellent for shielding and protecting landscaping equipment while not in use along with covering grass and tree trimmings and preventing them from flying all over the road when hauling them from the job site.

Trucking and Transportation

Whether you are hauling on a semi, a flatbed, a trailer, or in a pickup truck you want to protect your valuable cargo in transit, in storage, or in the yard. The durable and strong features of Vinyl Tarps help them stand up to the elements, dirt, grime, wear, tears, and the overall rough environment of the open road. The basic Vinyl Tarps are available from 10 oz up to 40 oz options. In addition, for more specialized hauling there are 16 oz and 18 oz PVC Coated Vinyl Polyester Tarps in specific dimensions for Lumber Trucks, Heavy Duty Machinery, Flatbed Trucks, Steel Trucks, Smoke Trucks, and Coil Trucks.

Multiple Industrial Uses

In the industrial settings that include manufacturing, fabrication, welding, and machining, Vinyl Tarps are a constant for protecting equipment, areas, employees, and supplies during these activities. The Vinyl Covers hold up to the rigors and hazards of these industrial applications where the waterproof capabilities along with the resistance to tears, punctures, and mildew on a daily basis assists the operations immensely. Features such as Fire Retardant, Tinted Welding Screens, Anti-Static, and Clear Vinyl are extremely beneficial where needed. Vinyl Tarps can also be hung as curtains and temporary walls to create new spaces in a moment’s notice generating a more efficient work environment.

Agricultural & Farming

For crop and livestock farming, Vinyl Tarps are ideal for the many tasks that go on all year long. Whether it is to cover equipment in storage or out in the yard, shielding feed, covering bales, or providing shelter from the sun and elements for the livestock, the durable nature of Vinyl Tarps helps them perform quite well day in and day out.

Military Applications

Special Military Specification Tarp products are available for the specialized jobs and requirements of our armed forces as well as anyone that needs the quality vinyl material. This durable and reliable fabric is offered to the specific military specs to meet the regulations for jobs from covering sensitive equipment to erecting weatherproof tents and shelters.

Athletic Fields and Gymnasiums

To help keep fields, stadiums, arenas, and stadiums safeguarded and clean, Vinyl Tarps are ideal to help these playing surfaces, surrounding areas, and seating dry, clean, and protected. From Baseball Mound and Base Covers to Football Sideline Covers to Gymnasium Covers to Boxing Ring Covers to Stadium Section Covers there is a product to make your athletics facilities, players, and fans safe and orderly.

Camping and Backpacking

When you are ready to go camping, fishing, or hunting it a good idea to pack a couple of Vinyl Tarps for the outing. These can come in handy and be a life saver in many instances. Viny Tarps can be used as shelters, tents, tent shields, ground liners, sun and wind shields, fish and game haulers, totes, hammocks, and as a safety blanket in an emergency.

Storm Protection and Disaster Recovery

As protection from oncoming storms and for providing security following storm damage, Vinyl Tarps are an invaluable tool for protecting your residences, structures, and supplies. Properly secured, they can help block wind, rain, snow, and flying debris. In the event that there is damage, it is highly recommended to cover the affected areas securely with waterproof covers to limit and eliminate further damage from water, wind, pests, and people. It is this secondary damage that can end up causing more losses than the initial incident. A sturdy, waterproof Vinyl Tarp that resists UV rays, tears, and mildew will help stabilize the situation.

What Vinyl Products are there?

We have explained what Vinyl Tarps are made out of and defined what some of their popular uses are, to follow are the most common types that are available on the market:

Basic Vinyl Tarps

From a lightweight material weight of 10 ounces per square yard up to a super heavy duty 40-ounce selection, there is a Vinyl Tarp for every job. Whether it is for the home, the shop, the truck, or the barn there is a Vinyl Cover available.

Clear Vinyl Tarps

To either see what is underneath your tarp or to easily put up crystal clear curtains around your porch, patio, deck, or enclosures, Clear Vinyl Tarps are a very popular item to use for these spaces at times when the weather or conditions might determine otherwise. Thick, durable, and waterproof, these also resist UV rays, chemicals, grease, and mildew making for reliable and safe usage.

Fire Retardant Vinyl Tarps

Offered in a wide variety of material weights and thicknesses, Fire Retardant Vinyl Tarps are ideal for industrial and other applications that require a fire rating while also resisting tears, abrasion, grease, chemicals, mildew, and UV rays. These covers are ideal for construction, manufacturing, shipyards, oil rigs, warehousing, and around the house.

Anti-Static Vinyl Tarps and Anti-Static Drain Tarps / Leak Diverters

The Anti-Static Vinyl Tarp is another fire retardant cover that has the added special protection for shielding electronic, digital, and other commercial equipment. These also have the benefits of being waterproof and resistant to tearing, mildew, and UV rays. They are approved by California Fire Marshal and NFPA-701 compliance. In addition, there is a high-tech Vinyl Drain Tarp / Leak Diverter that is both resistant to static and fire retardant created to protect computers, electronics, and other valuable equipment from roof leaks and broken pipes. These are quickly and easily hung with the D-rings located in the corners below the leak and safely drain with a 3/4” garden hose.

Vinyl Tinted Welding Screen Panels

Common sizes are available for Vinyl Tinted Welding Curtain Panels. These welding curtains are offered in a handful of popular colors that have maximum visibility for a safe work environment that is also generated with the protection these panels provide against UV flashes, sparks, grindings, dust, water, oil, mildew, and other hazards.

Awning / Canopy Vinyl Tarps

These Awning / Canopy Vinyl Tarps are premium covers that are ideal for usage in high UV ray areas including awnings, pergolas, canopies, boats, tents, and curtain walls. The waterproof tarps are also abrasion, tear, dirt, mildew, and UV ray resistant. They are also fire retardant meeting NFPA-701,CSFM, ASTOM-E84, SCFM, CAN/ULC-S109, and CPAI-84 standards.

Vinyl Truck Tarps

A variety of material weights and thicknesses are available for a number of specialized Truck Tarps such as Flatbed Trucks, Steel Trucks, Coil Trucks, Smoke Trucks, Lumber Trucks, and Heavy Duty Machinery Trucks. These Truck Tarps have heat sealed seams with double-locked stitched hems adding to the structural sturdiness of the covers. They also include welded, tack stitched D-rings generating high tensile strength and added tie down capabilities.

Camouflage Vinyl Tarps

A Heavy Duty Camouflage Tarp is offered for use in hunting, fishing, and camping or with other traditional uses including construction, agriculture, industrial, and trucking. It is 100 percent waterproof while being mildew, grease, oil, UV ray, and extreme temperature resistant.

Outdoor Movie Screen Vinyl Tarps

Available in a number of convenient sizes, an 18 Mil thick Outdoor Movie Screen Vinyl Tarp is offered to fit your set up and show movies wherever you want on the durable, smooth, and resilient cover. It is ideal for projecting your favorite movies. The vinyl screen has a black block-out layer on the back to eliminate light from seeping through to help ensure the best image quality and viewing possible.

Military Vinyl Tarps

If military grade or just quality heavy duty vinyl covers are necessary for any industrial application, a host of Military Specification Vinyl Tarps are available.

Hypalon Tarps

For extremely weather resistant and waterproof applications, Hypalon Tarps are available in 16 oz and 35 oz material weights. These covers are used for floating water and sewer coverage along with being utilized as boat covers, cable covers, military use, roofing, and trucking.

Neoprene Tarps

Neoprene Tarps are great for a variety of heavy duty outdoor applications that require waterproof and resistance to UV rays, mildew, extreme temperatures, tears, and abrasion as well as gas, diesel fuel, chemicals, acids, and other corrosives. These extreme duty tarps are offered in 16 and 40 oz material weights.

Custom Vinyl Tarps

Although the many classifications of Vinyl Tarps come in a wide variety of common sizes, you may require dimensions that are not standard. If this is the case, Custom Vinyl Tarps and Covers options are offered for many of these materials to create the exact size that you require. Do not be afraid to ask about getting the size you need.

Vinyl Fabric by the Yard and Roll

Whatever your do-it-yourself job or stock room calls for, Vinyl Fabric by the Yard and Roll is available for many of the Vinyl Tarp materials mentioned including Basic Vinyl, Clear Vinyl, Fire Retardant, Military, Tinted Weld Screen, Hypalon, and Neoprene.

How to Care for Your Tarps

The question always comes up, “How long will a Vinyl Tarp last outside?” It will last a long time if you provide a little care. Vinyl Tarps are built for tough situations and the long haul. However, neglect and abuse will cut down severely on the longevity of your cover. Improper use or putting it to work for something that it is not made for will create problems. A little tender loving care through an occasional cleaning, minor repairs whennecessary, and proper storage will help you get the long usage you expect. For more on looking after your Vinyl Tarps see this article on Tarp care tips.

We Keep You Covered!

Vinyl Tarps are a popular product. At Tarps Now we sell a lot of these durable covers. If you have any questions, need help choosing the right Vinyl Tarp, or are ready to order, please do not hesitate to contact us at (888) 800-1383 or sales@tarpsnow.com. Our experienced and dedicated tarp team members look forward to discussing our Vinyl Tarps for Sale along with any other Tarp product or accessory.