Tarps deliver! You know this, or at least have heard that they can protect your things, your people, or your areas from the elements, dirt, pests, and many other damaging hazards. You want to have the best protection necessary for your situation. Many questions may arise on the who, where, how, why, and especially the what as in “What Are The Best Tarps To Buy?”
The absolute single best answer is, it depends primarily on your specific or general needs. Tarps are not a one type fits all. There are some general purpose covers that will suitably get the job done. But overall, there are a lot of Tarp Products on the market that have a definite purpose for some tasks and are not so good for others. Knowing what is best for your requirements will help guide you to the best tarp for your situation.
A starting point is that the various fabrics used each brings their own benefits to the protection they provide. Common materials for tarps include poly, vinyl, clear vinyl, canvas, mesh, and nylon. Other features that help make a tarp productive are their thickness or dernier as well as the material weight that is typically classified in weight per square yard. There are other characteristics that may be a factor in the best tarp for your situation including material weave, grommet spacing, and for some the color.
The objective here is not to confuse. Although there are a lot of choices, this blog and other information available will help educate you on some of the differences and specific benefits available so that you can make the best selection for your applications. Just like automobiles, there are quite a few to choose from. It depends on your needs and tastes. As for tarps, we will help you find the best tarp solution for what you actually need.
How Thick Should A Good Tarp Be?
We typically feel confident when there is a nice barrier between what is being shielded against and what is being protected from. Tarps are no different. Well, “What is a good tarp thickness?”
Tarps are essential for shielding against everything from weather to debris, and the thickness of a tarp is no small matter. The strength of a tarp comes from the thickness which is measured in Mils - this amounts to 1/1000th of an inch. For instance, a 12 Mil thickness translates to 0.012 inches thick. Come rain or shine you will be ready when it is time to consider what heavy duty coverage may suit your needs best. The thicker the better.
When it comes to Tarps and covers, there is a wide selection of effective materials out there. We are talking about polyethylene (poly), vinyl, canvas, mesh, and nylon. For heavy duty applications 12 Mil thick tarps are generally seen as the starting point for those looking into heavier-duty options. But this is only scratching the surface. Get ready for some serious thickness with some of these fabrics. Poly thicknesses can go up to 24 mil thick, Canvas as thick as 30 mil, while mesh and vinyl can be as thick as 50 mil.
The key to thickness is matching to the application. Durable Tarps are available from lightweight up to super heavy duty utilization. Lightweight duty calls for a lightweight tarp, extreme tasks call for super heavy duty. You always want to be efficient with your budget and effective with your protection.
What Is The Material Weight Of A Good Tarp?
The physical weight of a Tarp is important for handling and carrying. But what we are talking about in this section is the material weight of the covers, which is also an important characteristic, and in many circumstances the most important aspect in determining the protection that the material will generate. This is the overall density of the cover. Traditionally, the material weight of a Tarp is available in ounces (oz.) per square yard.
A Mesh Tarps is relatively very lightweight when compared to other fabrics because of the porous weave design and the material used creating the benefits that it offers. Their material weights start as low as 4 ounces per square yard up to heavy duty weights of 10 oz. or more. For polyethylene (poly) a very light plastic fabric starts at around 3 ounces and are considered heavy duty at 6 ounces and super heavy duty at 12 ounces. Canvas Tarps are as lightweight as 10 oz for products such as drop cloths up to heavy weight levels of 15 ounces for waterproof canvas tarps, and up to as high as 22 ounces for certain fire retardant Canvas Covers. Vinyl will run in material weights on the low to medium end from 10 ounces up to 40 ounces per square yard on the upper extreme duty.
What Is The Strongest Type Of Tarp?
When you view products and do a little research on Tarps the next question may be “What is the Strongest type of Tarp?” A Tarp is as strong as you need it to be. While a lot of the tarp products available on the market are extremely versatile with various features that offer a spectrum of protection in many ways including waterproof, water resistant, and fire retardant. The Tarps usually are for specific duties. Each of these types of covers are designed to protect as strong as possible for their intended task.
The Thickness and Material Weight qualities described earlier in this blog as well as some of the other the features mentioned, Tarps have specific uses. When utilizing a certain Tarp for the wrong function it may not provide the protection as well as you would like. Just to clarify, some tarps are in fact general purpose and do everything pretty well, while other products are specialists, being strong in their specific duties.
What Is The Best Fabric For A Tarp?
The very best fabric for a tarp will depend on what it is needed for. A Tarp is not a one style fits all product. If water protection is needed a waterproof Tarp or water resistant Tarp Cover is necessary where Vinyl, Clear Vinyl, Poly, and Waterproof Canvas Tarps are options. When ease of handling, general coverage, and affordability are desired, a Poly Tarp is good choice. For quality shielding of goods where breathability is important, a Canvas Tarp is good. Where shade and other lightweight coverage is required, a Mesh Tarp or Shade Tarp will do the trick. As clear views are the primary need along with superior weather protection, a Clear Vinyl Tarp or Clear Poly Tarp will perfectly handle the job.
When you have a job to do for a Tarp always make sure that you match the application needed to the dedicated features and characteristics of the specific cover and the material it is made from. The next segment will help describe the categories of these Tarp fabrics and products.
What Kind Of Tarp Do I Need?
When you put a Tarp over something you are generally always going to receive a great amount of protection. It is much more important and cost effective to select the best tarp that will depend on your needs and the features provided by specific type of Covers and their fabric. The popular categories of these Tarps include materials such as canvas, vinyl, clear vinyl, polyethylene, mesh, and nylon. A basic summary of the protective nature of each of the Tarp materials is found in the sections to follow.
Canvas Tarps
Covers made of canvas material were some of the very first Tarps. Tarpaulins have been around for centuries expanding greatly from the initial job of protecting cargo on ships sailing around the world. Canvas Tarps are now utilized for a huge assortment of tasks providing numerous features for manufacturing, construction, commercial, agricultural, painting, landscaping, trucking, and residential applications. Many of the Canvas Tarp items offered are created from heavy duty cotton fabric that is tightly woven producing covers that work. Specific waterproof and water resistant Tarps that deliver water protection for materials, supplies, vehicles, structures, areas, and even people that you want to protect from rain, snow, and additional water issues are offered. A tremendous benefit of the Canvas Tarp woven design is that the covers are breathable creating air circulation generating added protection for possessions being covered from condensation and moisture issues that can develop under the Covers. There are also Fire Retardant Canvas Tarps offered to guard against fire, flame, and other heat hazards. Extremely popular Canvas Tarps include the Rhino-Tex Waterproof Canvas Tarps, Water Resistant Canvas Tarps, Drop Cloths / Painters Tarps, Fire Retardant Canvas Tarps, and Natural Duck Cotton Canvas Tarps. These Canvas Tarp prodcuts are commonly used as an equipment covers, vehicle covers, painting tarps, camping tarps, hammocks, tent covers, ground covers, landscaping tarps, plant covers, firewood tarps, and divider curtains.
Vinyl Tarps
Vinyl Tarps are ideal for a host of uses such as residential, recreational, commercial, manufacturing, warehouse, agriculture, and trucking. These extremely durable covers are incredible assets in guarding important equipment, vehicles, materials, supplies, areas, structures, and people from the hazards of extreme weather, the sun, dirt, debris, pests, and other issues. The strong and effective waterproof PVC fabric is offered in a wide selection of sizes, thicknesses, material weights, and colors to provide the best protection available. Other beneficial features possessed by Vinyl Tarps include heat sealed seams and rust resistant grommets in addition they are resistant to UV rays, wear, tear, abrasion, rot, chemicals, mold, and mildew resistant. Other special features include fire retardancy, anti-static, camouflage colors, awning/canopy tarps, and outdoor movie screens. Vinyl Tarps are popularly used as truck tarps, divider curtains, vehicle covers, carport tarps, trailer covers, camping tarps, firewood covers, roof tarps, tent covers, baseball and softball field covers, hockey shooting tarps, and golf hitting screens.
Clear Vinyl Tarps
Clear Vinyl Tarps deliver the very same features of solid vinyl tarps with the added benefit of a crystal clear views. The clear covers are extremely durable, nice and thick at either 20 Mil and 30 Mil, and anti-microbial. Waterproof Tarps are also resistant to UV rays, grease, chemical, rot, mildew, and cold weather in addition to having a fire retardant option with the 20 Mil thickness. Clear Vinyl Tarps as well as Clear Vinyl Curtains are very popular as weather protection and barriers on porches, entryways, patios, decks, gazebos, and beer gardens permitting homeowners and business owners to take advantage of these locations during the fall and winter months shielding against rain, snow, wind, and cold temperatures. These covers are also ideal for coving vehicles, equipment, and supplies when the clear view of the item underneath is necessary.
Poly Tarps
Polyethylene (Poly) Tarps are manufactured with high quality, high density polyethylene plastic layers that are 100 percent waterproof. These are also UV ray, tear, rot, and mildew resistant. Poly Tarps are very easy to handle and quite affordable. They are popularly utilized as material covers, cars and truck covers, carport covers, firewood covers, patio furniture covers, roof tarps, tent covers, groundcovers, ice skating rink liners, and pond liners. Poly Tarps are available in a huge selection of stock sizes, thicknesses, material weights, grades, and color choices. In addition, this type of cover has special features offered such as fire retardancy, clear poly, string reinforcement, camouflage colors, greenhouse tarps, and hay tarps. Poly Tarps are always in high demand as they make up around 56 percent of all sales within the global tarp market.
Mesh Tarps
Mesh Tarps are popular, versatile, and effective covers that are crafted typically from mesh fabric that generates protective shade from the sun along with comfortable airflow. They are commonly applied as shade covers, privacy screens, windscreens, material covers, and as truck tarps. Mesh Tarps and Shade Tarps are offered in a wide variety of shade factors that can range from 40 percent up to 95 percent shade in a spectrum of useful colors. Delivering more than shade, there are also specialty mesh material such as fire retardant tarps, hurricane tarps, and a wide variety of truck tarps, containment tarps, and debris netting.
Nylon Tarps
Nylon Tarps are made from fabric with denier thicknesses of 200, 210, 400, 420, 900, 1000, and 1680. The nylon material is water, tear, and abrasion resistant. These covers come in a wide variety of vibrant colors. Nylon Tarps have a urethane coating that provides durability and flexibility many uses for residential, crafts, backpack, bag, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and construction applications.
Custom Tarps
If you are looking for a Tarp that is made to exactly fit your requirements, then you will want check out Custom Tarps. Custom Covers are crafted to provide the exact dimensions, fabric, colors, and features that are required. This is very beneficial for projects and tasks where accuracy in coverage is important. One of the greatest benefits of Custom Tarps is that they are made to fit any size and most shapes. If there is an area to cover, a Custom Tarp is an ideal and cost effective solution. Custom Covers ensure a proper fit eliminating the possibility of excess material getting in the way of things, having gaps in protection for undersized covers where wind, rain, and dirt can cause issues. Additional benefits of Custom Tarps are that they can be manufactured with special features to meet specific needs such as requiring a cover that is waterproof or fire retardant. The Tarps Now Custom Size Tarp Builder app helps make custom tarp ordering simple by accepting the basic information in a few easy clicks.
It Is Always Important To Properly Tie A Tarp Down?
It is critical to make sure that Tarps are secured and tied down to properly guard what it is to be protected as tight as possible without causing stress to the cover. Fasten the Tarp to the surface or structure with the grommets that are equally spaced between 6 and 36 inches apart depending upon the product. These metal eyelets are fitted in in the hems of most Tarps. Grommets, typically made with brass, aluminum, nickel, or stainless steel are utilized to assist in the tying down of the Tarp with a variety of implements that include zip ties, bungee balls, cords, rubber straps, hooks or other clasps.
Visit the Tarps Now Sale Page For Discounts On Many Of These Tarps
Be sure to visit the tarpsnow.com Sale Page for discounts 24/7 on popular Tarp products, sizes, colors and styles. Whether it is vinyl, clear vinyl, poly, canvas, mesh, or nylon covers, curtains, and accessories Tarps Now has got something to fit your requirements and budget. We offer a collection of customer returns from previous orders that are stored in our Southwest Michigan warehouses. The sale items are usually returned for non-defective reasons that include the wrong size being ordered or the customer just did not need the covers after all.
Other discounts are also provided quite often. These promotions are triggered through first visits and return visits to the website along with signing up for our email and text offerings that go out throughout the month.
Tarps Now Is The Place To Buy Your Tarps
When it is time to purchase your Tarps, Industrial Curtains, or Tarp Accessories, Tarps Now is the premier source. If you have additional questions or need help with anything in finding the right Tarp solution please do not hesitate to contact us toll free at (888) 800-1383 or by email at sales@tarpsnow.com where an experienced, helpful, and pleasant team member located at our Michigan headquarters will be happy to speak with you.
Thank You!
