Tarpaulin is an incredibly useful resource when it comes to providing a protective covering for your belongings or equipment. However, we understand that sometimes tarpaulins can be tricky to get to grips with! Here at Tarpaflex, we aim to help our customers get the very best out of their tarpaulin. With that in mind, here are a few tips to make sure that your tarpaulin is performing as effectively as it can be:

Don't let it get blown away

When placing down tarpaulin, you should always take appropriate measures to prepare it for the weather conditions in which it is going to be used. Is it equipped to stand up well in the face of blustery winds?

In these scenarios you should make sure that your tarpaulin is well secured so that it doesn't blow away, using all the eyelets and extra fixing points if necessary. If the winds are extremely strong, it may even be necessary to take the tarpaulin down so that it can live to protect another day. Elasticated bungee cord is generally kinder on the tarp's eyelets than poly rope or twine but whatever is used, make sure stress isn't applied to the eyelets as they can pull out under too much strain. This is especially important as a tarpaulin can flap in the wind which increases the pressure applied to the eyelets. Assess whether rope can be lashed over and under the item you're covering or around the circumference. In some occasions heavy items like sand bags or lengths of wood can be placed on top of the tarpaulin in several places to help keep the cover in place. Please also remember that wind strength increases the higher you are from ground level so covers on roofs, buildings etc need to be adequately secured.

Wind can also increase the friction on the cover so it is advisable to keep an eye on any areas where this may be more prevalent, for example on corners.

Keep it dry

Rain can also pose a problem to tarpaulin. If allowed to pool on the tarpaulin, rainwater can weigh the sheet down and increase stress on areas such as the eyelets and seams and the material itself, thereby increasing the risk that the tarpaulin will split or leak. This is why you should always position the sheet so that water runs off as much as possible. Remember water is dense and if pooling on an unsupported tarpaulin the pressure can become too great and start to permeate through the cover. We do not recommend our economy tarpaulins to be used on flat roofs, best to check out our heavier weight alternatives which have a denser weave and thicker coating.

Bear in mind that some tarpaulins, such as our canvas tarpaulins, are wax-treated to make them more water-resistant. However, that does not mean that the sheets are waterproof and their water-resistant qualities will likely degrade over time. After your tarpaulin has been exposed to heavy rain, consider re-proofing it in order to keep it water-resistant. You can buy treatments such as these from most DIY and home hardware stores.

Don't expect miracles

Tarpaulins can be used for many different applications, but some types of tarpaulin are better suited to certain jobs than others. Polyethylene tarpaulins are by their nature low cost and temporary coverings, and should not be expected to withstand the type of prolonged heavy use endured by PVC truck tarpaulins, industrial-strength tarpaulins that can cost thousands of pounds.

When used properly, poly tarpaulins can be extremely useful and durable and can provide a great service over extended periods of time. If you respect the limitations of your tarpaulin and how it is intended to be used, then it should serve you well for years to come.


Looking for more advice? Contact us today!

If you would like to learn more about how to get the most out of your tarpaulin, there's plenty more information on our general advice page. If you have a more specific issue that you want us to help with, please don't hesitate to give us a call today or send us a message via our contact page. Here at Tarpaflex we will do everything we can to keep you covered.