Tarpaulins can be the unsung hero of protective covering. You don't remember they're there because you're so used to them doing a reliable job and only appreciate their worth once they've done the job. They are versatile enough to be used for many different purposes and the following situations are just a few ways in which they can be used and may inspire you with some ideas that you haven't perhaps previously thought of...

Garden Saviour

Tarpaulins can be used in and around the house very easily. They can make your day to day tasks at home a lot more convenient in the long term, especially in the garden where all of your furniture and belongings are exposed to the elements on a regular basis. For this purpose a light weight tarpaulin would be ideal. It is easy to remove from outdoor furniture or BBQs for regular use. They are made of durable waterproof polyethylene (PE) material so that your furniture or garden products will remain dry and in good condition. They are also great to for weeding, hedge trimmings and leaves to make the tidy up job so much quicker and easier! Our economy camouflage tarpaulin are also fantastic as a hideout or den for children to get the maximum from their summer holidays come rain or shine.

Hay There!

For more durable applications, a tarpaulin from our heavy weight range may be a good choice. These waterproof covers are a great combination of price, performance and durability due to an increase in the weight of polyethylene, ranging from 185 grams per square metre (gsm) up to 270gsm. In the late summer / early autumn heavier weight tarpaulins are always popular as a temporary cover of straw and hay especially when storage space inside is hard to come by. They are also great for covering the tops of logs stored outside, however as it is best to ensure your log pile is facing the prevailing wind please ensure the top of your tarp is well weighted down and use the eyelets spaced every 50cm to help keep the tarp in situ. With tarpaulins as large as 22m x 25m there are plenty of choices to ensure your assets are protected. For handy info on storing hay and straw under a tarp please refer to our suggestions on how to ensure your hay or straw doesn't spoil. Due to their manageability and ease of handling these tarps are also extremely popular to cover roofs and boats and the white 200gsm tarpaulins are great for cricket wicket covers as well. With eyelets spaced at 50cm intervals on this range there are plenty of fixing points however it is always recommended to assess the strain eyelets are likely to withstand, especially during windy conditions. Additional eyelets are always useful and so easy to use.

Big and Chunky

A super heavy weight tarpaulin is the beefy older brother of the tarp family. These tarpaulins are a lot heavier than the more budget versions and less likely to flap in windy conditions, with the PE or PVC tarps ranging from 350 gsm to 560 gsm. For example, a PVC 10m x 14m has an overall weight of 78kgs which is the same as an adult man. Therefore if cargo is transported on a trailer any of our super heavy tarpaulin range will help keep the load covered thanks to its additional weight. Please remember to make sure tarps on trailers are well strapped down with rope, bungee cord or ratchets as they can have a parachute effect and cause danger to other motorists. A heavy weight tarpaulin can provide great service for items that may be a lot harder to cover and come with a 2 year warranty against UV failure. Do you know all our PE and PVC tarpaulins are still flexible in sub-zero temperatures? So in practically any condition, your possessions will be protected. We also have traditional cotton canvas tarpaulins in 17oz, 18 oz and 21 oz weights to complement our PVC and PE tarpaulins.

Shopping for the Perfect Tarpaulin

Another popular use for a tarpaulin is for a market stall cover. Anyone's stereotypical image of a market is not complete without the colourful stripy tarpaulin. We stock these tarpaulins in 8 sizes in green/white, red/white and blue/white stripes. They are vital for keeping stall holders and their products dry and protected from the elements. They are also easy to handle when setting up your market stall and can be used time and time again. Market stall clips are a must have accessory for keeping your cover attached to your stall and a glass clear tarpaulin can help keep stock dry but still visible to customers.

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