Home > Tarp Selection

Tarp Selection

Tarp Selection

Silver U.V. Tarps	White U.V. Tarps	Blue U.V. Tarps	Clear U.V. Tarps
Valance U.V. Tarps	Camo U.V. Tarps	Tan U.V. Tarps	Orange U.V Tarps
Green U.V. Tarps	Red U.V. Tarps	Yellow U.V. Tarps	Silver U.V. Fire Retardant
White U.V. Fire Retardant	Silver / Black U.V. Tarps	Black Mesh-Shade Tarps	Green Mesh-Shade Tarps
Desert Mesh-Shade Tarps	Blue Mesh-Shade Tarps	Privacy Fence Tarps	Sun Shade Sails

Tarps & Poly Tarps

Heavy duty Polyethylene Tarps has become one of the most popular choices among consumers for home protection, construction sites and recreation. The popularity of heavy duty Poly Tarps is largely due to the cost effectiveness compared to that of more expensive fabrics such as canvas and polyester tarps. Moreover, heavy duty Poly Tarps are highly versatile based on the composition of polyethylene. The elements, which make up polyethylene or poly tarps, are naturally mildew resistant, waterproof, lightweight and flexible. Heavy duty Polyethylene Tarps will not tear or crack when exposed to the harsh extremes of hot and cold weather. The introduction of Polyethylene tarps to the market has not only given the consumer a more cost effective product but has also allowed manufacturers to be more competitive with their product pricing. In the end you the consumer wins.

Heavy-duty Poly Tarps are comprised of several layers of woven mesh fabric. The poly tarps mesh fabric is then placed between two or more layers of large polyethylene sheets that are heat laminated before undergoing the finishing process. Once the heavy duty Poly Tarps have been heat laminated they are then cut to the necessary production size. This process is referred to as the cut size or list size of the poly tarps. The cut size is not the actual size of the tarp once it reaches the consumer. When shopping for outdoor poly covers and heavy-duty tarps one may notice on the package a box diagram, which describes the cut size and the finish size or dimensions of the poly tarps material. This is important to note because if you are looking for 10' x 20' tarps, the actual dimension is 9'6" x 19'6". The finish size is less than the list or cut size due to the grommet application process. Grommets are metal rings made of brass, steel or aluminum, which are used to secure the poly tarps using a fastening system such as Ball Bungee Ties. During the grommet application process the edges of the poly tarps are folded back on themselves and heat laminated with a reinforcement rope placed between the fold. The grommets are then stamped into place on the tarps edges, usually every 12, 18 or 36 inches apart. When shopping for heavy duty Poly Tarps one important element to look for is the mesh count. The mesh count of the poly tarp is determined by how closely the mesh threads are in relation to one another. The mesh count is the number of threads per square inch in both a vertical and horizontal pattern. The mesh count is also a key factor in the determining strength of tarps fabric.

Lighter weight poly tarps for sale are typically Blue in color and generally have an overall mesh count of 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 weave. Blue poly tarps are not considered heavy duty and are used in applications such as ground protection for camping, drop cloths for painting, general household tarps and in recent years have become the primary choice for roof protection after and during hurricane season. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 FEMA handed out thousands of Blue Poly Tarps to residents as a way to protect their houses from further damage caused by rain. Lightweight and inexpensive, Blue Poly Tarps are extremely popular as an all purpose general cover but are not the choice for use on canopy frames.

Heavy Duty Poly Tarps come in a variety of colors and generally have a minimum mesh count of 12 x 12 or 14 x 14. The most popular Heavy Duty poly covers on the market today are the Silver and White Tarps. Heavy Duty Tarps are the ideal choice for canopy applications due to their strength and resistance. The Silver Heavy Duty Poly Tarp is a unique waterproof material that is lightweight, inexpensive and provides total shade. Designed with a black polyethylene center layer, Silver Tarps block 100% of the suns harmful UV rays and are 100% waterproof. White Heavy Duty tarps are also a strong, lightweight and waterproof material with a 12 x 12 or 14 x 14 mesh count but do not include the black sun blocker material. White heavy duty Poly Tarps are a popular choice for their ability to allow natural light to come through while at the same time providing some shade and UV protection. If you are looking for Heavy Duty Poly Tarps that are Fire Retardant make certain that it is certified by the proper authorities and meets the minimum requirements of NFPA 701 and CPAI-84. Polyethylene tarps are not naturally flame resistant and in fact are comprised partly of petroleum products making them flammable when in contact with open flame. There are heavy-duty Flame Retardant Poly Tarps available that have been manufactured using either flame resistant fibers or a topical application process. Poly Tarps of this nature are required to undergo vigorous testing and certification before entering the market. Heavy-duty Fire Retardant Tarps are required to have a permanent tag affixed to the material, which displays the certification code and qualifications of the tarps material.