Getting the most out of your tarpaulin.

Two things to think about...

          Will your tarpaulin be exposed to sunlight for the duration? and will be it secured in a windy location?

 

UV Radiation and Tarpaulins

Exposure to sunlight will have a negative effect over time on the longevity of plastics. The UV will break down the chemical polymer bonds causing the plastics to become brittle, weakening the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation and tearing strength.

Below gives the approximate lifespan of our tarpaulins when exposed to the UK levels of UV.

110gsm MULTI TARP standard: UV up to 6 months

160gsm SUPER TARP standard: UV up to one year

240gsm SUPER TARP premium: UV 3 years +

It is important to remember though that it is an approx. A tarp facing south will be subject to more UV radiation than one facing north. And one put up over the winter will see less sunlight than one over the summer.

 

Wind and Tarpaulins

Wind can play havoc with your tarpaulin eyelets, creating rips in the material making a once waterproof cover pointless and potentially dangerous.

If your tarpaulin or cover is going to be in an exposed windy location, we, at Tarpeze would recommend using either our elasticated cord or pre-made bungee assemblies to secure your tarp, so rather than your tarpaulin giving into the wind and ripping, the elasticity in the cord will work with it absorbing some of the shock and taking the strain away from the eyelets. The Eyelets will however be stress points regardless of if you use rope or bungee to secure it. It is important to avoid excessive tension and make sure as best you can that the tension used is evenly distributed throughout.

 

Final Thoughts

We are unable to offer a lifespan on our tarps for wear and tear as the variables are excessive but as you would expect, the heavier the material the longer it will stand up to abrasion, so actually, that is another point to consider on top of the weather conditions.

So, to summarize, there are 3 things to think about when picking an appropriate tarp; exposure to wind, exposure to UV and the potential for abrasion…well other than the size required and the colour of course!