Tips to Choose Heavy Duty Poly Tarps

Poly tarps are one of the most popular and most used tarps available to consumers. Several factors like a variety of colors, sizes, weights, strengths and prices make poly tarps an all-time favorite. In case you need heavy duty poly tarps, you need to keep certain tips in mind before you purchase. Only then can you get maximum benefit from your covering, whether it is a canopy, tent, construction cover, wedding or yard.

Heavy duty poly tarps are made of multiple layers of polyethylene meshed between more polyethylene sheets. Thus, these are sturdy, durable and lightweight. Before purchasing heavy duty poly tarps, consider the following features:

• Thickness: As you know, the thicker the tarp, the heavier and stronger it is. Typically, lightweight poly tarps are found in 6 mil thickness (1 mil is 1/1000 of an inch). A heavy duty poly tarp would be 11 -12 mils in thickness and a super heavy duty poly tarp would be 23 or more mils.
• Size: This is an important consideration as the actual tarp size is different from the specified size. If they say 10 x 10, you may actually be getting 9 ft 6 inches of usable tarp. The rest is taken up in hemming the tarps at the borders. Since the hem is accounted for in the original measurement, the tarp that you can use will be somewhat smaller. There are no universal sizes. Check measurements when you buy heavy duty poly tarps.
• Fabric: Poly tarps are made of plastic. However, heavy duty and super heavy duty poly tarps may contain a layer of laminated polyethylene in the center. This is black in color and its purpose is to keep the sun’s rays away from the area that is being protected by the poly tarp.
• Mesh size: This refers to the number of threads per square inch of the tarp. So, an 8x8 mesh has 8 threads in an inch, both horizontally and vertically. Mesh size determines the strength of the tarp. Heavy duty tarps generally have large thread sizes like 12 to 16 threads per inch. Threads used may also be heavier.
• Grommets: These are metal hoops that are stitched into the sides of the tarp to hold attachments. You may have poly tarps with grommets at 18 inches to 36 inches apart. The nearer the grommets, the greater its tensile strength. Most high quality heavy duty poly tarps have grommets placed approximately 18 inches apart. While aluminum grommets are the most common, brass grommets are most durable.
• Reinforcements: This keeps the tarp strong as reinforcements add strength and durability to the tarp. There are different kinds of reinforcements like corner reinforcements, ropes, hemming and grommets. Very heavy duty poly tarps generally have a patch, or an additional reinforcement at the hem. This improves the strength of the grommet.
• Protection: Most heavy duty poly tarps are made to last. Thus they are waterproof, weather proof, flame retardant, mildew proof and UV treated. They also appear in several colors from silver grey to blue, green, brown, red, orange, yellow and clear.
  

While selecting heavy duty poly tarps, keep these tips in mind and search for the best poly tarp.

Best Accessories for Tarps

Tarp covers are seen very commonly in many applications all around us. Tarp covers protect, shield and offer shade. Generally, tarps are coated with plastic or latex. Heavy duty tarps are made of polyethylene. They are thick, stitched with a close weave and offer fool proof protection against the elements. Thus, people often use tarps to protect their properties and valuables, particularly if these are exposed to the elements. Tarps are used in tents and other applications too. The reason for their popularity is the convenience and affordability. You can use tarps just about anywhere and different tarps and accessories are available for different applications.

Heavy duty ropes and bungee cords:
These are used to tie down the tarps. Just like the tarps, cords too have to be weather, rain and rust resistant. High quality ropes are available at competitive prices for use with tarp covers. These ropes are UV resistant and can withstand the onslaught of heavy winds. High quality tarp accessories are built to last, just as high quality tarps.

Tarp tie-downs are another must-have tarp accessory. These are used to secure tarps of all sizes and shapes to surfaces. High quality tie-downs help you tie tarps without any slack in them. Any slack can lead to tarps flapping about in the wind, ultimately tearing and snapping as the wind blows relentlessly. There are different types of tarp tie-downs and you can select those that are most convenient to you. The point is to secure tarps easily and with the minimum possible work.

Tarp clamps are nifty tarp accessories. These clamps allow you to secure your tarp anywhere without bungee cords or ropes. All you need for a custom fit are tarp clamps and the tarp. Insert the tarp material on the pole and insert the clamp over the pole. Since clamps enable you to secure the tarp material anywhere without any difficulty, these come in handy when you need to use tarps for a variety of applications.

Ratchet tie downs are great accessories if you want to use tarp covers to secure something safely over a surface. These tie-downs come in different sizes, so, use the one that best suits your application. You simply need to throw a tie-down over a cargo that has been covered with tarp and secure the tie-down by hooking it with the anchor point. Any slack should be pulled out so that the tie down fits snugly on the tarp.

Tarp gloves are convenient and useful as they can make the heavy duty work lighter on the hands. Gloves help you protect your hands while you do heavy manual work. Just like the tarps, high quality gloves are heat and tear resistant.

The above is a small list of tarp accessories. As you begin using tarps on all sorts of surfaces, you will start discovering many more useful accessories.

Athletic Field Tarp - Best Friend of the Sports Field

Tarps are large, flexible sheets used for protection of a variety of things. They come in various shapes, sizes, color, and types, suitable for respective users. Most variety of tarps can withstand heat, cold, and rain. There are different types of tarps available, such construction tarps, roof tarps, poly tarps, mesh tarps and athletic field tarps.

What are athletic tarps?

The athletic field tarps, are high, heavy duty tarps, weighing sometimes up to 1500 pounds having high mesh count. The athletic field tarps have a polyethylene coating, and are fastened with ropes near the edges for extra strength and durability. They are spread over large fields as a protective covering, so that one does not need to cancel a game of soccer or baseball due to the flooding of the field after a shower of rain. A field tarp offers protection round the year against rain, sun, wind and also dirt and dust. Recent innovation of the field tarp’s structure has contributed towards its convenience. The device now comes with handles, which makes for the easy spreading out of the tarp on the field. In the past it required quite a large number of people to lay it out, but now, not more than two persons are required. The edges lined with galvanized steel chains help to hold the tarp down in the place with ease. The metal grommets are spaced out at 18 inches interval. The athletic or baseball field covers are also ultra violet rays protected.

Advantages of the athletic field tarps

Since the athletic field tarps are generally made from high grade vinyl, polyester material, they are really strong and long lasting. These tarps are tear resistant and can also be repaired. They also come in wide variety of sizes and thickness. The athletic field tarps are available in different colors like blue, orange, white, and yellow, in addition to the regular green. They come in generally two major shapes, octagonal and the league style round shapes. The athletic field tarps are also made UV resistant and chlorine resistant, which also accounts for their durability.

Through the internet one can gain access to all kinds of information. There are several websites from which you can get detailed information about tarps. One can visit these sites and get the relevant information that one is looking for. Not only will you be able to view the different varieties, compare their features and prices but you can also order them online. So go ahead and make your choice.

Roof Tarps - The Perfect Answer To a Leaking Roof

Tarps are large, durable, and adjustable sheets with a coating of plastic or latex. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and consistencies. Tarps are generally water proof or water resistant. Tarps are used for many purposes. They are used for building of tents, and also as protective covering over machinery and equipments at construction sites.

What are the uses of roof tarps?

Roof tarps are used for covering a damaged roof. A damaged roof may either be a result of normal wear and tear, or it could be due to the vagaries of weather, like a storm or a hurricane. A damaged, leaking roof is a serious issue and it needs urgent repair before the condition deteriorates further and affects the interiors of the home. In this situation taking the help of roof tarps appears to be the best choice.

Which kinds of tarps are used in the process of covering damaged roof?

The foremost step in taking care of a damaged roof is selecting the ideal kind of tarp to cover it. Blue tarp seems to be the most common choice because of its economical price range, and also as it is available in different sizes. However, this cannot be the ultimate choice, as a leaking roof requires more heavy duty stuff. A heavy duty tarp is ideal in this situation. A silver color, 6 ounce per yard style seems to be perfectly suited for this purpose. These kinds of roof tarps are extremely tough and are tear resistant.

Tips on how to set up a roof tarp

Before you assemble a roof tarp over your damaged or leaking roof, there are a few things you should follow. Firstly, it is necessary to gather all the tools and material that you will be requiring. Some of the things you may need are wood strips measuring 2 x 4 inches, nails, a hammer, a knife and a ladder along with the tarp. The tarp should be cut so that it not only covers the damaged sections, but some area beyond that also. The wood strips must be about two feet longer than the width of the tarp, and one end of the tarp should be fastened with one of the wood strips. Similarly, the process should be repeated for the second wood strip. Thus the tarp is securely fixed between the two strips of wood. Now the tied and secured end of the tarp is to be placed on the eaves line. Then the tarp is to be draped over the ridge and the other end of the roof. The other sides of the tarp are to be fastened to the wood strips in the same secured manner.

You will find a great deal of information about the various types of roof tarps available, their quality, size, color and price range on the internet.

Fire Retardant Tarps

Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you already know how extensively we use tarps. You see them in houses, at warehouses, on trucks, cars and boats, and in yards. In short, just about anywhere and everywhere. Considering the fact that tarps are used so extensively, it is necessary to understand that all tarps are not created equally. To get maximum benefits, it is necessary to match their use with features so that you are always using the ideal type of tarp for your particular needs.

Tarps that are used within homes, as canopies, inside rooms, on windows and as room dividers need extra fortification. One of the most important checks is for these tarps to be UV treated so that they can tolerate high sun exposure. Another equally important check is for these tarps to be fire retardant.

Fire retardant tarps come in a variety of colors, styles and materials so they can easily be used for a wide array of applications. In the US, every state has strict norms regarding fire retardant tarps. The most stringent among these is the California State Fire Marshal norms. Therefore, every manufacturer of fire retardant tarps aims to satisfy these strict guidelines. Additionally, many styles and coatings are added to satisfy the guidelines and norms prevalent in other states.

There are different kinds of fire retardant tarps. The most commonly seen is the fire retardant vinyl tarp. These are generally used as canopies in gardens and yards or hung like a curtain and used indoors as room dividers. Many of these also function as the walls of tents. Considering their use, it is quite obvious why you would need a fire retardant material for these applications. These vinyl tarps give sufficient protection from the heat rays of the sun. Reinforced heat sealing and grommets make the tarps extra strong.

Laminated vinyl tarps are ideal as floors and dividers. They may also be used for covering and storing equipment. Sealed hems and closely spaced grommets give the tarp additional strength.

Many kinds of poly tarps come with flame retardant properties. One of the easiest ways in which you can spot these tarps is the typical color – they are mostly silver and white as opposed to the blue color that you commonly find on tarps. This material is used as roofing and also as a cover for equipment and other material. Flame retardant poly tarps are generally fortified to withstand water, moisture, mildew and rot. They are also resistant to acids and chemicals.

Since canvas tarps are so popular, it is impossible not to have flame resistant canvas tarps. But fire retardant canvas tarps may not resist water. So, this material is ideal indoors though they are also used for a variety of uses out of doors too. For best protection, canvas tarps need to be treated on both sides.

Flame resistant tent tarps are a favorite with home users and the military. This material is flame resistant, water resistant, mildew and rot resistant. Additionally, these do not shrink or expand, which makes them well suited for the outdoors.

Fire retardant tarps are available in different sizes and colors. Most of them are reinforced with rust resistant grommets. This allows users to make use of flame retardant tarps for applications that need to face the harshest of outdoor conditions.

Top Tips While Selecting Baseball Field Covers

So, the rainy season is here and you’re wondering whether you need to put away your sports shoes for the season? Well, there’s no call for that. Rain can come and go, but there’s no need to cancel your game, if you plan a little ahead of time.

Baseball field covers help you protect the baseball field effectively.

Heavy duty polyethylene tarpaulins are used as baseball field covers. These tarps have a host of features that make them ideal for providing the protection and coverage you require throughout the year. In places where there is no guaranteeing when rains, snowfall and intense heat hit the ground, heavy duty poly tarps protect play fields against UV rays, heat, water, dirt and sod. This explains the popularity of large baseball field covers in schools, high schools and even in professional playgrounds.

To provide ideal protection, baseball field covers need certain special characteristics:

Size: Field covers need to be big. Ideally, the tarp must cover all of the ground and the grass cover surrounding it. Therefore, precise measurements are a must if you want to provide complete protection to the field.

Mesh count: Baseball field covers need to be hardy, strong and waterproof. Thus, they must have a suitably high mesh count. High quality baseball field covers come with 14x14 weave count.

Poly coating: These super heavy-duty tarps need to be used again and again, season after season. So, they need to be tough and resistant to heat, water, mildew and rot. This is the reason why baseball field covers are not made of canvas and even have an added polyethylene coating. This coating makes the tarp resistant to chemicals, acids and rust.

Secure: Baseball field covers are not easy to handle. In fact, most of them weigh more than 1500 lbs, though the actual weight may depend on the size of the tarp. Standard lightweight tarps are lighter than the bulkier full infield field covers. In any case, these tarps need to have proper systems for fastening. Most baseball tarps have reinforced edges where rope and chain lined edges help keep the tarp in place. These field covers will also have heavy duty rust resistant grommets to hold the tarp in place securely.

Baseball field covers need to protect more than the field. They need to keep the surrounding grass intact so that the entire field is kept in good working condition. To enable this, modern day high quality baseball field covers come equipped with bases, bullpen, chain-lined edges and mounts.

Baseball field covers are used not just to keep away the slush and water from your field. These are important functions, no doubt. But professionally maintained fields need to be protected from the elements throughout the year. Even when there is no rain, you need to protect your in-field from heat and cracks. Selecting a heavy duty field cover that is UV treated on both sides ensures that your field is 100% protected from the fury of the elements.