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Tarpaulins
About Tarpaulins
A tarpaulin is basically just a large sheet of flexible material. They are stronger than regular sheets of polyethene and often come with fire-resistant, waterproof, or water-resistant properties. These sheets are really versatile and useful.
A pall is a large sheet of fabric that people used to cover tombs and other large objects. In order to cover objects on the top of the deck, sailors sometimes applied a layer of tar on top of palls to make them waterproof. This is the origin of tarpaulin as we know today. The words “tar” and “palling” combined together to form the word tarpaulin. These days tarpaulins are more sophisticated than just some random cloth with a tar coating on it. Read this article to find out more about tarps. Having a better understanding of them will help you make the right choices when you are shopping for them.
Different types of tarpaulins
If you consider the most useful objects that humans have invented in the last thousand years, a tarpaulin is one of them. It is so useful, and without them, a lot of things would become too difficult. But not all tarpaulins are the same. In fact, there are about a dozen different types of tarps out there. If you try to choose a tarp without knowing about the basic types of tarps, it can be very difficult to choose. This article gives you a basic understanding of the four most common types of tarps. This will also give you some useful tips that you can follow in order to find a tarp that suits your needs the best.
Canvas tarps
These tarps are made from thick polyester fabric coated with silicone. Such tarpaulins offer several different advantages over regular tarpaulins. For one thing, they are both waterproof and fireproof. Because of the silicone coating, such tarps can withstand harsh chemicals to a great degree. Traditional canvas tarps were made from cotton. But these days, they are hard to come by because of their higher costs and poor adaptability. Because canvas tarpaulin with silicone coating is waterproof, they are suitable as a covering for large machinery and equipment.
Mesh tarps
These types of tarps are great for covering an area for privacy or shade. The main difference between regular tarps and mesh tarps is that the latter consists of meshes. Because of that, water and some light can pass through them. Therefore, you cannot use them for waterproofing purposes. However, they make good material partitioning outdoor areas without completely blocking visibility or airflow. People also use mesh tarps as fencing material. Depending on the material of the tarp and the size of the mesh, the shade that you get from a mesh tarp varies.
Vinyl tarps
Vinyl tarps are great for light-duty uses. The primary reason for this is that they cost much less than heavy-duty tarps but are greatly versatile. These advantages make vinyl tarps the most popular tarp material for construction industries and farming. Vinyl tarps are also fire resistant to a certain extent. And because they are lighter in weight, it is easier to transport them in large quantities. Vinyl tarps come in different levels of thickness. You can choose the right thickness level, depending on your application.
Heavy-duty tarps
There are no special materials for making heavy-duty tarps. Rather, you can find heavy-duty tarpaulin that is made from vinyl, mesh, or even canvas. The difference is that heavy-duty tarps tend to be thicker and are usually more durable. This type of tarpaulin is great for protecting heavy machinery and for transporting. That is why you will find such tarps in the aerospace industry and aircraft industries. But not all heavy-duty tarpaulin might be suitable for all purposes. For instance, if you need a really tough tarp, then canvas tarps are the best option.
Tips on how to buy Tarpaulins
Finding the right type of tarpaulin can be harder than you might think. In order to find the right type of tarp out of the many different options, you need to analyse the specifications and make sure that they are suitable for your application. To do that, you first need to know what factors to look for in a good tarp. Here is a list of factors that you can look for when you are shopping for tarps. By looking for these criteria, you can easily find a tarp that suits your needs.
- Material – The first thing to decide when you are shopping for tarpaulin is to decide on the type of material. This should be entirely based on the application. If you are going to use the tarp outside, you need something that can resist the effects of weather. On the other hand, if you want the tarp to cover machinery, then look for a waterproof material, like vinyl.
- Thickness – When it comes to tarps, thickness matters quite a lot. Thickness can affect the durability of the tarp. In fact, the main difference between normal tarps and heavy-duty tarps is the thickness between them. For applications that require strength and abrasion resistance, you should always use heavy-duty tarps.
- Size – Most people use tarps to cover things. In order to cover something effectively, the tarp should be large enough to cover the object. This is why you should always make sure that you are choosing a tarp of the right size. While it is possible to overlap one tarp over the other or by joining them together, they can lead to leaks. So, it is better to choose a large enough one.
- Features – Sometimes, you will need some extra features in a tarp. One of them is resistance to water. If you want to cover something that you don’t want to get wet or to build a tent, then you better get a tarp with a water-resistant coating. Another thing to look for is corrosion resistance. Things like UV light, oils, greases, and acids can cause corrosion. There are tarps that come with special coatings that can protect against these factors.
If you are a DIYer, there are some essential tool accessories that you need besides a tarp. These include items like job gloves, hand cleaners, hearing protection, screwdrivers, spanners, drills, and drill accessories. The good news is that you can find all of them easily using our shopping search engine . That way, you can also compare prices and features of different products and pick the best one among them. Also, don’t forget to check out other amazing products from the DIY category.
Question & Answer
How do you clean a tarp?
Because tarps are usually large, cleaning them is a bit of a challenge. Furthermore, tarps get dirty very quickly, especially if you are using them outdoors. When you are cleaning a tarp, it is better to spread the tarp flat on a clean ground. Then soak a sponge in soap water and rub the dirt off from the outside of the tarp. Then rinse the tarp with soap water. It will be easier to do by pouring the water over the tarp and then wiping it off. The final step is to dry the tarp. You will need a clothesline that is strong and enough for this purpose.
Are all tarpaulins waterproof?
No, not all tarps are waterproof. Some are completely permeable to water while others are resistant to getting wet to varying degrees. An example of tarps that are not waterproof is mesh tarps. Mesh tarps offer little to no resistance to water. Such tarps are mostly used for providing shades rather than covering something. Materials like canvas and jute are somewhat water-resistant. But if you pour a lot of water on a canvas tarp, they will get wet. Then there are tarps that are completely waterproof. Such tarps use a hydrophobic coating of PVC or vinyl.
Can tarps catch on fire?
Not all tarps are fireproof. In fact, most tarps can catch fire. Therefore, if you are using a normal tarp, you should not use it for high heat applications or put it near a heat source. That being said, it is easy to find a tarp that is flame retardant. Tarps with the flame retardant rating are not completely fireproof. However, they slow the spread of fire significantly. There are also tarps with a fire-resistant coating. These tarps have the ability to resist catching fire. But, even then, if you expose such tarps to fire for long enough, they will burn.
If you are looking to buy tarpaulin sheets online in the UAE, look no further as you are in the right place. There are more than 500 shops and brands offering them here on Shops.ae. These shops offer products from popular brands, including Kotap, ZXL, SOVIYAS, HengLiSam, StanSport, and DeWitt.