We talk all the time about the uses and benefits of tarps not only by themselves but also as part of outdoor structures like portable garages and canopies. If you’re looking for some uses and ways to find a good tarp in condensed form, watch this video from Wholesale Tarp:
This video makes several points in regards to owning and using tarps. While the visuals show you numerous activities that can be done with tarps (homemade waterslides, snowboarding ramps, and ice skating), the voiceover narration makes some points for using and purchasing tarps:
• Silver and White are two common colors for heavy-duty tarps. Most heavy duty tarps, which are used for long-term outdoor uses, come in these colors to reflect sunlight. Other colors, such as green, black, and brown, are also available in this thickness and strength.
• Blue is a common color for lightweight tarps. Lightweight – also known as medium-duty – tarps are used for many temporary outdoor uses. From covering a vehicle for a few days to patching a roof, medium-duty tarps in blue are the most common. Other colors, additionally, come in medium-duty thickness.
• The thickness of the tarp is indicative of the quality. Thicker, or heavy-duty, tarps are designed for more permanent uses outdoors, while medium-duty ones are only for temporary uses. Case in point is the use of tarps in outdoor canopy shelters like carports and portable garages that stay outdoors for several months, if not years. Generally, a heavy-duty tarp has a 12 mil thickness and medium-duty ones are six to eight mil thick.
• Expect a high-quality tarp to last three to four years. Of course, this depends on what you use it for. Heavy-duty tarps added to canopies, for example, will last four years outdoors. A heavy-duty tarp used sporadically will probably last longer.
