The Complete Handbook of Tarps

Chapter 1: Understanding Tarps

What a Tarp Actually Is

A tarp is a sheet of flexible material used to protect objects, people, or spaces from the elements. That is the entire definition, but it is a deceptively simple one. The nuance lies in the word "sheet." A proper tarp is not just a sheet of plastic film like a trash bag; it is an engineered composite structure. It is built from a base fabric or scrim that provides strength and prevents tearing, and it is coated, laminated, or woven to provide specific performance characteristics like waterproofing, breathability, or UV resistance.

Consider a typical heavy-duty polyethylene (poly) tarp you might find in a hardware store. If you peel back the layers, you'll find a grid of woven polypropylene threads. This is the scrim. It is what gives the tarp its tensile strength. Without it, the sheet would tear as easily as a piece of saran wrap. The scrim is then coated with a layer of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) on both sides. This coating is what provides the waterproofing and blocks the sun's UV rays. The thickness of this coating, measured in mils (thousandths of an inch), is a major factor in the tarp's durability and price.

Strip away the marketing and a tarp is a system of engineered materials. It has a job to do: resist tearing when your load shifts, block light and water when covering a truck bed, or breathe enough to let moisture escape from the pile of