Athletic Field Tarps are One Guaranteed Win

Protect the field or turf for long-term play with a high-quality athletic field tarp. Uniquely designed to help preserve the special nature of natural grass or artificial turf, field tarps work to protect the play area from accumulating moisture, which can compromise the quality and appearance of the field quickly. Athletic tarps also help to seal out environmental debris and prevent the greenery from eroding, fading and developing mold and mildew. You can order standard athletic field covers as well as custom athletic tarps for your specific needs.

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Summer Calls for a DIY Slip n’ Slide

Ditch the pool club membership and stay cool with a DIY slip n’ slide this summer. Rigging up the perfect makeshift slide is as easy as pie if you have the right materials, landscape and attitude. All you need is a plastic tarp, a hose, laundry detergent or dish soap, a hill and an adventurous spirit. We recommend choosing a thick, (6-mill minimum) polyethylene tarp to ensure that the material holds up throughout constant slipping and sliding. If you want to create a jumbo slip ‘n slide, double or triple up to cover more ground.

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How to Repair a Ripped Tarp

Save yourself time and money by fixing old tarps instead of replacing them with costly brand-new ones. You can restore ripped tarps quickly and easily with these tarp repair tips.

1. Assess the damage — Be sure to meticulously observe the problem. If you can identify stress-point damage, you’ll want to patch or sew the tear. For ripped grommets, you’ll need a grommet repair kit.

2. Use tape — Poly tarp repair tape is an excellent option for quickly patching up rips and small holes on your polyethylene tarp. This is strong, flexible tape that’s designed to rejoin the material and restore its water-resistance and strength.

3. Sew it up — Canvas tarps can be repaired the old-fashioned way, with a simple patch, needle and thread. There are also great canvas tarp repair kits that include everything you need for quick patching.

4. Go for glue — Tarp adhesives and glues are generally recommended for repairing vinyl tarps because they offer exceptional bond strength and fast, easy application. They also come in a variety of colors to match your tarp.

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In a Bind? We Can Help.

Boy Scouts was so long ago, and recalling what knot is appropriate for which situation can be tricky. Luckily, we've provided a step-by-step guide to help you figure out when a bowline works better than a butterfly, and more!

What's your favorite knot (or, which ones do you remember how to tie)? Comment below!

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Survival 101: Tarp Uses for Emergency Situations

Every emergency kit — whether stashed in the trunk of the car or stuffed in your hiking pack — should contain a tarp. There are endless reasons why tarps are one of the most reliable and affordable emergency supplies available, so don’t get caught in a dangerous situation without one. Here are a few ways a tarp can help save your life when you’re in a bind.

Shelter from the storm: Tarps are easily one of the simplest and most affordable ways to construct a protective shelter on the fly. Because they’re so compact, they can be carried in your hiking, camping or wilderness survival kit easily without adding too much extra bulk or weight. You can use just about any structure, like a tree or ledge, to support the construction of your makeshift tent. Always choose a tarp with grommets and carry rope in your pack to make the process move quickly.

Protection from the elements: Having adequate protection from the elements can help your body maintain a safe core temperature. Exposure to rain, wind and snow can cause conditions like hypothermia, frostnip/frostbite, loss of vision and other compromising conditions. Always choose a UV-resistant, waterproof tarp — such as a polyethylene tarp — to help reinforce the tarp’s ability to shield you from extreme weather conditions.

Warmth when it’s most vital: In addition to reliable sheltering, tarps can also be used as an emergency blanket. They can help trap in essential heat so that your body maintains a healthy temperature until rescue. In situations where sun exposure is a concern, tarps can effectively filter out broad-spectrum UV rays to keep you shielded from the damaging effects of the sun.

Additional applications: Tarps, especially brightly colored yellow or orange tarps, can also be used as a flagging device to help alert rescuers of your location. Additionally, they provide safe, dry temporary flooring, reliable covering of your food/supply storage and can be even used to create a water basin for collecting rainwater.

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Pitch Your Own Tarp Hammock

Who needs a rigid, expensive hammock when you can quickly rig one up with an affordable, versatile tarp? Ideal for any outdoorsy type, tarps can easily be transformed into covers for relaxing loungers in the woods with just a few simple tools and some panache. All you need is it a tarp — we recommend a square or rectangular tarp; and an 8-foot by 10-foot tarp works best) and roughly 9 feet of line or rope. You can also use carabineers (climbing clips) if you’d rather not deal with knots.

To rig a tarp hammock, start by tying securing one end of the line to the tarp and then wrap the line around the tree and back through the line’s loop. Pull tightly and create a secure knot. Next, secure the other end of the line to another tree or post and then secure that end appropriately. You’ll want to make sure the line is taut enough to hold the tarp up while you adjust it. While the line or rope is somewhat loose, adjust and center the tarp and then tighten the line to secure it in place. Finally, sit back and relax in your cozy outdoor oasis.

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Aid to Nepal: Food, Water, Blankets & Tarps

The April 25, 2015 Nepal earthquake rocked the village of Barpak and many towns surrounding it, killing more than 8,000 people and injuring upwards of 19,000. The aftermath has left many Nepali people without the essentials, including food, water, blankets and shelter. Often overlooked, tarps are another fundamental relief aid that can drastically improve the community’s rebuilding, providing temporary shelter, storage, shade, privacy and flooring. Here are some ways tarps can help aid in relief efforts in Nepal.

Shelter

The 7.8-MMS earthquake devastated thousands of homes and flattened entire neighborhoods. The broad-spanning effects of the quake even triggered building foundation issues, like cracked walls, as far as 700 miles away. Tarps are favored among relief groups over tents because they can quickly help survivors construct a shelter. A tarp can easily be draped over a tree branch or over the remains of a structure — such as a house or a wall — to serve as a wall or a roof.

Storage  

Following a devastating event, tarps are often delivered alongside food, water and personal hygiene products. Because the earthquake destroyed so many of the community’s vital structures, like homes, schools and neighborhood resource centers, these essentials are often left open to the elements. Tarps can help protect these goods until permanent structures are rebuilt. The Nepal earthquake affected many remote communities in Nepal’s steep Himalayan foothills, making it difficult to deliver materials to quickly rebuild homes.

Other uses

Because tarps are so versatile, water-resistant and UV-resistant, they can also be used to help collect water, create temporary flooring, block out the sun, create walls and curtains for privacy, and to insulate. There are so many unique ways to use a tarp to help people in need that it should be considered a vital relief tool alongside food and water.

How to Help

Sending a tarp to Nepal is one of the most powerful ways you can directly help the country’s people rebuild their communities. UV-resistant polyethylene tarps are great for a wide variety of applications, so they’re a great and affordable option for relief. Make donations to trusted humanitarian and development organizations, such as UNICEF or the International Medical Corps, and suggest that your donation goes to the supply of tarps.

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Stop Garden Weeds with Tarps

An inexpensive way to prevent weeds from destroying your backyard garden involves an ordinary black tarp. Before you start planting, cover the ground for your garden with a tarp.

Next, cover the tarpaulin with about 3 inches of mulch. For an affordable tarp, shop online retailers like TarpSurplus.com. Clear the mulch from the areas where you want to plant seeds, bulbs or seedlings.

Cut holes 1 or 2 inches larger than your bulb or seed, loosen the soil below the tarp, and insert your future plant. Clear any loosened soil from the top of the tarp to prevent stray weeds from taking root. Then push the mulch back around the new plantings. It’s that easy. 

Avoid these guys in your garden this year.
Photo Credit: JeepersMedia via Compfight cc

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Tarp Surfing 101

Photo Credit: Jesse Wagstaff via Compfight cc

Versatile tarpaulins are responsible for a new craze called tarp surfing.

The Orange County Register reports that the DIY sport has even started a patent war between two Southern California families with startup tarp surfing businesses.

Here’s how it works. Purchase an oversized 25-foot by 25-foot blue tarpaulin available at retailers like TarpSurplus.com. Use two big rocks to secure one end of the tarp over a large, flat surface.

Two friends each stand at the opposite end. Each holds up a corner of the tarp. As a skateboarder approaches the tarp diagonally, the two friends raise their ends high and run toward the same point where the skateboarder heads.

The effect is that of a tube wave, or funnel, over the low-riding skateboarder’s head.

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Transforming a Tarp into a Toss Game for Kids

For DIY fun for the kids, create a toss game with a tarp, duct tape, a felt-tip marker, rope and scissors. Invent a football toss game, or size your carnival midway-style game to fit sponge balls or spare tennis balls.

Here’s how it work. Spread your tarp on the ground and use a pencil to mark squares through which the ball you choose will easily fit. Draw other squares with smaller openings for challenge tosses.

 Cut out the squares, and line the openings with ordinary or colored duct tape. With your large felt-tip pen, write down points to win for easy throws and more points possible for more difficult throws. Decide on a final number, and declare the first person to reach that number the winner. Because tarps come with grommets around the border, position your game by simply threading the rope through the grommets and attaching to trees or fence posts.

Use a piece of chalk or wide ribbon secured with rocks on either end to establish your throw line. You can also draw a line in the dirt with your shoe.

Allow younger children to stand behind throw lines that are closer to the targets on the tarp. Points are scored when the ball is thrown through the marked opening from the throw line.

Families love this use of tarps to create an economical game for all ages. It takes just a few minutes to order low-cost tarps online at outlets like TarpSurplus.com.

Because tarps fold up for storage, it’s also easy to transport this game in a paper bag or backpack. Take your new toss game to the backyard, a neighborhood park or on that next family vacation.

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Protect Those Plant Seedlings With Tarps

Gardeners around the country turn to tarps when frost threatens their plants and delicate seedlings. Before a cold front moves in, build a simple frame and drape the tarp over the frame to prevent damage. The grommets on the borders of the tarp will allow you to secure the tarp with rope.

If you don’t have time, you can gently lay a lightweight tarp directly on top of your plants. Using a tarp stops the loss of heat rising from the plants and soil. When the sun comes out and the frost is gone the next day, remove the tarp to prevent overheating from the sun’s rays.

If frost is expected to return the next day, generously water the seedlings and soil during the day to store up heat overnight. Then, again cover the plants and seedlings with a tarpaulin.

Photo Credit: katerha via Compfight cc

Smart gardeners keep tarps handy for weather emergencies. Order ready-made tarps from knowledgeable retailers like oursevles. We offer economy tarps for as little as $2 or less for those on tight budgets. Lightweight tarps can be cut to size with sharp scissors for small garden plots.

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Create a Backyard Pond with Tarps

You don’t have to hire a professional to create a backyard pond. A tarp lining can help you create a shallow pool to fill with water and add water-ready plants. Those beautiful plants will also attract birds, butterflies and other colorful wildlife.

If you’re on a very limited budget and don’t mind a temporary pond, water resistant tarps have been used as liners. However, water resistant tarps are not waterproof, so expect leakage.

For a sturdier pond ling, use a waterproof PVC tarp. Or, turn to rugged polyethylene containment liners from retailers like TarpSurplus.com. These specialty tarpaulins are 20 ml thick to resist tears and punctures, and they are cut to order to fit the size of your pond.

Photo Credit: Kyknoord via Compfight cc

Before you order a custom poly containment pond liner, accurately measure your future pond at the widest, longest and deepest points. Include room for an anchor trench that’s at least 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep. This trench is what helps prevent the liner from slipping down sloped ground.

When taking measurements, allow for the contraction and expansion that occurs when temperatures change during the year. Contraction can cause ripples to form on the pond liner, shrinking its original size.

You can find a free how-to chart to help you measure for a residential pond tarp on the Poly Containment/Pond Liners page at www.TarpSurplus.com. Print out this chart as a handy guide to ensure you don’t forget to include space for a trench and other landscaping features.

While it’s a tempting idea to visit a nearby creek or stream to find pretty water plants, you might be breaking local laws. Contact local parks departments or natural resources agencies to learn if removing certain plants from local waters is allowed.

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Our Spring Cleaning Secret? Ordinary Tarps

Our family used to stock up on empty boxes and bags to fill with clutter before our annual spring-cleaning roundup. Old boxes and bags would be pulled from closets and garage shelves to be sorted into each new marked bag or box.

The plan was to condense our piles then set upon the place with mops, vacuum cleaners and scrubbing brushes.

By the time we had sorted and packed the new boxes, exhaustion inevitably set in. We’d declare defeat and shove everything back into the closets and onto the shelves.

It wasn’t spring cleaning; it was a futile game of annually rearranging our growing mounds of stuff into even more boxes and bags.

Then we discovered tarps, those inexpensive poly vinyl sheets that are mainstays for wall painters, landscapers and construction sites. Problem solved.

Indoors, we would spread a tarp over the floor of a room and dump the boxes from closets directly onto the waterproof tarps. If something broke or spilled, the tarp protected our floors. Instead of buying new boxes, we vowed to use only half the existing boxes.

Once we saw the sheer quantity of our stuff scattered over the tarp surface, our descent into hoarding became obvious. Decisions on what to keep were much easier with a forced limit on boxes. I wasn’t going to throw out family heirlooms to keep around stacks of old sweaters.

For the garage, we purchased tarps designed to safely contain hazardous chemicals. We spread one onto the garage floor, where it became quickly piled with paint cans and spray bottles containing only dregs of the original contents. Piles of rusty nails and what we labeled mystery tools joined the heap.

With the job done, we simply folded the corners to package the trash for disposal. Call your city government offices about proper hazardous waste disposal.

The tarps coverage contained dirt and spills, so cleanup was easy. With fewer stuff in the house and garage, cleaning up is easier throughout the year.

Tarps are easy to come by, selling for as little as $2 or less at websites like our own. For Spring Cleaning season, we consider them priceless.

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Material Spotlight: Benefits and Uses for Canvas Tarps

Canvas tarps are mainstays at construction sites, fire departments, cargo operations, salvage companies and schools, for covering outdoor equipment. Affordable, fold-able, long-lasting tarpaulins are also favorite buys of city dwellers, suburbanites, farmers and outdoors enthusiasts for their sheer versatility.

Lightweight canvas tarps are indispensable for landscaping and home improvement projects, protecting decks and patios during outside paint or repair jobs. In freezing winter weather, protect plants on an apartment patio or a backyard garden with a water-repellent canvas tarp. Screened porches can be shielded using insulating tarps on brisk or stormy days. Farmers cover hay and tractors with canvas tarps, which resist costly condensation

Our U.S.-made 100 percent single-filled military cotton duck fabric tarps at TarpSurplus.com have triple-stitched hems and sturdy grommets placed every 24 inches for easy tie-downs. They’re water-resistant but also breathable, which means they won’t trap moisture like poly tarps. Available in 10-ounce or 12-oz. weights, these handy military-grade cotton canvas tarps are bestsellers at Tarp Surplus.

Campers use lighter-weight tarps as makeshift overhead shelter from the elements during outside picnics. Avid bicyclists stow lightweight, tear-resistant canvas tarps in their saddlebags to cover their bikes and themselves during sudden rain showers. Hunters use canvas tarps to line the floors of duck blinds.

They’re water resistant, but not waterproof, which makes canvas tarps great protection for light rain. Because of dyes and finishes, they’re recommended for outside use. Canvas tarpaulins are sturdy, but not tough enough for trailer, boat or car covers. Shop our line of vinyl tarps for those jobs.

Keep a folded canvas tarp in your car trunk to spread on the ground when checking under your hood or repairing a flat tire. Unlike some slippery poly tarps, canvas tarps stay put when you walk or stand on them. Then, line the floor of your car trunk with the tarp, toss in the flat tire and your tools, and enjoy a safe ride home. Not only do canvas tarps have hundreds of uses; you can reuse them hundreds of times. 

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Pack a Tarp: Uses for Tarps While Camping

Tarps have long been the stars of must-take packing lists for camping trips. Savvy campers use them to line tent floors and cover the tops of older, iffy tents. Some who like to lighten up their backpacks on off-trail treks use tarps as their tents.

Camping families buy our colorful low-cost tarps at TarpSurplus.com to cover picnic tables and create a roof above those tables to protect against rain or too much sun. Start up the grill under a fire retardant tarpaulin on rainy days. Spread one on the ground for outdoor game night.

You can create an outside dressing room with a strategically placed tarp, or use one as a temporary privacy wall at a crowded campground. Line your car trunk and back seats with small poly tarps for transporting messy camping supplies and the family dog back home. Today’s tear-resistant tarps are available in water-repellent or waterproof styles and even fire-resistant editions. But should an enterprising 12-year-old discover a way we don’t know about to punch a hole in a tarp, a piece of ordinary duct tape will fix it.

When a customer called TarpSurplus to ask which tarp would be best to build an outdoor hammock for a camping expedition, we were momentarily stumped. Then we found dozens of how-to tips on the Internet for building hammocks from tarps and thought: genius.

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Homeless Turn to Tarps During Cold Winter

Normally tarps are popular at construction sites, boatyards and other worksites, but this winter they were also being used as makeshift housing for homeless people.

Along the banks of the Feather River in Northern California, people with nowhere else to go used tarps as roofs over pieced-together structures when temperatures dropped to the freezing point in January, the Appeal-Democrat reported.

An estimated 30 to 40 people were camped along the river in a region without enough emergency beds for the number of local homeless people, the Marysville, Calif., newspaper reported.

Reinforced blue roof tarps like those from TarpSurplus.com have become a familiar sight at the locations of major hurricanes and other natural disasters to protect damaged rooftops.

For a few dozen homeless people perched on a California riverbank this winter, a simple tarp to protect against the elements was the only roof available.

Read more about this story here.

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Using Tarps to Protect Your Outdoor Furniture in Winter

The best way to protect your outdoor furniture from winter's harsh weather conditions is to cover them with high-quality tarps (also known as tarpaulins). In addition to protecting patio tables and chairs from damage due to cold rain, ice, snow and blowing debris, you'll be able to unwrap them in the spring and use them immediately, without having a big cleanup job. Even if you don't have a cover that's specially designed for your furniture, you can easily use flat tarps to provide superior protection. Vinyl tarps are designed for outdoor use. They're waterproof, resistant to tears and UV rays, and can be used in extreme temperatures, up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

To protect your outdoor patio furniture for the winter, first clean tables and chairs before covering, and store cushions inside. Wrap each chair in a separate tarp so that it's completely covered, including the legs. Tie excess tarp material around the legs and use polyrope to hold the tarp in place (nylon rope won't hold up in harsh weather). You can also use weights such as bricks or concrete blocks. Cover each piece of furniture separately for the best fit and wrap tightly to avoid loose pockets where water can accumulate.  Place the covered table and chairs together in one space and tie them together with the polyrope. This will ensure that they will stay in place when the winds pick up. Save the tarps, rope and weights for next winter's use.

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Vinyl Tarps: When and How Best to Use Them

Vinyl tarps (also known as vinyl tarpaulins) are among the most durable type of covering you can use to protect your personal belongings from the elements. They can be used to keep vehicles, equipment, camping gear, tents and more protected from debris in the warmer months and free of snow and ice in the winter. They have a wide variety of uses, for individuals and for businesses, that it's a good idea to keep various sizes of vinyl tarps on hand. For those working on outdoor construction projects, vinyl tarps can be used to cover machinery and tools that have to be left on a job site. Use them to cover unfinished buildings, and keep loads on various types of trucks dry and securely in place during transit. Cover stacked wood, whether it's on a construction site or on a home firewood pile.

In addition to covering vulnerable possessions, they can be used as protective coverings over tents while camping, to keep occupants dry. In any circumstance where rain, snow or ice might be a concern, vinyl tarps are incredibly useful.

Vinyl tarps are constructed from synthetic plastic which is made from ethylene (an ingredient found in natural gas) and salt. Vinyl is one of the more earth-friendly materials among those that are artificially made. Compared with other tarp materials, vinyl comes out way ahead. Vinyl is waterproof, typically UV coated and can be used at up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit. It is longer lasting and more durable than polyethylene (poly tarps) and has better resistance to tears. Under normal use, a vinyl tarp can outlast a poly tarp 10 times longer. Vinyl is stronger and more waterproof than canvas, resistant to UV rays, and can be used in either hot or cold weather. Vinyl tarps hold up well in harsh conditions.  Vinyl is also recyclable, which makes it a smart "green" choice as well.

There are two types of vinyl tarps, laminated and coated. Laminated vinyl tarps are meant for indoor use, as floor covers, salvage covers, flame retardant covers and indoor dividers. Coated vinyl tarps are designed for rugged outdoor use, to cover sports fields, construction sites, tents, equipment, and as truck covers and canopies.

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Man Honors Deceased Wife with Gift of Tarps to the Homeless

This heartwarming story was originally reported by WGNS Talk Radio in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Upon hearing of the need for blankets and tarps to put over tents to keep them dry, a local man who had recently lost his wife turned up to the station armed with blankets and tarps. He wished to remain anonymous, but said that he was donating the much-needed supplies in memory of his wife, focusing his love for her on helping those less fortunate. His generous gift has most likely saved lives, as the city's homeless face a cold winter with overnight temperatures dropping down to 20 degrees and below. The station's Blanket Brigade distributes blankets and tarps to homeless people around Murfreesboro.

View the full story here.

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Camo Has You Covered: The Uses and Benefits of Camouflage Tarps

Of all the various colors of tarps that are available, camouflage tarps are designed for very special uses. There are both military and non-military applications for traditional camouflage coloring. This also holds true for the use of camouflage tarps, when protecting people at outdoor events and gatherings against rain and wind, and providing shade from the sun. Camouflage tarps, like all tarps, can also be used to protect valuable equipment and vehicles that are left outdoors.

Camouflage Tarps for Special Events 

A camouflage tarp, when used as a canopy cover, is ideal for a Veteran's Day commemoration, to honor the men and women who have served in our nation's armed forces. It can also be used for military fundraisers and benefits, or as a covering for an information booth at an outdoor R.O.T.C. on-campus recruiting event. Instantly recognizable, a camouflage tarp can be used at any type of military function or gathering.

Camouflage as Cover for Hunters and other Outdoor Enthusiasts 

Camouflage is traditionally used by hunters to hide them from their prey. A camouflage tarp can be used as ground cloth, a truck covering, as a hunting blind or to cover hunting equipment so it blends into the natural surroundings. Camouflage tarps can also be used while fishing, playing paintball and while engaged in other outdoor activities where the participants wish to blend

Camouflage Tarps as Tough as the Outdoors 

 in more organically with their natural environment.
You'll find that the camo tarps on our website are as rugged as the natural habitat they are designed to mimic. They're made from UV laminated polyethylene material that is waterproof, rot proof and extremely durable. Heavy duty reinforced grommets add to the ruggedness of these tarps. Camouflage tarps convey the desire to blend in and hide within one's natural habitat, while at the same time evoking America's proud military tradition. In this regard, it is unlike any other color or design, and as such, can be used very effectively for special events and under particular circumstances.

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