Are clear tarpaulins suitable for all weathers?
Video length: 2m 32s
A customer asked whether one of our clear tarpaulins could be used as a canopy roof for a nursery, out in all weathers — and it's a question that applies to almost any outdoor use. The short version: rain, sleet and snow are no problem; wind is the real thing to plan for.
What the video covers
Against rain, sleet and snow, these screens are 100% waterproof and will take whatever the weather throws at them. The only weather exception is really extreme cold — down around -15°C to -20°C — where the PVC can start to go brittle.
The factor that actually determines how long a tarpaulin lasts is wind. A screen is only as strong as whatever's securing it — rope, metal market-stall clips, bungee cords, whatever you use — and you need enough fixings to hold the whole thing in and stop it flapping. A loose tarpaulin flapping in high wind will inevitably start pulling out eyelets, and there's little you can do about that other than securing it really well, or taking it down. In genuinely stormy weather, we recommend taking screens down.
The bottom line
The single biggest factor in the lifespan of a tarpaulin is how well you secure it. Fix it thoroughly, and take it down in storms.
Frequently asked questions
Are the screens fully waterproof?
Yes — against rain, sleet and snow they're 100% waterproof.
Is there any weather they can't handle?
Extreme cold, roughly -15°C to -20°C, where the plastic can begin to go brittle. High wind is the bigger concern, and depends entirely on how well the screen is secured.
Should I take my tarpaulin down in a storm?
We recommend it. In really stormy weather, taking the screen down is the surest way to protect it from damage.
Full transcript
Hi guys, so we're just going to answer a question that's come in. "Could I use this clear tarpaulin to create a canopy roof for a nursery? It would be out in all weathers, etc — or would it be best to take in when finished?" So this is a pretty common question, to be honest, and the answer is applicable to any number of uses really.
In terms of rain, sleet, snow, things like that, this kind of screen will withstand all those kinds of conditions — with the exception of really, really cold temperatures, down to like -15, -20. In those really exceptionally low temperatures you're going to start to see the plastic degrade and become brittle. But for the most part, in terms of water and moisture, these screens are 100% waterproof.
The real factor when it comes to weather conditions that you do need to take into consideration — and this is true of any tarpaulin or screen — is wind: high wind, stormy weather. In those kinds of conditions these screens are really only as strong as the thing that's securing them, and that could be rope, it could be something like metal market-stall clips or bungee cords. Whatever it is, it doesn't really matter, as long as there is enough of them to secure the tarpaulin in and stop it flapping around and causing damage to itself and anything around it. And I say itself because, if you've got a loose tarpaulin flapping around, it's unavoidable and inevitable that it's going to start pulling eyelets, and there's absolutely nothing you can do about that other than to make sure it's really, really well secured — or you take it down, which is something we do recommend in really stormy weather.
So I would personally say the deciding factor in the lifespan of these tarpaulins is how well you secure them. So there you go — I hope that answers your question, I hope it's helpful, and give us a shout if you have any other questions, or are looking for custom-made covers to any size for anything. We're here to help. Thank you.
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