20 Uses for Tarps

20 Uses for Tarps
Tarps are used in many different ways, and you'll find yourself relying on them in many situations. Let's take a look at some of the ways you can use a tarp depending on your interests and the necessary circumstances in which you must pull the tarp out.

1. Ground cover
That's basic use, but if you're planning an event outdoors, whether it's an event or a yard sale, it's important to have a layer between you and the dirt below.

With the right tarp, you can still have a non-slip, tactile surface while still providing a safe, clean space to place items or allow people to walk on.

2. Painting
Painting is much more difficult than one might imagine when they start repainting the walls of a room. It's easy to think that you can paint a perfect brush or rolling stroke without spattering a drop, but even professional painters who have been doing this for a decade or more can splatter paint. it happens.

If you paint frequently, or if you're painting your entire house room by room, covering floors with tarps is a great alternative to using disposable underlayments. They can be put away for later and used again and again, saving you money in the long run.

3. Emergency shelter
For this, you'll need a hammock tarp. Generally, they have five or more points that bind them. In about three minutes, you can use it to build a shelter in the ground that doesn't even need trees to hang it from.

It's not the most comfortable, but if you're stuck hiking south, it's better than getting wet and sick. It pays to keep a hammock tarp in your pack.

4. Protect damaged roofs
A storm has rolled in, and now your roof is suffering. The shingles fly and holes appear; the works. It takes a week to raise money or get contractors on site, so you need to process it in the meantime.

Tarps seal the roof tightly, preventing water from entering and causing further, costly damage.

5. Protect windows during storms
tarps on windows
While some consider plywood to be the best option for protecting against storm damage, tarps are less intrusive to window frames.

With the tarp fastened tight and tight, it will not only help keep out the wind, but it will also help bounce off debris. Compared to plywood, tarps are easier to remove and simpler to store.

6. Tent floor
You don't want to be lying in the dirt, but you don't have a tarp on the floor of your tent. Or, they give you one, but it's thin and clear and doesn't last after your first trip. There are people who sleep deeply and toss and turn, ruining those things.

Heavy-duty polyester tarps may be your answer. With bouncy balls, you can attach them to the bottom of your tent to create a good seal and keep bugs out in the middle of the night.

7. Greenhouse cover
Greenhouses are expensive...if you get all glass panels, that is. You can make a greenhouse out of tarps. The mesh tarp lets some UV light through and some water through, providing a nice environment for plants to grow.

These have to be fixed thoroughly to be effective, and require a lot of tarps, but it's ridiculously cheap compared to installing professional glass panels.

8. Tie down outdoor furniture
Storms don't wait for you to get things right, and they come sooner than we think.

Using stakes and a heavy-duty tarp, you can tie all your outdoor furniture into one space (preferably near a building) and keep it from being damaged by rain, or flying across your backyard and causing more property damage.

Doing this correctly is tricky business, but once you know how, it will save you a lot of trouble in the future.

9. Roof tarps during construction
Building your dream home? Repairing the garage roof?

Not only does the rain make it difficult for you to do this, but it also creates floods that can undo all your hard work and progress. To avoid this, you have to cover it up (which is not as easy as it sounds).

It all comes down to choosing the right tarp and knowing what you're doing, but a tarp can be the difference between a massive flood and a successful project.

10. RV and boat covers
RV & Boat Covers
You only get the chance to use your RV four to six times a year, so when it's not in use, it's sitting in your backyard soaking up the sun. The problem is, all the UV rays in the sun's rays can wear away your paint job, making it look tattered without even moving it.

Most of us with garages don't have a garage big enough for an RV, but you can make a custom canopy out of UV-resistant tarps to protect it. This also applies to boats, you really want to protect the coating on your boat the most.

11. Sleeping bag
This is where thermal tarps come into play. While they're stiffer and less manageable, with a few ball bungee cords and a few basic folds, you can turn an insulated tarp into a sleeping bag to help you through chilly nights.

It's a great choice whether you forgot to pack it, or the fleece lining inside has ripped and let the cold in.

Overall this takes about six or seven minutes to set up, the only downside is that it's hard to make a hood or pillow area to rest your head in, but it can be done. It's not a replacement for comfort, it's more of a necessity.

12. Utilize heavy objects
Tarps made of PVC or polyethylene are strong enough to withstand being dragged around on the ground. If you find yourself moving a large item that would normally require two people to lift, you can place it on a tarp for leverage.

This allows you to move the tarp rather than the item, transferring it from one place to another, so you can pull the tarp and let it slide across the ground instead of dragging the item itself.

13. Trunk lining
Drag something from point A to point B? Don't want your trunk liner to get dusty or torn?

Just spread a tarp in your luggage to protect it.

You can use the ball bungee cord to hang it at various places in your luggage to secure it so that even if your items roll around, it won't cause any problems. It's also great if you're transporting items such as liquids or groceries that could damage the lining if spilled.

14. Workshop cleaning
Whether you're into woodworking, painting, or any type of arts and crafts, a tarp floor can be used to collect all the shed debris and materials.

You simply pull the corner of the tarp, place it in the trash, empty the contents into the trash, and bring the tarp back for another project.

Nobody has time to clean up sawdust and wood chips off the garage floor; about three minutes between setup and dump, not ten or more

15. Kennel
Yes, tarps can really do just about anything. A tarp by itself won't be a shelter unless you have the proper canopy accessories and tether points to secure the tarp, but the kennel's rain protection and insulation do come from the tarp.

If you can't make a wooden dog house, you can make a better kennel for your puppy by wrapping the metal frame with an insulated, flame-retardant tarp.

With an included space heater (they can't be knocked down), you can virtually eliminate the risk of fire and give them a warmer place than a wooden dog house.

16. Collect rainwater
If you've watered your own crops or even an urban/container garden, you know that water bills can really pile up. Before long, you'll find your water bill has doubled and your garden will only get bigger.

Using tarps to collect rainwater may be the answer. It will take some rigging or digging a hole in the ground to collect it, but in your tarp, it's doable so you can store it and use it for future gardening.

17. Logo
While that's certainly not the intended use, that's the great thing about tarps—you don't have to use them just as advertised. You can paint the tarp (we have a guide on how to do it), which means you can make custom signage.

This can be used for a day car wash, a street festival or a yard sale; it's really up to you. But painted tarps attract more attention than fliers and leaflets tacked to poles. It stands out.

18. Hoist food on a camping trip
We've all heard that when you're not at the campsite, you should hang all your food high up in the trees. After all, we want to keep predators away so we don't run into unpleasant surprises.

You can wrap everything in the center of the tarp, take out the four corners, tie them together with a ball bungee, and hang the whole thing to a branch with the rope.

At this point you'll find that we've mentioned many camping-related uses; this is just one of the list.

19. Protection against rain and sundries for central air-conditioning compressors
In the southern United States, almost every home has central air conditioning, just out of necessity. Most of us have no way to prevent debris from getting into the fan, stressing the motor, and causing us to call a repair technician.

These compressors just sit on the side of the house without any protection. You can make your own mini awning and attach it to the side of your house, or prop it up on four poles to provide the perfect layer of protection for your equipment without restricting its airflow.

20. Backyard Awning
backyard awning
Want to beat the heat in midsummer?

We are all. Even in the hottest months of the year, your backyard becomes more comfortable and usable if you install a canopy. The problem is, if you go through a company that specializes in these products, they can be ridiculously expensive.

Thankfully, with a little DIY know-how and a sturdy, high-quality tarp, you can make your own awning. This blocks harmful UV rays, keeps your space up to fifteen degrees cooler, and provides added utility to your backyard throughout the day (if placed properly).