A well-secured tarpaulin will ride out a winter storm; a badly secured one becomes a sail, tears its own eyelets out and ends up in a neighbour's garden. The difference is not the tarp – it is how you fix it. Here is how the professionals do it.
1. Use every eyelet
Quality tarps have eyelets roughly every metre for a reason. Fixing only the corners concentrates all the wind load on four points – the fastest way to rip a tarp. Spread the load across every eyelet along each edge.
2. Bungees beat rope in wind
Elasticated bungee cords or ball bungees absorb gusts instead of transferring the shock to the eyelet. In exposed locations, use a bungee at every eyelet and rope only for primary anchor points. If you do use rope, choose one with slight give and tension it evenly.
3. Create a slope, never a pocket
Rainwater pooling in a flat tarp is the silent killer: 1cm of water across a square metre weighs 10kg. Always pitch the tarp so water runs off – ridge it over a pole or batten, or angle it from high side to low side.
4. Protect against chafe
Anywhere the tarp touches a sharp corner – brick edges, trailer rails, timber ends – pad the contact point with pipe lagging or old carpet. Most tarp failures start as a chafe hole, not a tear.
5. Check tension after the first night
New tarps settle and knots bed in. Re-tension everything after 24 hours, then check monthly and after every storm.
The right tarp makes it easier
Heavier sheets flap less and survive mistakes better. For anything staying outside through UK winter, choose at least a 250gsm heavy duty tarpaulin – or a super heavy duty tarpaulin for exposed sites. Browse the full tarpaulins & covers range for eyeleted sheets in every size.