Are canvas tarps waterproof?

Canvas tarps are usually not waterproof. Instead, canvas tarps are water resistant, which means water will run off if there is a slope. But water will slowly drip through when there is a standing puddle.

How to waterproof a canvas tarp?

Depending on the exact canvas tarp material, cotton, cotton blend or polyester, a canvas tarp may be waterproofed with oils, wax, silicone solutions, or special formulas like Canvak.

Can you paint a canvas tarp?

Waterproof or water resistant treated canvas tarps are not recommended for painting. Untreated canvas tarps can be primed and painted.

Is canvas tarp the right product for my application?

Cotton canvas tarps and polyester canvas tarps are water-resistant and breathable. They are good tarp choice to cover stationary objects that needs a breathable canvas tarp fabric to protect your equipment or supplies and to prevent condensation.

However, canvas tarps are not good for covering trailers, canopies, carports because their lower tear strength at the seams. In addition, cotton canvas tarps is susceptible to UV degradation,especially in high UV areas such as California, Arizona, Florida. In general, for high UV resistance and high tear strength, 18 oz vinyl coated polyester tarps are a better choice. The 18 oz vinyl coated polyester fabric is the same fabric used by commercial flatbed trailers on the highway and by many boat dock covers.

Difference between cotton canvas tarps and polyester canvas tarps?

While cotton and polyester canvas tarps may look similar, the polyester canvas tarp has many advantages.

• Stronger Tear Strength - Polyester canvas tarp has more than twice the tear strength of a comparable cotton canvas tarp.
• Stronger UV resistance - Polyester canvas tarp is highly UV resistant. The cotton canvas tarp is prone to UV degradation and dry-out.
• No odor - Unlike cotton canvas tarp, polyester canvas tarp does not have the odor a new cotton canvas has
• No color staining - Unlike cotton canvas tarp, polyester canvas tarp's color does rub off and stain surfaces it touches.

Types of canvas tarps

MyTarp.com carries a large selection of canvas tarps. Here are different types of canvas materials.

• Water Resistant Treated Cotton Canvas Tarps: Fabric Weight: 16 oz, 18 oz, 21 oz after treatment in colors: White, Tan, Brown, Green, Olive Drab and Blue (special order only)
• Natural untreated, undyed cotton canvas tarps. Fabric Weight: 10 oz, Cotton Duck Canvas: #12, #10, #8 and #4, from 10 oz to 18 oz.
• Polyester canvas tarps: in 7 colors: Black, Blue, Brown, Gray, Olive Green, Tan, White
• Flame Retardant Canvas Tarps: 16 oz, 18 oz, 21 oz after treatment flame retardant cotton canvas tarps.

Can you waterproof old canvas tarp?

Yes, cotton canvas tarps can be treated with Canvak, Iosso Water Repellent Spray, or silicone based water repellent spray. However, waterproofing re-treatment does not work well when the canvas tarp's fabric itself has worn out or thinned out.

Do canvas tarps have seams?

Yes, all canvas tarps may have seams. In general, we do not supply seamless canvas tarps. If you require seamless canvas tarps, please email MyTarp.com.

Canvas tarp grommet spacing

MyTarp.com's stock canvas tarps have heavy duty brass grommets every 2 feet on all 4 sides and corners. Custom grommet spacing available for custom size canvas tarps.

Are your canvas tarps cut-size?

All of our stock Canvas tarps are cut size. Canvas tarp's finished size is up to 3% - 5% smaller after canvas tarp's hems and seams are sewn. For finished size canvas tarps, you can special order by calling MyTarp.com at 404-800-8888 or email MyTarp.com.

Custom size canvas tarps

Yes. If you do not see the canvas tarp size you needed, please call MyTarp.com at 404-800-8888 to special order custom canvas tarps.

Are canvas tarps good for boat covers or car covers?

Polyester canvas tarps are great for canvas boat covers. Cotton canvas tarps not suitable for boat covers or car covers. The reason is when a cotton canvas tarp touches car or boat exteriors, the wax and dye in cotton canvas tarp may rub off and stain car or boat exteriors.

Can canvas tarps be used trailers on the highway?

No. Canvas tarps are NOT trailerable. For trailer tarps, please consider 18 oz Vinyl Coated Polyester Tarp, which is the exact same tarp material of commercial flatbed trailer tarps on the highway to cover flatbed loads.

Can I use canvas tarps indoors?

Yes. However, cotton canvas tarps water resistant cotton canvas tarps may leave stains and initially have an odor. Polyester canvas tarps can be used indoors and do not have the same problems as cotton canvas tarps.

When to not use canvas tarps?

Canvas tarps are non-trailerable, i.e., cannot be used to cover trailers on the highway. For trailer tarps, please see flatbed tarps and 18 oz vinyl coated polyester tarps.

Due to low tear strength, cotton canvas tarps are NOT recommended for hanging as roof, wall, room or space dividers, replacement canopy top, canopy sidewall, tent roof or tent sidewall, building structure roof, sidewall or curtains.

For patio roof, patio sidewall, canopy replacement tarps, canopy replacement top and sidewalls, please consider Vinyl coated polyester tarps.

What is lead time for custom canvas tarps?

Custom canvas tarps usually take approximately 1 - 4 week before canvas tarps are shipped out. Large custom canvas tarps or special custom canvas tarps may take longer to make. Please check with our friendly customer service staff to confirm your custom canvas tarp manufacturing and shipping time frame.

Are Canvas Tarps Waterproof?

Canvas tarps are not 100% waterproof. Canvas tarps are water resistant. However, when there are standing water on canvas tarps or when water cannot quickly drain away from canvas tarps, the standing water will drip through the canvas tarps. For waterproof tarps, please check out our waterproof vinyl tarps and waterproof poly tarps.

Canvas Tarp Colors?

MyTarp.com has more many colors of canvas tarps to choose from: black, blue, brown, gray, olive green, green, tan, white. Note canvas tarps are not recommended for photography background canvas.

Have Heavy Duty Canvas Tarps

Yes, MyTarp.com has Heavy Duty Canvas Tarps and Super Heavy Duty Canvas Tarps. Heavy Duty Canvas Tarps have canvas fabric weight of 12 / sq yard before treatment and 18 oz / sq yard after treatment. The Super Heavy Duty Canvas Tarps have canvas fabric weight of 18 oz / sq yard before treatment and 21 oz / sq yard after treatment.

How to Re-treat a Canvas Tarp?

A cotton canvas tarp can be retreated with chemicals designed to treat cotton canvas tarps. These canvas tarp treatment chemicals, such as Canvak are available in our tarps accessories section.

How to Wash or Clean Canvas Tarp?

Canvas tarps are NOT machine washable. Spot wipe clean with with soapy water or detergents specifically designed for cleaning canvas tarps. Do not wash your canvas tarps with your laundry washer or dry canvas tarps with your laundry dryer. Canvas tarps have wax and dye, which may stain your laundry washer and dryer.

Can I Paint on Canvas Tarps?

Treated canvas tarps are not recommended as painting canvases. For painting canvases, please use our untreated canvas tarps or fabrics.

Do you have flame retardant canvas tarps?

Yes, Here are the flame retardant canvas tarps.

Are flame retardant canvas tarps fire proof?

No. Tarps are NOT fire proof. Flame retardant canvas tarps or fire retardant canvas tarps are not fire proof. Flame retardant certification is different from fire proof certification.

Where are canvas tarps made?

MyTarp.com's canvas tarps are proudly made right here in USA.

How are canvas tarps shipped?

Canvas tarps under 150 lbs are shipped using UPS or FedEx Ground. Large canvas tarps over 149 lbs are put on pallets and shipped truck freight carriers.

How are canvas tarps made?

First cotton fabrics are treated with solutions to make canvas fabrics water resistant, mold and mildew resistant. Then treated canvas fabrics are cut and sewn with hems and seams and made into a canvas tarp. Finally, to finish canvas tarps, brass grommets are installed on edges and corners of canvas tarps.

Are canvas tarps seamless?

All MyTarp.com's canvas tarps have seams. We do not have seamless canvas tarps for sale.

White canvas tarps as outdoor movie screen?

Canvas tarps, including white canvas tarps are not recommended for movie screens because of canvas tarps have seams and the white canvas tarps are natural white color instead of bleached white color. We recommend high quality professional movie projection screens instead of a canvas tarp for your indoor or outdoor movie screen applications.

Do you have vinyl coated polyester canvas?

Yes, please visit our Vinyl Coated Polyester Tarps for more information.

Can canvas tarps be used as awnings?

Canvas tarps are not recommended as awning fabrics. Please check out awning fabrics for more information.

Canvas tarps for chairs?

Canvas tarps cannot be used for chair seat or back. For chair seat or back, please check out our #4 canvas duck fabrics in our canvas section.

Military canvas tarps?

MyTarp.com's canvas tarps are not same as the old time military oil treated canvas tarps. Instead the cotton canvas tarps are wax treated. The polyester canvas tarps are silicone treated.

Marine canvas tarps?

Marine canvas tarps are usually made from awning marine fabrics or polyester canvas.

I need canvas tarp material by the yard!

Yes. Please check out our Canvas Fabrics section.

Can I use canvas tarp fabrics for a canvas bag?

Treated canvas tarp fabrics are not recommended for canvas bags because wax and dye may rub off. For canvas bags, please check out our natural canvas duck fabrics.

Do canvas tarps shrink?

Yes, cotton canvas tarps do shrink. The exact shrinkage percentage depends on canvas tarps' surrounding environment, such as weather, UV exposure etc. In hot weather areas such as Florida, Texas or Arizona, canvas tarps can shrink 10% or more. For size stable fabrics, please consider vinyl coated polyester fabrics or awning fabrics.

Polyester canvas tarps are size stable under most conditions.

Do canvas tarps fade?

Yes. Canvas tarps fade over time. Cotton canvas will fade over time, while polyester canvas tarp may fade or change color over time.

Canvas tarps alternatives?

The popular canvas tarp alternatives are vinyl coated polyester tarps, which are highly UV resistant and highly tear resistant. Please check out vinyl coated polyester tarps in vinyl tarps section.

Canvas tarps will call pickup information

Many canvas tarps can be picked up locally at our Atlanta Georgia warehouse. Please call MyTarp.com Will Call at 404-800-8888 for will call and pickup hours. Our canvas tarps has usual 1 to 2 business days shipping transit time to neighboring states Alabama AL, Florida FL, Tennessee TN, Georgia, GA, South Carolina, SC, North Caroline NC, Louisiana LA. Order processing time is in addition to canvas tarps transit times.

More canvas tarps questions?

Call MyTarp.com at 404-800-8888 or email info@mytarp.com. We are ready to help you with your canvas tarp purchases.