The History of the Iconic Blue Tarp

Did you know that the ever-so-common blue tarp that we use every day for hundreds of unique applications has an incredibly rich history? The term tarpaulin dates all the way back to the 1600s, and is actually a portmanteau of the words tar (likely because they were sometimes made from tar-coated canvas) and pall, which means a "heavy cloth covering."

Imagine still using a cloth covering to protect your belongings

Indeed, the tarp we know and love today had many evolutions. We can trace back the history of the tarp to sailors and fishermen in the 15th century, who drenched sheets and other materials in tar or wax in order to create a more substantial, water-resistant surface covering. Before then, coverings were typically made of more porous materials like animal skins and woven fabric, leaving the people who came before without a sturdy way to protect their items from rain and snow.

So, why are tarps so often blue? Actually, tarps come in many colors ranging from Army green to bright orange, but blue tarps remain a mainstay in households across the world. Blue is a fine choice for a tarp because the rich coloring tends to last longer and it also permits just the right blend of shade and light to pass through, allowing it to be used for dozens of unique applications. Many people believe that blue tarps are generally light-duty or economy tarps, but these recognizable canopies actually come in a variety of weights. Some of our blue tarps even feature 900 denier-count, three-ply material and arctic flexibility.

Today, tarps are typically coated with polyethylene and other plastics in order to ensure a leak-free surface. Tarpaulins have grown since the 1600s to incorporate many more modern materials and add-ons, including handy grommets and other accessories that make protecting your best investments simpler than ever.

The Most Unusual Uses for a Tarp

Ever thinking about the craziest, most unusual thing you could do with your stack of old tarps? Us either. But some tarp-loving geniuses out there did, leaving us with this list of pure gold.

Add an Aerobed for even more fun

Tarp slip and slide
If you've got a bunch of tarps, a semi-steep hill and a few bottles of baby soap or dish soap, you can create an amazing homemade slip and slide in just a few minutes. This incredibly fun summertime essential can be taken to new levels with a set of heavy-duty poly tarps that have been safely secured to the ground using corner grommets.

Tarp truck bed pool
For the record, we don't recommend pulling this stunt. The idea is simple: no pool? No problem. Simply line your truck bed in a heavy-duty, waterproof tarp and then fill it up with the hose. The next step is obvious - hop on in. Again, we don't suggest actually doing this, but it is, indeed, one of the most unusual uses for a tarp we've ever seen.

Tarp prom dress

Will you go to prom with me?

Some crafty young ladies out there have found a new way to make sure they've got the most unique dress at the dance. Crafty types have fashioned high-style dresses, including ball gowns, A-lines and even long, elegant numbers, using the iconic blue tarp. The best part about such attire is that you'll never have to worry about getting caught in a rainstorm.

Signaling techniques
If you're lost in the wilderness or on a desert island, you'd be very lucky to have a tarp and a set of permanent markers. Tarps have actually been used as large-scale SOS signals, allowing people in distress on the ground to alert planes and helicopters from above.

Tarp Care: Making Sure Your Tarp Lasts for Years

A tarp is an investment. When you buy one, you want to make sure it lasts as long as possible. If you follow these simple tips and suggestions, you'll find that preserving tarps is an easy process that can help save you time and money in the long run.

Choose the right tarp for the job
Choosing the right tarp for your unique needs can make all the difference when it comes to ensuring that it lasts. Poly tarps are waterproof, making them great for outdoor storage, camping, fixing leaks and other uses. Canvas tarps, on the other hand, are better-suited for indoor uses like covering flooring or protecting surfaces while painting. Vinyl tarps, mesh tarps and other types all have their own unique suggested uses. If you choose the right type of tarp and use it properly, you're sure to see extra years tacked onto your purchase.

Put it away dry
If you're working with canvas tarps, you'll want to make sure that your equipment, like tents,

Dry tarp lasts longer than a wet molded one

firewood, building materials and other items are properly dried before you drape them. While durable canvas tarps are water resistant, they're not 100 percent guarded against mold and mildew accumulation, so you'll want to make sure you properly dry items before covering them with a canvas tarp. Ensuring that your tarp is free of mold and mildew can help guarantee a longer life. If you know you'll want to cover wet or damp items, opt for a waterproof poly tarp.

Preserve the material
Spend a little extra time hand-washing your tarps to make sure that they're put away clean and dry. Removing excess dirt and debris from the surface of your tarpaulin can help it resist mold and mildew accumulation. You can also repair old tarps by sewing up small holes and tears using durable, waterproof thread. Canvas tarps can be treated with a preserving agent at home after its surface has started to see too much wear and tear.

The Many Functions Tarps Have on a Construction Site

Construction sites are constant works in progress, which means there are plenty of applications for tarps from PTM Tarps. That's why so many construction crews consider tarps to be one of their most important assets, after their manpower and tools.

Provides shade and protection

Perhaps most importantly, tarps help make a work site much more pleasant by providing shade, which is an all-day necessity for those in sunnier climates. However, even workers in cooler climates need shade from the midday sun and can benefit from a tarp on site. On the other side of the coin, tarps also shield everyone on the crew from inclement weather, which can make a full day on the job site infinitely more pleasant on a rainy and/or cold winter day. What's more, tarps also protect expensive tools and equipment from weather-related damage. After all, rainstorms sometimes hit out of the blue.

Workers at a job site may already know to expect the unexpected, but tarps can provide an extra layer of protection to shield workers from debris that could potentially do them great harm. Tarps can also help protect the structure itself in case it is at all vulnerable as it is being constructed.

Most sites are full of dirt and debris that can be buffeted around by the wind. And that's not just for

Keeps out dirt and debris

crews in the Windy City. A tarp helps protect the structure and the people within it from said debris. Or, if dirt or sand has been delivered to the job site and needs to be stored until you're ready for it, there's no better cover than a tarp. It will be right there waiting when you're good to go. You can also use tarps to cover dump trucks and lumber trucks while you are loading or unloading. And tarps provide great erosion control and foundation protection.

Tarps also help add an aura of mystery. There's perhaps no better way to drum up intrigue about what's going on away from prying eyes than with a tarp. This has the added bonus of enabling you to do a big reveal when the project is finally finished. Plus, privacy tarps help keep a site insulated, which is another bonus in fall and winter months.

Tarps, The Silent Helper in the Yard

Tarps have seemingly limitless uses around the house, but they're also great outside of the house. If

Keep pests away from your precious plants

you have a green thumb, consider bringing a tarp along the next time you work in the yard. Whether you are raking leaves, pulling weeds or pruning trees, a tarp makes a great place to put all your lawn and garden waste before you actually dispose of it. And when you're finished working in the garden, all you have to do is gather the corners of the tarp up and haul it away to the designated disposal area, which makes cleanup a snap.

Tarps are also great for protecting plants that may need a little extra insulation during colder months. Simply wrap a tarp around said plants and anchor it when the weather starts to cool down to give them the protection they need overnight.

Keep your firewood protected rain or shine

If you enjoy sitting in front of a roaring fire and have a valuable stash of firewood, consider a tarp to protect your firewood from the elements. After all, nothing is worse than discovering all of your wood is wet and useless. Instead, if you cover it with a tarp, your firewood will be dry and ready each time you're ready to use your fireplace.

If you enjoy sitting in the backyard, looking over your yard and feeling proud of all you have accomplished in your own little corner of the world, but find it is too hot to sit in the bright sun in the summer, consider a tarp as sun shade. Tarps make for an incredibly cheap alternative to expensive awnings and provide just as much shade. Plus, tarps couldn't be easier to install and rearrange as the sun moves.

No matter how you decide to use it, an investment in a backyard tarp will pay great dividends.

Tarps - The Secret Weapon to a Successful Camping Trip

Tarps can help turn even the most vehemently anti-camping people into veritable outdoorsmen or outdoorswomen by making the experience infinitely more comfortable. Before you even pitch your tent, lay down a tarp to protect your tent, and, by association, yourself, from the hard ground, which can be wet and rocky. A tarp helps prevent all that moisture and sharp edges from seeping through into the tent, which makes for much more comfortable nights.

Protection from the sun 

We highly recommend you bring along another tarp to use as a canopy, either to protect the top of
your tent as well, or to provide a shaded sitting area for lounging around outside your tent. In addition to shade, a tarp protects picnic tables and chairs from falling debris, which means you'll have to do a lot less cleanup and will end up with a much tidier campsite overall. And, if it rains, a tarp above your tent will provide an extra layer of protection and ensure the trip is a lot less miserable for all the campers trapped inside.

While you're out for the day, a tarp makes a great way to protect your supplies and gear. After all, you don't want to return to find that someone - or something - has rummaged through it and/or polished it off. And you never know when there might be a sudden downpour, which could make for a pretty uncomfortable night. You can also use tarps to help protect pets if you're leaving Fido behind for a bit. And you might even be able to help redirect wind and reduce the number of bugs around your campsite and/or help retain warmth from the campfire, if needed.

If you're staying at a crowded campsite, a tarp can help provide some much-needed privacy from the watchful eyes of other campers. Simply erect the tarp around your campsite to thwart prying eyes. This could be especially important if you are staying at a campsite that doesn't have formal bathrooms and you are stuck going in the woods.

Don't let the weather stop you

And, if you're really into roughing it, tarps can even be used to create a camping shelter in and of themselves. In short, tarps can help make everything from basic shelters to much more comfortable shelters.

Simple Uses for Tarps Around the House

A tarp can serve many functions within a single home. Take home improvement tasks, for example.
A tarp can help hide or protect the part of your home that is a work in progress as it is being completed. You can protect yourself and your family from the elements, while also adding an aura of mystery to the project itself if you have nosy neighbors. Tarps also make terrific drop cloths for painting projects. Simply lay one down to protect carpet or flooring from drips and splatters, which seem to happen no matter how careful you are. And tarps are terrific for holding leaks at bay until the plumber or roofer can stop by to address the source of the problem if your roof springs a leak. You can even use a tarp as a makeshift shower curtain, if need be. The only limit for these multi-functional devices is your imagination.

Keep out the elements during construction

Tarps also multitask in the garage. Use a tarp to protect a vehicle from dust and debris, which is especially important if the car in question is a valuable one that you especially want to protect. Tarps are also a great way to protect firewood in storage to ensure that it is dry and ready to burn whenever you want to use your fireplace. Again, the only limit is the number of ways you can dream up.

If you're lucky enough to own a motorcycle, boat, RV, snow machine, jet ski or the like, use a tarp to

Quick and easy boat cover

cover the vehicle in the off-season or whenever else it is not in use for year-round protection. These valuable assets will be safe and secure even if a storm hits or a proverbial act of God strikes your storage area. And, for those with kids around the house, a tarp can be used to cover a sand box or other outdoor child-friendly structures to ensure years of fun, safe, dry play.

As if that wasn't enough, you can even rely on tarps to provide inexpensive shade. And with all the tarps to choose from, your temporary tarp shade may even become a more permanent one.