The Mesh Count And Thickness Of A Tarp Defined.

Throughout the manufacturing process, tarps undergo different processes including lamination, heat sealing and grommet installation. However, before the manufacturing process begins a few things must be determined. For example, what will be the tarps thickness, size and mesh count? Both the thickness and mesh count of the tarp cover determines if the end product is heavy-duty or a lighter grade utility tarp. Generally, tarps are made of several woven mesh layers that are finished off with outer polyethylene sheet layers. The most common questions by consumers looking for tarps are what does the thickness mean? And what is the difference between mesh counts?


A tarps thickness is measured in mils. The larger the number; the thicker and heavier duty the tarp will be. Most heavy-duty tarps have a 12-mil thickness while the lighter utility tarps are around 4-6 mils in thickness. There are even some complete canopy sets that include a 23 mil cover for regions with heavy snow fall. Directly related to the thickness of a tarp is the weight in ounces. Again, the heavier-duty the tarp; the more the tarp will weigh in ounces per square yard. A typical heavy-duty tarp will be around 6-8 ounce per square yard.


The mesh fabric specifies threads per square inch in both a horizontal and vertical orientation. The tighter the weave; the more durable the tarp will be. The industry standard for heavy-duty tarps is a mesh count of 12 x 12 or 12 x 14. Super heavy-duty tarps can be found with a mesh count of 14 x 14 and are generally used for commercial purposes like covering hay. When looking to purchase a heavy-duty tarp for home or business look for tarpaulins with a minimum mesh count of 12 x 12.


Aside from the thickness and mesh count, a tarp cover should be UV protected, waterproof have grommet spacing every 18 inches as well as be both mildew and rot resistant. Although there are many different varieties available, the key characteristics of a heavy-duty tarp should be consistent with the above-mentioned specifications. A tarp cover’s particular color will not have an effect on the overall quality or durability of the fabric. Although some of the lighter colors allow light translucency as compared to the Silver Tarp variety, which has a sun-blocking black scrim layer for total shade, the quality will remain as long as the two varieties share the same specifications.