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Tarpaulin GSM, Coating & Eyelet Strength Guide
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When consumers purchase a tarpaulin, many are only concerned with either the thickness or the price. However, the truth of the matter is that the performance of a tarpaulin is dependent on three technical aspects: GSM, coating quality, and eyelet strength. A tarpaulin that is used in a construction site, farm, or warehouse, as well as in a transport vehicle, is constantly under stress. It has to withstand tears, be waterproof, withstand wind pressure, and be secured without tearing at the corners. If any one of these aspects, whether low GSM, poor coating, or poor eyelets, goes wrong, the whole tarpaulin goes for naught. This article will break down the aspects of a tarpaulin’s GSM, its coating, and eyelet strength in the simplest terms possible while still providing enough technical information to consumers to make the right purchasing decision.
GSM: Stands for Grams per Square Meter. It shows how much the Tarpaulin material weighs per square meter. In layman’s terms, GSM is a measure of how dense and durable a fabric is, not necessarily how thick it is.
The heavier the GSM of the tarp, the more product is squashed into the material. This is a direct influence on the tear resistance, service life and load-carrying capacity of the tarpaulin. The lower GSM tarpaulins are lighter and more flexible, but are not designed for outdoor use.
The light-duty covers, which are for short term -temporary use, spend a couple of weeks to few months under the sun exposure and quality expectations a low GSM usage. They are easier to fold and less expensive than these tarps, but they don’t last as long in the face of sunlight, wind and edges.
Constructed from medium to high GSM tarpaulin, these heavy duty covers are suitable for harsh outdoor environments such as construction sites, transport yards, farms and warehouses. They are resistant to pulling force, abrasion and many other external factors without tearing.
The heavier duty 12-mil and 16-mil yellow tarps are used in industrial settings when heavy duty, outdoor protection is required. In these end-uses the GSM of the tarpaulin is a key parameter as it impacts safety, product protection and replacement costs.
The strength in a tarp comes from the woven fabric, but usefulness is achieved through the coating. Even a cloth of high GSM will not provide water-proofing or sun-blocking if it is not properly coated.
Most tarpaulins used for industrial purposes are coated on both sides with LDPE (low-density polyethylene) on the woven substrate.
The LDPE coating provides a gap filler between the woven tapes and forms an exterior impermeable outer surface. This prevents water from seeping through the material. A heavy coated tarpaulin will be waterproof even in the heaviest of rains.
Bad coating would be fine to look at but will crack or peel off sooner or later. And whenever that occurs, water may cause seepage to damage the items below.
Among the most formidable opponents of tarpaulins is the kiss of sunshine. Plastic polymers become brittle when exposed to UV light and frost, leading them to tear.
The UV-coated LDPE is used to retard this process. This provides a tarp with the durability and strength needed to withstand even the most extreme weather situations. This is especial Adventure for tarpaulins which are used out in the open yard, farm, construction site or transported through highways.
Even if two tarpaulins have the same GSM, their performance can differ based on coating quality. Uniform coating thickness ensures:
For buyers, checking coating consistency is just as important as checking GSM.
Eyelets are small metal rings fixed along the edges of tarpaulins. Though they look minor, eyelets play a major role in tarp safety and durability.
Most tarpaulin failures happen not in the fabric, but around the eyelet area.
Premium tarpaulins also feature eyelets that are rust-resistant and constructed from either aluminum or galvanized steel. These don't rust when it is raining or humid.
Rusty eyelet eventually becomes weak and starts cutting into the cloth. Once that does happen, it soon tears through from the edges.
On all reinforced sides strong eyelets are always fitted. More layers or thicker hems distribute the pulling force across more of the fabric, rather than focusing all of it on one spot.
And without the proper support, any material, even a strong one can rip from with tension.
Properly spaced eyelets ensure uniform tension when the tarp is secured. When eyelets are spaced too far apart, the fabric flaps in the breeze and puts more stress on certain spots.
It’s like you keep yanking and letting go, wind pressure acting as that repeated pulling and releasing. Over years this weakens the tarp. Even heavy duty tarps can easily be blown away if not secured properly, so knowing how to prevent this from happening also counts.
Correct eyelet strength and spacing allows tarpaulins to stay in place, even in bad weather or high tension applications.
A tarpaulin performs well only when all three factors are balanced.
For industrial buyers, this balance ensures the tarp protects goods, lasts longer, and reduces replacement frequency.
Different applications need different combinations of GSM, coating, and eyelet strength.
Understanding usage conditions helps buyers avoid overpaying or under-specifying tarpaulins.
Many buyers choose tarpaulins based only on price or thickness. This often leads to problems such as:
A slightly higher upfront investment in the right GSM, coating, and eyelet quality saves money over time.
Cheap tarpaulins may look similar at first, but they usually:
High-quality tarpaulins maintain performance longer, reduce downtime, and protect valuable goods more reliably.
For industries, this directly improves operational efficiency and safety.
Ans. Construction sites require tarp’s ranging between medium to high GSM, which are not only tough enough for abrasion but also can withstand weight and wind. The actual thickness varies depending on the intended use such as for covering contents, cladding scaffolding or equipment.
Ans. The waterproofing is primarily determined by the quality and uniformity of the coating. And if the coating is weak or irregular, even a thick fabric will be prone to leaks.
Ans. Eyelets Fail- Eyelets can tear on weak reinforcement, poor metal caliber or uneven loading. Heavy-duty eyelets and hems should help minimize this possibility.
Ans. Not always. More GSM adds strength but at a cost of additional weight. For temporary or light use a very high GSM may not be needed and the material is more unwieldy to handle.
Ans. Heavy duty tarpaulins with good GSM, UV coated and strong eyelets can be last long due to its strength even under sun or industrial conditions.
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