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Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a tarp not be waterproof?
Because permeability is the point rather than a limitation.
Air and water pass through the open weave.
Every application depends on that rather than in spite of it.
Wind load falls to a fraction of a solid cover's.
Ventilation is maintained underneath.
Shade can be provided without trapping heat.
How much difference does it make in wind?
A very large one - a solid tarp presents a surface for wind to push against.
On exposed sites and moving vehicles that load is enormous.
It is what tears tarps and rips out fixings.
Mesh lets air pass through instead.
The cover stays put where a solid one would not.
That alone is frequently the reason mesh is specified.
What about load containment?
It is a regulatory application rather than a convenience.
Mesh nets over tipper bodies, skips and trailers retain loose material.
Requirements to sheet loose loads are enforced in most markets.
An unsecured load leaving a vehicle is an offence.
It is also a serious hazard.
Net specification and fixing arrangements are frequently prescribed rather than optional.
What is shade factor?
The proportion of light the mesh blocks, and it is the key specification.
It varies from light screening to near-solid.
Higher factors give more shade and more wind load.
Scaffold debris netting, shade sails and privacy screening all use it.
Windbreak fencing is specified the same way.
Choosing the factor for the purpose matters more than choosing the material.
Will it keep anything dry?
No - water passes straight through.
A mesh tarp over timber protects it from nothing except being blown away.
Using one where weather protection is needed is a misunderstanding.
It is a containment and wind product rather than a covering one.
Where both are needed, a solid tarp with proper tensioning is the answer.
Combining a mesh outer over a solid cover is used in some exposed situations.
Do the fixings still matter?
As much as on any tarp - mesh is still loaded hard at its fixings.
Wind passing through reduces the total load considerably.
It does not eliminate load at the edges.
Edge and eyelet reinforcement matter throughout.
Tensioning evenly prevents concentrated loading.
On vehicle applications the fixing system is frequently specified alongside the net.
How long does mesh last outdoors?
It depends on the material and its UV stabilisation.
Most mesh tarps are polyethylene or polyester based.
Ultraviolet exposure degrades untreated material within months.
Stabilised grades last considerably longer.
Abrasion at fixing points is the other wear mechanism.
On vehicles, constant flexing and road grit shorten life noticeably.