How to Repair a Tarpaulin? Step-By-Step Tutorial

Varying repairs are needed for various tarp types. To make sure tarps last a long time, learn more about tarp repairs.

You depend on your tarps to provide shade, shield your RV roof from debris, and serve as a weather barrier for your dog’s outdoor kennel. While this is unfortunate, tarp covers can often be repaired. Tarps can unfortunately sustain damage due to human error, aging, or vandalism.

Make the necessary repairs as soon as you can if a tarpaulin is damaged. A small rip can be easily repaired, but if it grows to be a foot-long tear, it becomes more difficult to do so.

The quick guide to repairing a tarp tear that is provided below is a good place to start if you want to avoid having to spend money on a new tarp.

How to Repair An All-Purpose Tarp?

We won’t just apply a patch here because we need that perfect seal on both sides. We’ll patch both sides equally, then sew the two patches together through the tarp section.

Even though it appears to be a straightforward fix, it is only a band-aid. You can purchase tarp repair tape, which has an adhesive designed specifically for polyethylene, canvas, and other tarp-related materials on one side. Just be certain that the repair tape you use is the appropriate one.

Put that tape on each side separately and repair the tear, whatever it was. Maintain a nice flat surface by using your hands to smooth out any creases that may appear as you go.

This is not a long-term fix; after allowing the tape to dry for about eight hours, we will house it in place. The patches we’re going to make should safeguard the adhesive bond.

Cut two identical patches from a tarp made of the same material as the one we’re repairing. Use an old tarp that is no longer functional but still has a few usable areas on it.

To make this as seamless as possible, extra points if they are all the same color. Make your patches square if possible. In the end, compare them to ensure that they are the same size. All of the sides should have an additional inch of fabric.

Make one-inch seams along the inside of our patches so that the fabric won’t just flap around when we sew it to the actual tarp. In the end, you’ll essentially have a patch that has been double-stitched on both sides.

You should now have two slightly smaller square patches available for use.

The critical moment has arrived. Your first patch is in place after you place your tarp beneath the sewing machine’s needle. Get a good, tight sew on it by running it through the machine.

Slowly complete each step while checking your work. Continue doing this until the patch is fully sewn in, then simply rotate to the subsequent side.

You must now turn the tarp over to its other side and apply the second patch in the same manner. There will be a lot of discussions here, but that’s a good thing because we’re going to improve upon this so that it doesn’t happen again.

Are all the threads properly positioned? Are your patches saggy? Examine any problems and come up with a fix. Make sure the tape is flat and the patches are taut because you don’t want much air to get trapped between them. There is just one more step left.

Although I have every confidence that you did a fantastic job sewing these patches on, nobody is perfect. There may be a spot for moisture to enter even if we cannot see it.

The next major storm shouldn’t find its way into this double patch and then fill it with rain, which would be undesirable. Apply seam sealer to both patches’ exteriors and allow it to dry completely. You might need to seal one side first, flip the tarp over, and seal the other side separately.

How to Repair a Tarp Canopy?

It will be much less annoying to do this than to apply two separate patches. The steps will be somewhat similar, but sealing the canopy will proceed somewhat differently. The underside doesn’t really require as much concern.

Sew the Tear Shut

Sew that tear shut completely rather than using tarp repair tape. Make the fabric overlay as minimal as you can, whether you sew with a sewing machine or a needle and thread.

We simply don’t want the tear to have any opportunities to grow any larger. We don’t want it to be extremely bunched up and interfere with how we stretch the tarp out.

Measure and Cut Patches

Just like before, you will cut a square shape out of a patch of identical canopy material. Finding an old tarp and finding a portion of it that is thought to be useful is still something I advise.

The best way to salvage a broken item is to use it in this way rather than buying a new, smaller tarp and then having to cut the old one up.

Related: How to Clean Tarpaulin? An Ultimate Cleaning Guide

Create One Inch Seams

Sew one-inch seams all the way around each edge. The step we saw in the previous guide is the same as this one. Slow down and focus on getting your stitches as close to perfect as you can.

Seam Sealer

We’re going to use seam sealer on the top and bottom of this canopy before moving on. Simply sew over the tear that we repaired earlier. This strengthens everything by forming a chemical bond throughout the threads. Additionally, this will shield the patch in case it ever leaks.

Sew the Patch into Place

This only needs to be done once. Apply the patch directly over the previous year using a sewing machine, taking your time. Make sure the patch is taut so we get a good seal and that there is little to no air trapped underneath it.

Inspection and Seam Sealing

Apply more seam sealer over this patch after making sure that nothing is out of place or out of alignment. You just need to allow for the sealant container’s curing time, and you’re good to go.

Techniques for Repairing Different Types of Tarps

What are the most effective ways to fix a tarp? Your choice of repairs is determined by the tarp itself. Most tarps are made of vinyl, canvas, mesh, Iron Horse, or polyethylene.

Canvas Tarp Repairs

What kind of tarpaulin is being repaired? A rip or tear in an indoor canvas tarp that is being used as a drop cloth for painting or during home renovations can be quickly repaired by hand sewing. The only type of tarp that can be sewn is canvas, but you’ll need a heavy-duty thread to patch holes in the material.

The thread must withstand exposure to moisture, sunlight, and temperature changes. Use a thicker thread that won’t unravel as easily as a thin one. Your best options are UV-treated polyester and marine thread.

Further Reading: Can You Use a Tarpaulin under Gravel?

Canvas tarp repairs benefit from the use of a powerful sewing machine. Hand sewing the tear or rip is possible; use a sailmaker’s needle if possible. A flat felled seam is the ideal stitch to use. The best place to learn about this stitch is from a pair of jeans with a seam that is stitched in two rows.

The canvas tarp repair kit might be necessary. With the help of an all-purpose tarp cement, a piece of canvas from this kit can be used to cover a hole or an uneven tear. Instead of leaving an uneven seam in the tarp if you have punctures or holes, look for a patch kit.

After a canvas tarp has been fixed, use Canvak to apply a fresh layer of wax preservative that is water-resistant to tarps that are used outdoors. That enhances the fabric’s ability to repel water. Make sure the thread is covered in the Canvak coating to aid in the thread’s ability to repel water.

Mesh, Vinyl, and Poly Tarp Repairs

Avoid the urge to use duct tape to fix your poly tarp because it isn’t the best solution. Although duct tape is waterproof, it occasionally cannot withstand months of rain, snow, and ice. UV-resistant brands are extremely rare. Typically, duct tape is only water-resistant rather than waterproof. (See Are Tarpaulins Waterproof?)

Instead, research tarp tape. Tarp tape is a vinyl tape that weighs 18 ounces and is coated in a weather-resistant, powerful adhesive. To withstand the sun’s powerful rays, tarp tape is also treated to be UV resistant. Apply tarp tape to the front and back of the tarp and to any rips or holes for the strongest bond possible.

On a clear PVC tarp or mesh tarp, tarp tape will also be useful for repairs. It’s crucial to remember that the repair will be noticeable. If you won’t be able to stand having a thick piece of tape covering a hole in a mesh tarp or on a clear tarp, you might need to replace the tarp instead.

Vinyl cement is an alternative for you. In order to repair tears and holes in vinyl-coated and vinyl-laminated tarps with a waterproof, weather-resistant bond, HH-66 Vinyl Cement was developed. Within two or three minutes, this vinyl cement dries quickly and sets.

Vinyl cement repairs are resistant to extreme cold and heat. Place a patch over any tears or holes by brushing it around. After a few minutes, check the bond to make sure the patch is properly affixed. A seam that is separating can also be sealed with vinyl cement.

Repairs for Missing Or Loose Grommets

A grommet repair kit is required in cases where a grommet has become loose or is missing. The hole cutter and hammer are used to make a hole in the fabric. Place the wood block on a sturdy surface so that your workbench or table won’t be damaged.

To ensure the strength of the replacement grommet, place this hole apart from the hole created by the missing grommet.

Place the included anvil behind the hole you’ve just cut once it’s been cut. Pass the grommet’s back through the hole in the back. On the opposite side of the tarp, position the front side of the grommet over it.

Utilizing the hammer, affix the two components together by positioning the grommet setting tool over the front of the new grommet. Spend some time making sure the grommet pieces are positioned correctly to avoid mistakes. To learn how to align the grommet components together, think about practicing on a scrap piece of old tarp first.

When Do You Replace a Tarp?

A tarp’s durability is influenced by numerous factors. What kind of tarp did you purchase, and how do you use it? When covering loads of stone during trucking, a tarp needs to be durable enough to withstand the wind and jagged stone edges. Even if they are repaired, too many rips and tears will weaken the tarp’s integrity.

Any repairs should be done well. A piece of duct tape will only be as strong as the repair you make if you do it quickly. If you rush the repair or don’t take the necessary time and consideration, it might not last as long as a repair done by a pro.

What size rips and tears are there in the tarp? It may be difficult to effectively repair a tarp when they are too large. Often, buying new is preferable. It’s time to retire the tarp if it exhibits any indications of rotting.

While the majority of tarps won’t rot, if a canvas tarp is left wet and exposed to moisture for an extended period of time, it may start to deteriorate.

What are your options for your used tarp? The majority of districts prefer that you discard them in the garbage. Check to see if any businesses are interested in used tarps before proceeding. Some reuse them to make new products. Why not save your used tarp? You can fix other tarps with the sections that are still in excellent shape.

Related: Is Tarpaulin Recyclable? How to Recycle?

Make sure your new tarp is functional for your needs. A blue poly tarp is not the best choice if you need a sturdy tarp to cover a roof during heavy rain. To best keep water out, look for a waterproof tarp that extends beyond the damaged area.

Conclusion: Tarp Repair

All tarps and covers have one thing in common, despite advancements in material performance over time: they are exposed to extreme environmental conditions and made to be used for extended periods of time. Because of these factors, tarp materials are prone to rips, tears, holes, and other flaws.

You have a few options for tarp repairs, but the most effective one is to apply a complete patch to the tarp’s exterior side. You might need to repeat the steps we’ll give you on both sides of the tarp if you use it for purposes other than as a canopy or for shade.

In order to patch the tears, you must first secure the tear so that it doesn’t spread before patching the exterior. To keep everything in place, we should also fasten the patch to the tarp a second time by its center. The most secure part of your tarp may actually be the patch.

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