| About Protarps Construction |
| Protarps™ are made from the strongest and most durable screen mesh materials on the market, Super Screen and PollyCB2. These materials are the result of new technologies providing fiber cores of extreme strength and resiliency. The cores are then encapsulated within extruded flexible coatings that are impervious to ultra-violet rays, weathering and other environmental elements. |
| The unique extruded weaving structure of PolyCB2 and Super Screen prevent unraveling at the edges. When cutting the screen mesh, fine hairs from a fiber core may become visible. These hairs can be safely pulled and clipped. The adjoining fibers will not unravel during use. |
| The extruded weaving structure also allows the construction of tarps without the need for binding and sewing of the fabric (sewing weakens screen fabric at needle point and exposes fiber cores to destructive ultra-violet rays). Other screen fabrics such as fiberglass, etc. that require edge binding come apart at the seams within a year or two of outdoor exposure. |
| The non-tear properties of PolyCB2 and Super Screen allow for grommets to be embedded directly into the screen mesh without additional padding. These heavy duty grommets will withstand a thirty-five pound pull allowing the tarps to be installed taunt without fear of grommet pull-out. |
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| Ordering Tarps for Outside Use |
| When ordering tarps for outside use, consider the amount of unsupported area the tarp will cover and the number of edge grommets needed. A wind gust of 20 mph will exert approximately 2 pounds wind (air) pressure per square foot. At 50 mph, the tarp can experience 7.65 pounds pressure per square foot. (Example: a tarp measuring 4' x 8' in a 50 mph wind is blasted by up to 245 pounds of pressure. An 8' x 16' tarp, 980 pounds pressure). Also See Wind Whip |
| For best results, tarps should be ordered to exact size needed and be attached taunt to the supporting structure (grommet centers are 1" from edge). Smaller tarps are easier to handle and affix. In wind prone areas, tarps no larger than what is needed to span between supports will provide best results. However, tarps may also be hung in a drapery like fashion (without attachment at the base). Tarps hung in this fashion resist winds below 40 mph very well. |
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| Solar Shade & Privacy Screen |
| Pro-Tect Solar Shade Screen Mesh Material is superior to any other sun shade screen on the market. It provides good airflow while providing maximum shade. This seemingly impossible combination of qualities result from special fiber extrusion and weaving that produces thousands of tiny mirrors that reflect light rays. Consequently, fewer fibers per square inch are used and a slightly higher porosity is available to allow more airflow. |
| Privacy is obtained by the combination of three conditions: proper porosity (size of pores and pores per square inch); reflective qualities of the screen fibers; and the phenomena of ambient lighting differential. Using our Solar Shade 80% UV Block provides the greatest combination of porosity and reflective properties. However, without proper lighting differential, full privacy will not exist. |
| Conditions for privacy require that the area not to be seen into (private area) must be darker (even slightly darker will work) than the outside area. Also, "back lighting" cannot exist. A covered patio or porch that is shaded from full sunlight is a good applicant for the use of privacy screen. |
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| Horizontal (overhead) mounting of Shade Screen |
| PolyCB2 Topside™ (PolyCB2 HD60) with 60% UV/Sun Block is the only Shade Screen recommended for horizontal mounting over unsupported areas. Even at this, the open areas should not exceed 6' x 8' (rigging cables below the screen works well for support on larger areas). |
| Unless a structure with supporting cross members providing open areas of no more than 4' x 3' is used, any shade screen other than PolyCB2 Topside™ should not be permanently attached. Due to the small pores of all other shade screen, heavy rain will puddle. The weight of the water will tear other shade screen loose or damage the structure. |
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| Wind Whip |
| The more loosely mounted, the more susceptible tarps are to wind whip. While each grommet will withstand a 35# pull, a loosely mounted tarp hit by a gust of wind can exert the wind pressure from the entire tarp upon just a few grommets. Where taunt mounting is not practical or difficult to perform, the use of elastic ties (bungee cords) to remove slack and dampen impact force is an ideal solution. Also see Cable Rigging |
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| Cable Rigging |
| Cables have been widely used by our customers to provide support areas for large tarps where support structures are not available. Cable strung on both sides of an overhead or vertical tarp reduces wind whip. When cable is strung below overhead tarps, necessary support is also provided. Cable thickness if 1/8" and of 3/32" are the most commonly sizes used. |
| Many uses for cable rigging have emerged from customer feedback. Tarps can be hung as curtains with the use of a cable with curtain hooks or 'D' rings. Tarps can be mounted securely between two poles by stringing the cable through the grommets. Retractable overhead sun shade can be accomplished by affixing cable guidelines and attaching narrow tarps (4' to 5' wide), using 'D' or 'O' rings through the grommets and around the guidelines. |
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| Rain Shields & Snow Shields |
| If you need to reasonably shield an area from rain or snow and still maintain adequate airflow and visibility, PolyCB2 HD60 is the answer. The deep weave pattern and shape of the extruded fibers within PolyCB2 HD60 make it an ideal vertical shield from rain and snow. Rain hits the screen mesh and has a tendency to slide down the surface and drain to the bottom. As for snow, the first snow flakes have tendency to cling to the surface and provide a barrier to following wind blown snow. |
| The Pro-Tect Maximum Rain Shield Tarp is designed to protect from wind-driven rain by combining two layers of PolyCB2 HD60 into one tarp. The driven rain is deflected by the first layer, contacts the second layer with reduced force, and then slides to the bottom. These two layer Maximum Rain Shield Tarps can be purchased in charcoal on one side and white on the other or all white or all charcoal. Two layer tarps should not be used as snow shields. They will become overburdened with ice. |
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| Maintaining Desired Visibility, Air-Flow & Transparency |
| PolyCB2 and Super Screen are specifically designed to give the desired visibility where required, non-obtrusive transparency and excellent airflow while still providing a lifetime durable product that gives superb protection from undesirable elements. Protarps are specifically designed to incorporate these products into durable, easy to install, innovative applications. |
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Customer delight and satisfaction remain our highest priorities |
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