Tarp Mounting Ideas
Tarp Mounting Ideas
Toggle Tarp Fasteners
By far the most popular method for securing tarps. These fasteners requires no pressure to open or close and look very professional once installed. They work with our round grommets unlike twist lock fasteners which need a special oval grommet. You can also use a 5/16" flat washer to better hold the tarp if you have too much slack. Available from many sources. Here is one Sailright.
Adhesive Hooks
Adhesive hooks are good to use when attaching to Aluminum and Vinyl surfaces. You don't want to drill into aluminum framing as it can leak water into your frame and the same goes for aluminum siding. As such, using a stick on adhesive hook can work well for hanging your tarps. These hooks are rated for almost 25lbs each of holding force. You can find many versions on amazon.
Sleeve Expansion Anchors
Another popular method for hanging your tarps is by using a sleeve expansion joint. Basically you drill a hole and then when you tighten the bolt down it expands the sleeve holding the bolt/tarp tightly. Like the toggle fasteners these can stay in place all year until its time to once again install the tarps. Available from local hardware stores and many online stores.
Tarp Bungee Cords
A tarp bungee cord has an elastic cord that stretches and a ball that keeps it in the grommet. This method of hanging tarps allows you to attach to objects that might not be right next to the tarp. For instance attaching to a bracket around a corner. Readily available from Amazon.
Tarp Grabbers
When you don't have grommets in a place where you need to anchor down your tarps you can use a tarp grabber. These mechanisms pinch the edge of the tarp and the harder you pull the harder they grip. They come in two versions. One that punches the tarp with a spike and locks or a version that simply pinches the material. If your tarp has webbing use the version that pinches. Readily available on Amazon.
Grommet Kit
If you need more grommets or are simply missing them then you can use a grommet punch to quickly install them. The kit includes a die, a punch, and of course grommets. You can view how the grommet kit works on this Youtube Video.
I-Beam Clamps
The I-Beam clamps allows for mounting to any flange such as joists, purlins, and of course I-Beams. The eye hook then goes through the grommets and into the bottom of the clamp. This is part is sold by ALCO.
Aluminum Angle
Aluminum angle and Tek screws hold the tarp up. The angle is clamped to the joists or anchored into your roof deck. Then self taping Tek screws (not supplied by ALCO) are screwed into the angle through the tarp grommets with a washer to pinch the curtain to the angle. This part is sold by ALCO.
Tension Cable
You can hang your tarp using aircraft cable, S-hooks, and cable turnbuckles to tighten the cable. The S-hooks go through the tarp grommets. Not supplied by ALCO but readily available from most hardware stores and online stores.
Ground Anchors / Wind Webbing
Soil Anchor
If you need to anchor your tarp into dirt or sand then you can use GroundGrabba spikes in conjunction with a tie down strap or snap hook carabiner hooks through the grommets. This allows the tarp to be secured but also unhooked when needed. ALCO supplies anchor straps if the tarp is not near the ground.
Floor Anchor With Clip
If you need to anchor your tarp to the ground then you can use ALCO floor anchors in conjunction with a snap hook carabiner. The hook clips through the grommets and onto the D-ring of the floor anchor. This allows the tarp to be secured but also unhooked when needed. You can also use this method on the vertical edges of a tarp. ALCO supplies the floor anchors but not the clips.
Bolt Down Anchor
If you need to anchor your tarp to a solid surface when it is not very close to the ground/deck then you can use floor anchors in conjunction with a tie down strap through the grommets. This allows the tarp to be secured but also unhooked when needed. ALCO supplies both the floor anchors and the strap.
Wind Webbing
Curtains can be damaged by strong wind and this increases with the size of the curtains. There is a lot of stress on the grommets and floor anchors as the wind blows. A great way to increase the life of your curtains is to use straps that take the load. Simply use "tie down straps" with "D-Rings anchors" at the top and the bottom. Both are available from Amazon.
Connecting Tarps
Zipper Split
You can connect multiple tarps together using zippers. In addition to connecting the tarps together, many customers use the zipper splits as door options for entry. When being used as a door option, we generally stop the zipper just short of the top of the tarps webbing.
Snap Hooks
If you need to connect your tarps together then one method is to use a snap hook carabiner. The hook clips through the grommets and are easy to operate. Make sure you have edge webbing or the material is opaque in color. If the material is just clear material it may rip the grommets out under wind stress. Also you must inform ALCO to line the grommets up on the vertical edges.
Tarp Bungee Cords
Tarp bungee cords are great for connecting tarps together and are especially useful when the grommets do not perfectly line up. Just pull the cord through both grommets and then tuck it around the ball portion of the cord. Easy to attach and un-attach as needed. Make sure you have edge webbing or the material is opaque in color. If the material is just clear material it may rip the grommets out under wind stress. Also you must inform ALCO to line the grommets up on the vertical edges.