The Proper Procedure To Cover Patio Furniture With A Tarp
As soon as the summer season is over, there is a need to put your outdoor patio items in a safe place to be used at a later time. The grill is kept or accumulated in your garage for future use and the pool is closed. The only thing that is left includes wrapping up your outside table as well as chairs in order to protect them. The patio tables, as well as chairs that are not covered or wrapped, are easily damaged by rain, ice, and snow in the winter season. However, if you want to keep the furnishing items outside, then you will need to wrap them with a material that will help in keeping the elements away from the table and chair surfaces. The most affordable and long-lasting covering is tarpaulin, also known as a tarp. Adding a tarp, over a piece of patio furniture is as simple as you use a few grommets, eye-bolt screws, and a cord. The tarp can enlarge or lengthen from the house's overhang or roof to a nearby fence in order to cover the patio. As long as the tarp is secured tightly, the wind can't pull apart its grommets, your patio shade will withstand or resist for nearly one season.
Items Needed
- Tape Measure & Permanent Marker
- Scrap Wood & Utility Knife
- Scissors & Earplugs Or Earmuffs
- Gloves & Grommet Kit
- Hammer, Ladder & Electric Drill
- 1/2-Inch Eye-Bolt Screws
- 1/4-Inch Cotton Or Nylon Cord
Part 1: Preparing The Tarp
- Measurement: First of all, calculate the space betwixt the tarp's existing grommets, which are round metal pieces having holes in their center. Entirely dependent on the tarp, the grommets maybe 3 to 4 feet apart. Make a visible impression or stain on the locations for new grommets at equal distances of nearly 8 inches betwixt the existing grommets, using a permanent marker in order to make the marks.
- Place Scrap Wood Under The Tarp: Now, put down a piece of scrap wood underneath the tarp where you made marks. Trim an X at each mark with the help of a utility knife, making each trim 1/2 inch long. Cut short the corners of each X in order to make holes in the tarp for the new grommets.
- Put On Gloves & Earplugs Or Earmuffs: Next, wear gloves as well as earplugs or earmuffs, before placing the die from a grommet kit underneath one hole you made. A grommet has two pieces, the one-piece has a center post, and the other piece is a flat washer. Put down one grommet piece having a center post on the die, and set the tarp on that grommet piece, pushing the tarp down as well as over the center post. Put down one washer over the tarp and grommet center post. Center the kit's grommet tool on the washer, before tapping it smoothly with a hammer as long as the washer and other grommet pieces attach firmly.
- Repeat: Keep repeating the procedure at each hole you made for grommets.
Part 2: Installing The Tarp
- Measure The Distance Between Each Grommet: Firstly, calculate the distance betwixt each grommet. Make a visible impression or stain on the house overhang and/or another support structure at the halfway points betwixt those grommet locations, using the permanent marker.
- Drill A Pilot Hole: Now, make a pilot hole at each mark you made on the house overhang and/or other support structure, with the help of an electric drill. Place, fit, or push one 1/2-inch eye-bolt screw into each hole, and screw it tightly into the overhangs wood.
- Tie Cotton Or Nylon Cord Firmly: Next, attach or fasten a 1/4-inch cotton or nylon cord firmly to one of the end eye-bolt screws you placed in the overhang and/or other support structure. Connect the cord through each grommet, instructs All Day Smoke, as well as eye-bolt screw in a zigzag pattern, beating the tarp to the overhang and/or other support structure. Keep the tarp taut in order to make sure that the wind can't whip it and pull apart the grommets.
- Cover The Cord & Tie It Tightly: Finally, cover the cord around the last eye-bolt screw, before securing it firmly so the tension is allocated equally around the entire tarp. Trim the excess cord with the help of scissors or a utility knife.