Looking to learn how to identify an original tarpaulin in Nigeria? It’s necessary, especially considering the influx of fake items in the country.
Tarpaulins are highly sought-after materials for setting up ponds, canopies, garages, or any temporary shelter. However, there are wide varieties of tarpaulins in the market, and identifying the originals from the fakes takes time and effort.
I’d explain how to identify an original tarpaulin in Nigeria in this article. But before we go into that, let’s understand what a tarpaulin is and what it’s used for.
What is a Tarpaulin?
A tarpaulin, tarp for short, is a large sheet of durable, flexible waterproof material made of canvas, polyester, or other similar materials. Tarps come in different sizes, colors, and materials. But what determines which type and size you should get is your intended use of it.
The tarpaulin for making canopies differs from the one used in ponds. The ones suitable for making tents may not be durable enough for the long-term roof covering or industrial uses like welding curtains. Therefore, knowing the type of tarpaulin you need will help you identify the best one and to avoid double expenditure, especially in Nigeria, where sellers have poor return policies.
Types of Tarpaulin
These are the different types of tarpaulins and their uses:
HDPE Tarpaulin
An HDPE (high-density polyethylene) tarpaulin is made by laminating HDPE fabrics with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) fabrics. They’re resistant to corrosion, absorption, and abrasion, making them excellent materials for ponds, truck covers, swimming pool covers, etc.
LDPE Tarpaulin
LDPE tarpaulins are more affordable than HDPE. They are made by compressing monomer ethylene gas in an autoclave or tubular reactor. LDPE tarpaulins are often used as scaffolding screens on construction sites. You can also use LDPE tarpaulins to make billboards, advertisement banners, waste disposal bags, etc.
Canvas Tarpaulin
Canvas tarpaulins are breathable, water-resistant, and made from 100% cotton duck fabrics. They’re more cost-effective when compared to polyethylene tarpaulins. But that doesn’t mean they’re not of good quality. Canvas tarps are primarily used to make camping sleeping bags, equipment, and furniture covers. And since they’re breathable, they are also used effectively to protect plants from frost and snow.
PVC Tarpaulin
These tarpaulins, also known as vinyl tarps, are made from 100% polyester fabrics and are then coated with PVC films. PVC tarpaulins are water, weather, and abrasion resistant like poly tarps. They’re used in making awnings, military tents, truck covers, banners, etc.
How to Identify Original Tarpaulin in Nigeria
To identify an original tarpaulin, you should check the following:
Quality of the Material
Original tarpaulins are made from high-quality, durable waterproof, and UV-resistant materials such as polyethylene and PVC.
Tarps from these materials are solid and durable and have proven to withstand changing weather conditions. This is essential as tarpaulins are often used outdoors as protective covers for different objects. Things like perishable goods transported long distances, machines and equipment in your factory, and even your construction materials need optimum protection against all weather conditions.
The thickness of the material will serve as an excellent guide to selecting the best tarpaulin for your various needs. They’re measured in mils (1/1000 of an inch). A 5-mil thick tarpaulin can be great for general usages, like covering items. But for heavy-duty usage like covering trucks, awnings, military tents, etc., you should look for tarps with a minimum thickness of 25 mils.
Reinforced Corners and Edges
Due to their constant use, tarpaulins can get torn easily. But that’s only possible in poor-quality tarps. Therefore, to identify original tarpaulins, look for the ones with reinforced corners and edges. The reinforcements prevent them from tearing and fraying quickly.
Apart from preventing tarps from tearing and fraying, the reinforced edges make it easier to tie them down firmly. Most vendors won’t tell you this, especially in Nigeria, where fakes are rampant.
Color
Though you can’t determine the quality of a tarp by its color, the colors are essential considerations when looking at its intended use. Some tarps absorb more heat than others, making them ideal for situations where you want the covered objects to remain cool.
Usually, when tarpaulins are mentioned, what comes to mind is the blue polyethylene materials. This is the color most Nigerians can easily relate to, as it’s used in almost every part of the country to make ponds, canopies, car garages, etc. Even construction workers, roofers, and farmers are more familiar with the blue-colored tarpaulins.
However, there are the colors like white and silver, which reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it, and there’s the red, yellow, and orange, which are used to add visibility to dangerous areas. Furthermore, black and dark gray tarps absorb sunlight rather than reflect it. All colors have their unique uses when it comes to tarpaulins. Therefore, before you get one, consider the colors and their implications properly.
Price
Original tarpaulins are often more expensive than poor-quality ones. Therefore, if you’re getting a supposed high-quality tarp for a price far below its worth, you should know that’s not the original.
At that point, it’s best to consider the other features of original tarpaulins, as listed above.
Where to Buy Original Tarpaulin in Nigeria
It’s great to be able to identify original tarpaulins. With that, you’d trust yourself wherever you go to single out the original ones from a pack of fake ones. However, it’s even better when you know a place where only original tarpaulins are sold. That would ease the worry and doubt in your ability to identify an original tarpaulin.
One place where you’re guaranteed to get quality tarpaulin materials in Nigeria is Nestken Masters. Nestken Masters have been selling quality fabrics, upholstery materials, original Korean tarpaulins, etc., since 2010. They’re trusted for their uncompromising stance on quality – a reason the company has grown to have big retail outlets in both Aba and Lagos.
You can visit Nestken Masters in their offices at Aba (No. 4 Boundary Street, off Faulks Rd by Seven Deck, Aba, Abia State) and Lagos (No 2. Ladipo Street, Mushin, Lagos, Lagos State). You’d surely walk away with top-quality tarpaulin materials from these offices.
Can You Identify Original Tarpaulins in Nigeria?
Having gotten this far, you must have known the different types of tarpaulin and their uses, and most importantly, how to identify original tarpaulin materials. You also know the best places to buy original tarpaulin materials in Aba and Lagos.
There are many vendors of tarpaulin products in Nigeria, most of whom don’t have the time to educate you on tarpaulin qualities. Therefore, being able to identify original tarpaulins in Nigeria can save you lots of stress, money, and regrets.
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