Poor man's garage maintenance.

[dbrannon79]

Hey guys, I thought I would ask a question here about what the best product would be to apply to a carport cover that uses a PVC type tarp to help make it last a little longer in the sun and also help keep it water proof.

as I may have mentioned before that my work shop in my back yard is simply a concrete driveway with two 10x20 harbor freight carport covers. during these last couple of rain storms one of the tarps was completely destroyed. The other one is about rotted from the sun. I plan to replace the tarps on both soon and I also have a very leaky roof over my garage / shed area which is attached to the house. rather than spend money I don't have at the moment to replace the roof over it, I recently bought a 18x24 ft heavy duty tarp to cover it temporarily. the tarp covers the full length leaving about a 2 ft exposed at the end, but will suffice for now so I can work on the engine in there without worry of it getting wet from the roof leaks.

I want to replace the carport covers on both of the canopy's but one of them is only a year old and it didn't last in the hot sun. I am trying to find a product that I can preferably spray on to the tarps to help protect them from the sun and hopefully make them last longer. I'm sure someone out there makes some sort of product that is made to help with UV protection on tarps and canopies.

 

[dbrannon79]

I found this stuff but idk if it will work on this sort of application. I figure something like this I can use it in a pump sprayer once every couple months or so in the summer. Just don't know if it will soak into a PVC material.

https://www.amazon.com/303-Marine-Aerospace-Protectant-Protection/dp/B0000AY1W1

 

[JayTheCPA]

303 is fairly well liked in the recreational marine sector. But the presumption is that the stuff will help extend the life of things which are still in good condition, and not to bring end of life stuff back from the abyss.

I have found that this is definitely an area where trying to go frugal only costs more in money and time. While possibly outside of the ask, consider taking a look at Sunbrella which has a good reputation for durability. But it is a bet spendy. Sorry. To help keep costs down, watch ads for sales of used RV awnings as many of them are Sunbrella. Strip-off the fabric and either try to resell the metal bits or take to a scrap yard to recover some of the purchase cost.

 

[dbrannon79]

Yeah the covers on the canopies aren't worth trying to save now, but I figure replace them and then try to do something to help make them last longer than a year! the canopy kit it's self isn't expensive, I think I paid around $130 for it, and then got it replaced once under their warranty. that's how I got two of them LOL they didn't want the old one back! trouble is trying to just buy a replacement cover for them is just as expensive as just replacing the whole thing. Years ago the poles were heavy and thick pipe. I had one back then that rotted away and later just re-covered it with sheet metal. these I doubt would support the weight without extra bracing.

the first one we had went through a heavy storm and I didn't have it tied down good. winds picked it up and bent up some of the poles. my truck was under it during the storm and I was lucky the pole didn't go through the windshield the way it landed on the truck! after getting it warrantied out I straightened out the poles and the side that was damaged the most I anchored it to the side of the garage to hold it, then setup the second one next to it giving me essentially a 20x20 shaded work area.

The second one I purchased the extended warranty with it and it expires soon, so I need to take the tarp in and see if I can get it replaced. maybe buy another one and have both new, then try to use something like the 303 on it to get better life out of the material. the Texas sun is hell on things like that, I'm sure out in areas like CA are far worse.

 

[ak diesel driver]

You can get the covers on Amazon for a 12x20 for like $70

 

[schiker]

I like 303 but it is a premium brand and expensive. I sorta doubt any product will really help cheaper or defective material.

Double tarping over old with new and softening any points of contact sometimes helps. Depends on how it attaches.

How expensive is the bandaid vs buying a little better product?

Paint???? I would not spend $$$ on new paint but junk paint could patch a pinholed tarp maybe or reinforce it for a roof liner to help next tarp last longer?

 

[dbrannon79]

I thought about some old paint, I could pickup some white paint for cheaper than the 303 and use a gun to apply!