Geomembranes are primarily used in applications that leave them buried under the earth or layers of concrete, but they make surprisingly good tarps as well. Stretching an impermeable layer of polymer over your dump truck bed, winter hay storage pile, or an athletic field in need of storm protection works much better than using a flimsy woven tarp. Most low-end tarps are made with woven polyethylene, a material that breaks down quickly with UV exposure despite any coatings designed to protect it. The weave flexes with each passing breeze and heavy rain fall until it’s no longer water-resistant either. Since geomembranes are made from solid pieces of material, they don’t develop leaks in the same way. When you need a tarp that you can rely on for long-term use in challenging situations, a geomembrane is the best choice.
What Material Works Best for a Tarp?
Geomembranes, that are re-purposed for tarp use, need a high level of flexibility. This means that laminated or coated reinforced materials, such as BTL Liner’s ArmorCover, are the best choice. These materials also need the maximum UV resistance available since they’ll be exposed to the elements rather than protected by a layer of soil or gravel. HDPE offers great UV resistance and durability, but it is not quite as flexible on its own as is needed for a tarp application. That’s why BTL Liner’s ArmorCover geomembrane features two layers of LDPE surrounding the inner HDPE. This creates just the right amount of flexibility for easy draping, tight bends and straightforward seaming without sacrificing UV resistance or overall durability. PVC geomembranes can make very flexible tarps that work well in the coldest temperatures, but they lack the UV resistance needed to ensure long lasting durability throughout years of exposed use. Thus, making a quality tarp, such as ArmorCover, a much better choice.
Applications for Geomembrane Tarps
Nearly all situations that require a protective tarp, no matter how temporarily, can benefit from a geomembrane. Thankfully, BTL Liners fabricates their tarps and covers to fit projects both big and small. Some potential uses for tough and huge geomembrane tarps include:
- Light blocking to protect grain in a silo or pile
- Hay and silage production or a secondary covering for bales wrapped in thinner plastics
- Truck bed covers for semi-trucks, dump trucks, and other large commercial hauling equipment
- Athletic field covers to preserve the surface when rain and snow threaten to cancel a game
- Temporary covers for ponds, treatment tanks, and waste lagoons
- Short-term and patterned light deprivation for greenhouses, which is used to trigger flowering and certain growth patterns in plants
- Erosion control blankets for recently cleared and graded land when grass establishment is delayed due to weather or further work
- Germination covers that keep heat and moisture trapped right where grass or crop seeds need it the most
- Any other non-containment use.
Geomembrane tarps are not the same thing as covers made from these materials. Tarps are generally temporary protective layers designed to be removed and used again somewhere else after a period of a few weeks or months. Geomembrane covers are permanent installations designed to stay in place for months to years. Some float or are tied on like a tarp, but others are attached to a matching liner for a complete sealed containment system. Many geomembranes recommended for tarp use, such as BTL Liner’s ArmorCover, won’t work for liner use and must be paired with another compatible material if you want a sealed system. Tarps in general are simply tied around what they’re protecting or held down with a ballast rather than sealed to another layer of geomembrane at the edges.
Why Color Matters for Geomembrane Tarps
Not all geomembrane tarps have the right color combination for optimal tarp lifespan and performance. The best tarps, regardless of material or design, will feature a dark color on one side to extend the lifespan and a lighter color on the other to reflect heat and UV rays. ArmorCover from BTL Liner’s meets this requirement by pairing a white outer layer and black inner layer. If you’re looking for heat absorption to maximize germination instead, simply flip the tarp. Most geomembranes designed only for buried use are black or dark blue on all sides, causing them to absorb more UV rays and to heat up rapidly in the sun. Stick with geomembranes designed and approved for tarp use to get the best results.
Temporary Landfill Covers
One use, for geomembranes, that combines elements of both tarp and cover applications is the temporary landfill cover. Despite the name, this use is better considered a type of tarp because it’s only used for a limited time and varies greatly from how permanent geomembrane systems are installed over capped landfills. Permanent geomembrane covers are always buried and not exposed, while temporary installations are can be either exposed or buried. Temporary covers are used for landfills that aren’t closed permanently but need major renovations before they can accept more waste. A temporary layer of UV resistant geomembrane helps keep rainwater out so that leachates can’t soak into the ground due to a lack of liner. Covering the surface with an impermeable vapor barrier tarp also brings emissions under control very rapidly.
Soil is also used as a temporary cover, and some landfill management teams don’t see the need for any other materials for short-term use. However, geomembranes like BTL Liner’s ArmorCover offer numerous benefits over a twelve inch deep soil cap, including:
- Faster installation with less equipment required
- Impermeable material offers better control of leachates and runoff than a soil cap
- Better gas, odor, and emissions control.
Exposed geomembranes do come with their own design considerations when used for temporary landfill covering. Gas buildup must be vented, with channels, so that the membrane doesn’t lift from the surface or rupture under pressure. Snow loading and wind lifting also effect the installation. With the right anchoring efforts, there’s no need to put more soil over the surface just to keep the geomembrane in place.
