The term tarp is short for tarpaulin, which is a general term used today to describe practically any flexible sheet used to cover or protect something. While baseball field covers generally fall into the general category of tarps, not every product labeled as a tarp would make a good field cover. Most tarps aren’t watertight enough and let too much light through to protect baseball fields. Trying to improvise with some materials purchased from a local hardware store only runs the risk of dead turf when it’s needed the most. Find out what makes a good baseball field cover different from the average tarp you’d use around the yard.
Material Selection
The biggest difference between a purpose-made baseball field cover and any random tarp is the material. Inexpensive and widely available tarps are almost all made of woven materials. These materials may appear waterproof, but they let water seep through the gaps between strands almost immediately. In a heavy rainfall event, the soil below the tarp will still become saturated and muddy. Covers prevent this from happening because they’re usually made from a highly impermeable material instead, such as reinforced polyethylene (RPE) or reinforced polypropylene (RPP). These materials also contribute to higher durability and better light control as well.
Blackout Conditions
Clear and partially opaque baseball covers are partially damaging to grass because of the greenhouse effect. Any tarp or covering will trap both heat and moisture, which is desirable in the winter when the dormant plants need protection. As temperatures warm up, the greenhouse effect multiplies the heat under the tarp until it’s baking the roots and damaging them. Blackout covers keep light levels low to limit this effect while still offering moisture control. A cover doesn’t have to be black in color to offer this, just made from a solid and impermeable material rather than a woven one.
Durability and Damage Resistance
Most tarps are designed to be moved and stretched as little as possible. Yet baseball field covers are often stretched out and then rolled or folded for storage on a daily basis or even multiple times a day. Just that much wear and tear alone will quickly crack and tear most tarps. More durable cover materials are flexible enough to withstand this kind of constant use. Players helping cover mounds and fields can also step on the material and tear it with their cleats. Choosing a reinforced material will reduce the chances of this happening, saving you time and money on patching.
Ease of Movement and Storage
Speaking of the need to move covers multiple times a day, don’t underestimate the weight of most covers. This is what often causes field managers to consider using thinner and less durable tarps instead. Heavy and thick layers of PVC, EDPM, or vinyl fabric add extra pounds to what’s already a heavy load. A full in-field tarp that measures 170 feet in each direction can weigh 1200 to 1500 pounds depending on the material. Choosing a thin and durable cover material instead of a thicker and bulkier tarp will make it easier to spread and store the cover as needed. A lower weight also means there’s less chance of tearing at any one point where a handle or grommet is attached.
Patching and Repair Options
Even the smallest rips, tears, holes, and cracks in baseball field covers need prompt repair. Since the cover is constantly pulled back and forth over the surface of turf and soil, tiny problems quickly grow and multiply. Yet, patches that fail after only a few uses of the cover are a waste of time as well. Most woven tarp materials are difficult to impossible to effectively patch or repair. Purpose-made field covers are much easier to maintain and repair, allowing you to use them year after year before replacing them. Many high school field managers go through multiple inexpensive tarps in a single season before investing in a real cover that can last years instead.
Decorative Features
It’s also difficult or impossible to add a decorative logo or slogan to a woven tarp material because the paint or ink would simply flake into small pieces. Only solid cover materials made with a process like calendaring or extrusion will offer a smooth enough surface for decoration. Even reinforced materials with a slight texture can accept screenprinting or other methods of customization. While this is likely not the biggest concern for most field managers, it’s still worth considering when choosing the right material. Inexpensive tarps don’t just perform poorly, they tend to show wear and tear early on in a way that’s off-putting to fans.
Your baseball field covers need proper storage in the off-season to ensure they’re not damaged by UV exposure. Unless you’re leaving them on for winter protection, make sure they’re cleaned, folded or rolled, and stored out of direct sunlight for the season. You may want to invest in an inexpensive tarp to wrap the cover in for extra protection, but don’t try to use a flimsy woven tarp instead of a cover. Order a durable material from BTL Liners instead to ensure you get the baseball field cover performance you expect.
