Worth it for contractors who need reliable temporary coverage that won’t crack when temperatures drop below freezing. The 5 mil polyethylene construction remains pliable in freezing temperatures, and the heat-sealed seams prevent leaking — both critical specs most budget tarps fail in Montana winters. At 320 square feet of coverage, it handles standard flatbed loads without buying oversized.
Skip it if you need multi-year outdoor protection. This medium-duty thickness won’t match heavy-duty tarps for permanent installations or harsh UV exposure season after season.
Cold Weather Performance and Build Quality
The cold weather performance — “remains pliable in freezing temperatures” — changes everything for Montana job sites. Cheap tarps turn into frozen sheets of plastic that crack when you try to unfold them at 20 below. This one stays workable.
The construction specs tell you it’s built right. Heat-sealed seams instead of stitched means water won’t find its way through needle holes. Rope-reinforced hems prevent the edges from tearing out when wind catches underneath. Aluminum grommets spaced every 3 feet around the perimeter give you 24 tie-down points on this 16x20 footer — enough to secure it properly without creating stress concentrations.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 16 x 20 ft |
| Coverage | 320 square feet |
| Thickness | 5 mil (medium-duty) |
| Material | Polyethylene weave |
| Weave Density | 8 x 10 mesh (some variants 16 x 20 strands/sq in) |
| Grommet Spacing | Every 3 feet |
| Grommet Material | Rust-resistant aluminum |
The 8x10 mesh weave (with some variants reporting 16x20 strands per square inch) provides decent tear resistance without adding excessive weight. You’re looking at polyethylene that’s thick enough to handle job site abuse but light enough that one person can position it.
Coverage Economics and Applications
The 320 square feet covers standard applications: vehicle and boat storage, equipment and lumber protection, temporary roof repair, woodpile and hay bale covering. It’s the right size for a pickup bed with overhang or a small equipment cluster without buying excess material.
Customer feedback shows an average 4.8 rating with contractors praising “reliable protection for outdoor storage” and noting it “stayed flexible in cold weather as advertised”. That cold weather flexibility keeps coming up — clearly a differentiator that matters to users.
Installation and Maintenance
Usage guidance is straightforward: secure using grommets every 3 feet with rope or bungee cords, avoid dragging over sharp objects to maintain water-tight integrity, and clean with soap and water before storage. Nothing revolutionary there, but the 3-foot grommet spacing means you can actually follow the manufacturer’s tie-down recommendations without buying extra attachment points.
Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight when not in use — standard advice that actually matters with polyethylene. UV coating helps during use, but prolonged storage in sunlight will still degrade any poly tarp.
What You’re Really Getting
This isn’t pretending to be a heavy-duty silver/black tarp that’ll last five seasons on a hay stack. It’s positioned as a medium-duty option for “short-to-medium term seasonal storage”. The specs back that up — 5 mil thickness splits the difference between throwaway 3.5 mil tarps and premium 10+ mil options.
The real value shows in the details that matter for Montana conditions. Cold weather flexibility means it won’t crack when you need it most. Heat-sealed seams handle freeze-thaw cycles better than stitched alternatives. UV coating fights degradation at elevation. For temporary coverage that needs to perform reliably through a construction season or winter storage period, the engineering makes sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does the 5 mil thickness compare to other tarp weights?
A: The 5 mil thickness makes this a medium-duty tarp, thicker than 3.5 mil light-duty versions but thinner than 10+ mil heavy-duty options. It’s the sweet spot for seasonal protection without overpaying for thickness you don’t need.
Q: Will the grommets hold up to Montana wind?
A: The rust-resistant aluminum grommets spaced every 3 feet provide 24 tie-down points on the 16x20 size. Combined with rope-reinforced hems, the edge construction handles moderate wind loads when properly secured.
Q: What’s the actual coverage area?
A: The 16 ft x 20 ft dimensions provide 320 square feet of coverage. That covers a standard pickup bed with overhang or protects a modest equipment grouping.
Q: Can this tarp handle being folded and unfolded in winter?
A: Yes — the material “remains pliable in freezing temperatures”, which is the key spec for winter use. Many tarps crack or tear when folded in cold weather, but this polyethylene formulation stays flexible.
Q: How long will this tarp last?
A: ProSource positions this as suitable for “short-to-medium term seasonal storage” rather than permanent outdoor coverage. With UV coating for protection against sun damage, expect one to two seasons of regular use, longer if stored properly between uses.
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