Custom-Size Tarpaulins

Begin with the object and its working routine

A custom cover should fit the task as well as the object. Explain what it protects, where it is used and how often it is fitted or removed. A cover that stays over a fixed stack has different access needs from one opened daily around a machine.

Identify who measures, approves the design and installs the finished item. These responsibilities should be clear before dimensions are finalised. A photograph can help describe the object, but it does not replace measured information. Where the shape is irregular, provide several views and mark the points that affect fitting, clearance and removal so the fabrication brief is based on the intended arrangement rather than assumptions.

Use finished dimensions and consistent units

State whether the measurements describe the object, the cut fabric or the final outside dimensions of the cover. These are not necessarily identical. Hems, joins and the intended overlap can affect usable coverage, so the measurement basis should be written on the drawing.

Keep units consistent and include length, width and any required height or side drop. Avoid relying on a single informal size description when several dimensions influence the fit. Agree tolerances where a particular clearance matters. For replacement covers, measure the object again if the previous sheet was worn, stretched or altered; its current outline may no longer represent the intended original dimensions.

Allow for overlap, clearance and drainage

A cover sized exactly to the object’s outer measurements may be difficult to fit or leave insufficient side protection. Consider the overlap required, the way the sheet will be secured and the space needed around handles or projections. An appropriate allowance should come from the fitting plan rather than a guessed extra amount added to every dimension.

Also show how the top will drain. A generous sheet can still form water pockets if it is unsupported between high points. Keep clearance for inspection and access beneath the edges where needed. The goal is a manageable fit with suitable coverage, not simply the largest possible sheet or a tightly stretched surface with every crease removed.

Mark openings and fixing points on the drawing

Show any required openings, flaps and attachment locations clearly. Include their position relative to defined edges so they can be checked after fabrication. Explain how each feature will be used and whether it needs reinforcement or a particular closing arrangement.

Consider access for the people fitting and removing the cover. A fixing point that looks convenient on a drawing may be difficult to reach once the material is in place. Avoid planning later cuts as a routine way of correcting an incomplete brief. Openings and fittings can affect the protective barrier and local strength, so they should be part of the agreed construction rather than added without assessment after delivery.

Choose material and finishing for the use

Select the fabric around exposure, handling frequency and the surfaces it contacts. Gajpex’s covering range includes HDPE and PVC options, but a custom dimension does not make every available construction suitable for the task. State any direct-contact, temperature or compatibility requirement separately.

For PVC covers, discuss bonded overlap hems where that finishing is required. For other constructions, confirm the offered joining and reinforcement details. A material swatch can demonstrate appearance and flexibility, while a finished sample may be needed to assess fit. Neither should be treated as proof of every performance property. Ask for relevant information where the application requires evidence beyond the visible construction.

Review panel layout and handling size

Large custom covers may need joined panels. Discuss where seams will fall and whether they contact corners or rough surfaces. The available material width and proposed fabrication process can influence the layout, so resolve those details before treating the drawing as final.

Consider whether one large cover is practical to spread, remove and store. Multiple sections may sometimes be easier to handle, provided their arrangement supports the intended protection. Explain the available working space and the people or equipment involved. A heavier material over a large area can create a substantial handling task, and a custom-size order should account for that routine rather than focus only on coverage dimensions.

Approve a sample and control revisions

For a repeated requirement, use a drawing reference and revision date. Record approved changes to dimensions, openings, seams or fittings so production and receiving teams work from the same version. Avoid allowing an informal conversation to become the only record of an important adjustment.

Where practical, review a representative finished sample before a larger quantity is fabricated. Check fit using the intended installation and record what was accepted. If a change is needed, update the drawing as well as the sample notes. Similar-looking machines or vehicle bodies may differ, so verify whether one approved cover can truly be repeated across all the listed objects without size-specific modifications.

Check the delivery before modifying the cover

Compare the finished dimensions, openings and attachment positions against the approved drawing. Inspect joins, reinforcement and visible condition before the item enters service. If the fit differs from the requirement, record clear measurements and photographs rather than immediately cutting or altering the sheet.

Discuss discrepancies with the supplier while the delivered construction remains identifiable. For future enquiries, retain the accepted specification and note any wear found during actual use. Send Gajpex the application, dimensions, quantity, delivery location and desired timing, together with the controlled drawing. Confirm availability, fabrication, packing and lead time for the specific requirement instead of assuming every size or finishing detail can be supplied without review.

Create a simple measurement checklist

Check the object from more than one direction before submitting final dimensions. Confirm that protrusions, side drops and the intended opening route have been included. Mark the point from which each feature is measured so an attachment location can be reproduced rather than interpreted differently by another person.

Ask the person responsible for fitting to review the sketch as well as the purchasing team. A measurement can be numerically correct yet omit the practical clearance needed to lift a cover away. Resolve questions before fabrication, and record any assumptions on the drawing. This reduces uncertainty without requiring elaborate documentation for a straightforward shape.

Plan storage and identification for made-to-fit items

A custom cover is most useful when it remains identifiable after removal. Assign a clear reference connected to the object and drawing, especially where several similar sizes share a storage area. This helps avoid fitting the wrong cover and then stretching or altering it to compensate.

Clean and dry the material before folding and keep fittings away from surfaces they could damage in storage. Inspect the cover before its next use, including features that may be hidden when folded. When equipment is modified or moved, check the fit again rather than assuming the old design remains suitable. Feedback from actual use should become a controlled drawing revision before the next order, preserving a clear connection between the measured requirement and the supplied cover.

Retain a final approval reference

Keep the accepted drawing, sample notes and order confirmation together. If the finished cover is approved after a trial fit, record the object it was fitted to and any agreed adjustments. This gives future purchasing and receiving teams a practical reference and reduces the risk of ordering from an earlier sketch that no longer describes the required shape.