If You Want To Keep The Rain Out, Don’t Buy An Outdoor Car Cover!

Choosing the best car cover for outdoor use can be confusing. You might believe that a cover made for outdoor use would be waterproof, but that’s not always the case. To people in the business, “outdoor” really means that it will protect a vehicle in light weather conditions. Waterproof means something completely different. A “waterproof” cover is what you look for when you need protection in all-weather conditions.

This article explains the difference between the many different types of fabrics used to make car covers. With more than twenty different fabric names in common use, it is not only difficult to remember what is what, it is also challenging to determine what is best for your particular situation.

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Based on more than thirty years of use experience, I’ll use Coverking and Covercraft fabrics as my examples. I realize there are other choices, but these two companies are the recognized leaders in the industry. Plus, both companies use a five-star rating system that’s become common across all sites that sell these products. The ratings make it easier to evaluate and choose the material that’s right for you.

For the sake of clarity, an outdoor fabric is one that is suitable for light weather conditions, but not for heavy or extended periods of precipitation. Here, too, you will find fabrics that have many different qualities. For example, the Triguard material is a 3-layer fabric that’s okay for light use. It’s great for a vehicle that you might have tucked away under a carport, but definitely not made for an automobile parked on the street or in the driveway getting full exposure.

If you need an outdoor cover that can take the abuse of the sun’s UV rays, look at the Silverguard material. It works great in full sun, even when used daily. You’ll see this fabric a lot in hot, sunny climates, but not in the South where afternoon summer rains are common. For the South you need a waterproof material that can breathe. For comparison, the Sunbrella material has the same sunny climate protective qualities.

Covercraft’s Block-It fabric is a step up from Silverguard and Sunbrella in its ability to handle wet weather. It’s a 4-layer polypropylene construction that’s capable of handling all weather conditions, but it’s not 100% waterproof. The trade-off is the level of breath-ability it provides. It’s a great solution for anyone that needs both indoor and outdoor protection. Plus, the 4-layers of thickness allow it to absorb parking lot abuse so you don’t get door dings, nicks and scratches.

To be truly waterproof, a cover needs to offer excellent all-weather protection. That includes extended periods of rain, snow or icing. Perhaps the most well known fabric for this type of climate condition is Noah.

Kimberly-Clark developed and manufactures the Noah material for Covercraft. It was the first naturally waterproof fabric, meaning it does not require water repellant chemicals to do its job. One of most amazing qualities of the fabric is its weight per square yard, just a scant 4.45 ounces. It’s light and easy to handle, even when it has been sitting out in rain. Noah is a true all-weather material with excellent breathe-ability and UV light inhibiting qualities.

Not to be over-looked, Stormproof by Coverking is the latest in modern microfiber technology. It uses yarn with fibers so small that water can’t get past the weave, yet moisture vapors under the cove pass through with ease. Unlike older fabrics treated with water repellant chemicals, Stormproof does not need a coating so its water repelling capabilities don’t wear off. Lesser fabrics will fail after a season or two unless you treat the fabric again. The big surprise is the super soft, plush feel. It’s amazing!

Before you make your final selection, be sure to check off all of the boxes. There’s a big difference between outdoor and waterproof. Make sure you get the right material for your climate and use conditions.

To learn more about car covers and the differences between a waterproof and outdoor fabrics, visit Autopia Car Covers.