How To Make A DIY Grill Cover Out Of A Tarp

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What You Need

According to apartmenttherapy.com, here is what you need for your DIY grill cover.

Materials 2½ to 3 yards of oilcloth or vinyl fabric. You may need more or less fabric depending on the size of your grill. Consider measuring your grill before you buy the fabric!

Tools Scissors, measuring tape, sewing machine

Source: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-a-diy-grill-cover-132038

Which Material Should You Choose?

At first you may want to buy a piece of canvas in a local hardware store but the choice of colors may be limited.

But honestly, who wants to have a big monster in either black, brown or dark green on the terrace? At least not me.

Therefore you should consider getting some cheap oilcloth sold by the yard but it is often more expensive than ready made tablecloth.

Of course, if you have unused or even used oilcloths lying around, you can use them to sew the cover. You will need 2 tablecloths for a small grill and 3-4 tablecloths for larger barbecue.

Making DIY BBQ Cover

You can also use PVC fabric to make a grill cover.

What is the difference between oilcloth and PVC? PVC tablecloth is a 100% plastic fabric.

On the other hand, the oilcloth tablecloth is printed cotton fabric with added PVC coating. Historically oilcloth fabric was coated in linseed oil or beeswax.

Cutting The Cloth

The cover consists of 3 different cut parts:

top: a rectangle

front and back: a "house"

right and left: a trapezoid

Measure Your Grill

To get the right dimensions, measure the grill, adding 1/2 inch extra in every direction. This way the grill cover can be easily put on.

Also added 1/2 inch all around and 1-1 1/2 inches on the bottom side for the fold over and sew.

Here I found measurements in centimeters for something that looks like the Weber Q3200 grill.

For your BBQ you have to take your own measurements of course.

In the drawing they have straightened the side parts to a height of 4 inches on the left and right side, to be able to sew the oilcloth more easily on the bottom later. You can even add 6-8 inches if appropriate.

First you should sew the front and the back to the long side of the top - because of the crease in the tent roof.

Then sew the side parts to the short sides of the upper cut part.

Now sew the vertical seams to connect the front/back sides with the side parts, try it on once (really recommended, the cover could have been a bit too long otherwise) and finally sew around the lower edge.

Making Homemade Grill Cover Keywords

This has become a big "tent", but the cover is sewn quite quickly, because you only have a few straight seams and you don't need lining fabric or to clean up edges on the oilcloth.

And it was also cheaper than the cover you can buy.

Here is a list of additional DIY BBQ cover resources.

How To Make DIY Grill Cover Links

More coming soon!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best material for a grill cover?

How To Make DIY Grill Cover

Polyester – Probably the most common grill cover you will come across. ...

Vinyl – Vinyl grill covers offer great protection from rain and snow as they are highly waterproof. ...

Canvas – Canvas grill covers use the same materials you will find in things like tents and awnings.

Source: https://goshindig.com/best-grill-covers/

How are grill covers measured?

Measure the height. This is the distance from the highest point of the grill to the ground.

Measure the width. This is the distance from the farthest edge of the grill to the other.

Measure the depth. This is the distance horizontally from the front of the grill to the back.

Souce: https://www.empirepatio.com/measure/how-to-measure-bbq-grill-cover.aspx

How long do grill covers last?

They are tough but lightweight and are made from durable polyester fabric. Many people report using them for five or ten years without needing to replace them.

Source: https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-to-choose-a-grill-cover-3967438

Can you sew a poly tarp?

Sewing Tarps

Canvas tarps are the only kind that can be sewn. You can either sew on a patch or darn a hole or tear. Use sturdy thread made of the same material as the canvas. You sew a tarp using a heavy-duty machine or by hand with a special needle called a sailmaker's needle.

Source: https://www.hunker.com/13415031/can-you-glue-or-sew-a-tarp-together

Can you cut a tarp?

Yes! You can cut the tarp where you need to. Then, fold the edge over about 1 inch and then again (double fold the edge). Use our Tarp Tape to hold the edge in place.

Source: https://creative-shelters-faq.groovehq.com/help/can-i-cut-down-or-customize-my-poly-tarp

How do you join a tarp together?

To do this, you can use a good tarp tape, tarp glue (which works only on vinyl tarps, not the more common polyethylene ones), or you can use a soldering gun or plastic welder to "glue" two tarps together by fusing the plastic they're made of. You can use a soldering iron to fuse plastic tarps together.

Source: https://www.hunker.com/12414890/how-to-glue-tarps

Can you sew polyethylene?

No. Your machine will not sew through the tarp material without breaking. ... Try stitching through some sample material first. Get heavy duty needles for upholstery, use heavy upholstery thread, and clear the space around your sewing machine.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/comments/6dhngm/can_i_sew_a_tarp_on_my_regular_sewing_machine/

How do you fix a rip in a tarp?

Lay the tarp flat if possible. Mate up the edges of the tear as best as you can. Peel the paper backing off the tarp repair tape a little at a time as you apply to the tear or hole. Rub the tape with firm pressure to assure a tight seal between the adhesive and the tarp.

Source: http://www.inlandtarp.com/tarp-repair/

Can You Use Flex Seal on a tarp?

Heat bonding can't really be done with the tarp on the load, I'm not satisfied with the cure time for HH-66, Flex Seal doesn't work for anything, not even pinholes, and will just stick your tarp to itself when you roll it up.

Source: https://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/threads/how-to-repair-tarp.210505/page-4

Can I sew vinyl with a regular sewing machine?

In the case of vinyl-coated fabric, the fabric is providing strength and durability that plain vinyl does not have. Use a scrap of vinyl to experiment with stitch lengths and no thread in the sewing machine. Then try using the stitching as a tear strip and experience just how easily a short stitch length tears.Oct 14, 2019

Source: https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/sewing-vinyl-fabric-4145767

How To Make DIY BBQ Cover

Why Do People Love Custom Made Grill Covers?

Please check out the real life feedback from real people who have got custom sewn BBQ covers for their outdoor island grills.

“I have gone through two factory covers in 5 years. The cover I purchased from the company will last twice that long and it is the same price as my factory cover! The workmanship of the product is amazing and the cover arrived much earlier than expected. It fits perfectly over my grill (perhaps better than the factory cover) and it looks amazing! Before, finding an alternative to the factory cover for my built in grill was impossible. Thanks guys!” J. Gannon, Irvine, CA

"I just got my grill cover this morning. WOW! The team at the company worked to help me with the specifications and to get the measurements just right. The process was easy, the custom service was exceptional, and the shipment was fast. Now I have a custom cover for my custom grill!" J. Vagnier, Columbus, Ohio

"The cover just arrived. It is so much more beautiful than I ever imagined. It's gorgeous... I am so happy with it! And dealing with you was a pleasure - you made it so easy for us to get the look we were wanting. One of our friends was here when the cover arrived, so I am hoping they will call you, too." J. Chesner, San Diego

"Thanks again! It was a truly wonderful experience ordering the grill cover from you! I cannot thank you enough! He loved it! And he was totally surprised! It fits beautifully! Take care, Robin" (Carlsbad, CA)

"I got my cover. Thank you very much. I love it :)" S. Cox, Texas

"Our grill never looked better. Finally we have a grill cover that adds to the beauty of our backyard. The quality is excellent and the Sunbrella fabric is awesome. We get a lot of ocean air and it always looks brand new." J. Carlisle, Newport Beach, California

"I got one of your custom grill covers as a gift for my dad. He was so impressed with the fit and quality. As a retired Marine he really liked the design of the grill tools and the words, "Grill Sergeant". Everyone wanted to know where I got it!" K. Mangrell, Ames, Iowa

"Finally, y'all came up with a fabulous grill cover for us Texans. We love our BBQ's and Grill Cover!" K. Clover, Southlake,Texas

"What a perfect fit! Everyone loves the whale tail design, which is near and dear to my heart. Finally, I could throw out the ugly vinyl cover that came with my grill." C. Hyry, Kona, Hawaii

"I'm thrilled with my new built-in grill cover! I had no idea something like this was available until I saw one at a friend's home. Thank you." J. Kochner,

You can find more information about grill covers here.