Can You Stretch Canvas Tarps?

Stretching Canvas

• You can stretch a canvas yourself, or you can seek professional help. If you stretch the canvas yourself, there are kits you can use or you can make your own stretcher. The University of Evansville suggests using stretcher bars or wooden slats that fit together. In addition, you will need staples or tacks, stretching pliers, scissors, wooden keys and the canvas. Once you have your materials, put the stretcher or wooden frame together. If you are using separated slats, slide the edges together according to the instructions and staple the corners into place on both sides of the stretcher frame. The University of Evansville suggests cutting the canvas so it is at least 3̶1; longer than the stretcher frame on all sides. Pull it tightly and staple it at four opposite points in the middle of each side of the stretcher frame. The canvas needs to be stretched evenly around all sides of the stretcher frame by wrapping and stapling from side to side and top to bottom around the frame. Once you reach the corners, pull the canvas so all the ripples disappear and then staple. This should tighten the corners; you can take the excess canvas, crease it, fold it back and staple it.

Tightening Canvas

• To make the canvas a little bit tighter, artist Nancy Doyle advises using keys once you have the frame put together. Keys usually come with the stretcher frame. They are little triangular pieces of wood that fit into two openings on the inside of each of the four corners of a frame. Nancy Doyle suggest using the following process with the frame turned over on the back side: "Take the wooden key and put the pointy end of the key into the lowest opening in the inside corner of the stretcher, as far as it will go; then tap the straight end until the key is securely in the hole. Tap lightly, not hard. Don't push the key in too far; just far enough to be snug. Put a second key in the upper opening, using the same process. Repeat this for all four corners."

Warped Canvas

• The University of Evansville advises that if stretching is uneven, the canvas will be warped. If it is warped, you can remove some of the staples and re-wrap the canvas. Art-Is-Fun suggests spraying water on the back of the canvas and letting it dry to remove warps.