My '87 Grand National got ruined by a cheap tarp and a metal shed roof

Last month I stored my 1987 Buick Grand National under a heavy blue tarp in my buddy's metal carport out past Aurora. I figured it would be fine since the carport had a roof, but after 3 weeks of morning dew and afternoon sun, the tarp actually fused to the paint in a few spots. The heat from the metal roof cooked the tarp into the clear coat on the hood and part of the passenger door. I spent $400 at a detail shop to get the residue off, and there's still a faint ghost stain on the hood. The guy at the body shop said moisture gets trapped between the tarp and the paint, and the metal roof just bakes it into a chemical bond. Has anyone else had a tarp disaster with a metal shelter or am I just the unlucky guy who learned this the hard way?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_kim13d ago

Brother, sounds like you learned the same lesson I did when I tried to dry my phone in the microwave. Thought I was being clever, ended up with a crispy paperweight. So did you end up just parking it under a tree after that or what?

kevin_hernandez8313d ago

Man I feel your pain, that ghost stain is the worst part because it just sits there to remind you every time you walk up to the car. You don't need a metal roof to cause this though, even a regular wooden carport will do the same thing if the tarp sits on the paint too long. Next time you want to cover it, go to a fabric store and get some old moving blankets or quilted furniture pads to put down first, then put the tarp over that. The key is having a breathable layer between the paint and the plastic so moisture can escape and heat doesn't bake it all together. Did you try a clay bar on that ghost stain yet or just the chemical stuff?