Waterproof or Breathable Covers
'Waterproof' Covers
By definition, to be considered 100% waterproof, a waterproof cover fabric must block moisture of any kind from passing through the material, seams, hem, vents, pockets or any other part of the cover.
In other words, a ‘waterproof’ cover should act as an impenetrable barrier between external moisture and your patio furniture, grill or TV, and that at no time during a 100°F summer day or after a hard spring rain storm, should you be able to remove the cover and find evidence of wetness or moisture.
Typically, these types of inexpensive protective covers are made from vinyl (PVC), Nylon or polyethylene (PE), and are prevalent in low end covers as well as tarpaulins.
'Breathable' Covers
Under humid conditions, water droplets form (like dew) underneath the cover itself. When trapped for an extended period of time, those water droplets will not only cause mold and mildew to form, but will also erode exposed surfaces.
Breathable covers allow trapped moisture and condensation to evaporate quickly thru the cover itself, thus shortening the amount of time your patio furniture, grill or TV is exposed to wet, humid conditions. if water gets through or forms due to condensation, you have nothing to worry about as the water will evaporate before any corrosion can begin.
Your Best Option
Simply put, no fabric or ‘special top-coating’ on earth is everlasting and will eventually allow moisture to pass through it. Of course, water alone won’t negatively affect your furniture’s surface; however, when water/moisture is trapped under the cover due to the implementable nature of the materials used to make ‘100% waterproof’ covers (PVC, PE, Nylon, tarpaulins), harmful agents develop and corrosion is inevitable. As the cover experts, we recommend choosing a ‘water-resistant’ cover that will block moisture while still allowing breathability over time.
For more information on breathable and water-resistant covers, read our post on The Cover Blog about Dispelling the Myth of Waterproof Covers.
Explore our collection of breathable patio furniture, vehicle, grill, and equipment covers.