Outdoor covers are heavy-duty weather-resistant covers designed for cars stored outdoors or in semi-covered locations (carports, open-fronted workshops) where the cover needs to withstand rain, wind, UV exposure and the wider range of outdoor conditions across the seasons. The construction priorities are dramatically different from indoor covers, the outer construction must resist water and UV, the cover must stay in position under wind loads, and the entire assembly must remain durable across many seasons of exposure.
Multi-Layer Weatherproof Construction
Outdoor covers are typically built as multi-layer constructions. The outer face is a weatherproof fabric, typically a coated polyester or polypropylene that sheds water effectively and resists UV degradation across the cover's working life. The middle layer (where present) provides additional waterproofing and insulation, helping to prevent condensation on the cover's inner face. The inner layer is a soft non-scratching material that protects the paint from contact wear during the cover's working life.
The construction is engineered to allow some breathability while remaining waterproof, typically through a microporous outer face that allows water vapour to escape but blocks liquid water from passing through. This is critical for outdoor storage where condensation under an airtight cover would cause moisture-related problems on the underlying car.
UV Resistance and Long-Term Durability
UV exposure is one of the principal threats to an outdoor cover. The sun's UV radiation degrades plastic and polyester materials over time, with the cover becoming brittle, losing its colour, and eventually cracking and failing if not specified for UV resistance. Quality outdoor covers use UV-stabilised polymer materials that resist this degradation, with appropriate testing to confirm the cover will last several years in UK outdoor exposure conditions. The seam construction also matters, sewn seams must be reinforced and weatherproofed (typically with heat-sealed tape over the stitching) to prevent water ingress at the joints.
Quality outdoor covers carry these construction details across the entire cover, ensuring no weak points compromise the overall weather resistance.
Wind-Resistance and Fitting
Outdoor covers must stay in position under wind loads that would lift a less-secured cover off the car. Elastic edges around the lower perimeter provide the basic retention; supplementary tie-downs at the front, rear and sides provide additional security in stormy conditions. Some patterns include cables that run under the car (through the wheel arches or under the chassis) and connect to the opposite side of the cover, providing the firmest possible retention against high winds. The fitted patterns for specific classic-MG bodystyles, MGB roadster, MGB GT, Midget, MGA, MGC and the wider range, include the appropriate retention details for each application.
The technical team is available to advise on the right cover specification for a specific car and outdoor storage environment, including the appropriate tie-down arrangement for the local wind conditions.