Synthetic hemp rope 2

Thicknesses are categorised by the diameter of the rope - ie measuring across the cross section or 'end' of a rope (some other countries use the circumference, which is the measurement around the rope). Diameters are measured in millimetres; lengths of rope are measured by the metre.

Take a look at our online Rope Finder guide. There is advice about  which rope to use for many different jobs, and about the properties of different types of rope.

Synthetic hemp offers unmatched versatility.

It’s flexible and soft to the touch, yet easy to grip. It is easily spliced and takes knots well. Combined with its desirable rustic appearance, strength and overall resilience to wear and tear, it is a fantastic candidate for both indoor and outdoor settings, and a wide range of home and commercial projects.

Very often it’s chosen for garden projects.

As it’s fully weatherproof and resistant to UV, rot, mould and mildew, synthetic hemp is one of the hardiest options available for extended outdoor use. Perfect for use as decking rope, in rope fences and handrails, lawn edging, rose swags, swing seats etc, as well as on ships and boats, in construction, and kids’ play areas (used to make garden swings, rope ladders, climbing ropes and more).

To give you a little inspiration, we have some fantastic examples and great photos showing how synthetic hemp can be used in our blog. So be sure to take a look!

Synthetic fibre rope doesn’t shrink or swell when it gets wet, and the diameter tends to be more precise than with natural fibre rope. However, some small discrepancies can still occur. So if you plan to pass your synthetic hemp through posts – for example, on decking or as garden rails – please wait for the rope to arrive before drilling holes.

Generally, the holes will need to be larger than the rope’s diameter. We advise drilling a test hole on some spare timber so you can match the size with the rope you have in your hand. There is more information on measuring properly here.

Watch our video for guidance and top tips.

Excellent question. Warehouse Terry and colleagues use a hi-tec distance calibration tool. Watch the video to be amazed.

Only ropes made from natural fibres (cotton, Manila, coir, sisal etc) will shrink when wet.

Why? When natural fibres come into contact with water (rain, dew, immersion, humidity etc) the fibres absorb water causing them to swell. The expansion of the width of the fibre causes the length to shrink.

How much will they shrink? There is no exact formula as it depends on how wet the rope gets and which natural fibre is being used. We would suggest adding a minimum of 10-15% to your measurements and then erring on the side of caution.

Should I try and pre-shrink the rope? You can, but we prefer that the rope be placed in situ (without securing it) and left for several days allowing the shrinkage to occur naturally.

Ropes made from natural fibres can vary in size from batch to batch and by up to around +/-10%. This is most noticeable with Manila rope. Ropes made with synthetic fibres tend to be more accurate. Our advice is wait for your rope to arrive before cutting or drilling to make sure it fits as you want; and remember that holes in posts need to be substantially bigger than the rope's diameter otherwise the rope will 'bunch' as you try to feed it through. For example if you are fitting 32mm decking rope we would estimate you might need to drill a 36mm hole - we advise you wait for the rope to arrive and drill a test hole on some old wood first.