Plastic sheeting

Buy best value plastic sheeting and covers from an extensive range of polythene rolls.

Plastic sheeting is...

• A great solution for protecting floors, large surfaces and furniture from paint, dust or debris created during building or decorating work
• Often referred to as ‘builders’ rolls’, due to the fact that it is popular in the building and construction industry
• A favourite of tradespeople, including painters and decorators, plasterers and carpenters
• Also referred to as wide sheeting, as it comes in wide sheets capable of covering large areas
• Sold on the roll, usually 1m wide, and folds out into a sheet 2m wide (single fold) or 4m wide (multi-fold)
• Available in clear polythene or black polythene as standard
• Available in medium duty (100 micron / 400 gauge) or heavy duty (200 micron / 800 gauge) polythene
• Strong, tough, waterproof, durable and reusable
• Suitable for use as a waterproof membrane
• Suitable for use as temporary roofing
• Also manufactured as damp proof membrane (extra thick 250 micron polythene) or specialist flame-retardant polythene (also 250 micron)

Plastic sheeting - the painter’s friend

Somewhere near the top of a painter’s inventory list - just after paintbrushes and paint - is the builders’ roll. These plastic sheets are so popular with painters and decorators that they could easily be called ‘painters’ rolls’.

Plastic sheeting allows painters to get on with their job with complete peace of mind. All it takes is a bit of preparation time to unfold the plastic sheeting and cover floors, carpets, furniture or other items that need protecting, before they can then concentrate fully on their painting without worrying about excess paint dripping onto the surfaces in question.

At the end of the working day or when the job has been completed, the painter can simply pick up the roll, fold it or roll it back up for use on the next job.

Painters don’t have the monopoly on plastic sheeting, however. Other tradespeople also use the protective covering, including carpenters and plasters, for the very same reasons as painters - to give them a simple and quick solution to protecting surfaces during their work, leaving them to concentrate on the job.

How much plastic sheeting do I need?

The amount of plastic sheeting you require to cover an area in preparation for a job will depend on a number of factors:

1. The overall size of the floor area that needs covering
2. The amount and size of other items that need covering (e.g. furniture)
3. How many times you want to lay your plastic sheeting during the job
4. How contained the mess created will be to the working area

Obviously, the bigger the surface area you have to cover (point 1) and the more furniture items you have to cover (point 2), the more plastic sheeting you will need, unless you are happy to move your plastic sheeting around during the job (point 3).

One other important thing to consider is that dust may easily blow away from the immediate working area so some jobs, such as sanding or drilling, are likely to need a wider area covered around the work zone than others, such as painting (point 4).

Plastic sheeting - measuring up

Once you have decided how big an area you need to cover in one go, you need to work out how many sheets you need. Remember that plastic sheeting is traditionally sold on 1m rolls that fold out to either 2m-wide ‘single-fold’ sheets or 4m-wide ‘multi-fold’ sheets.

So, if you need to cover an area that's 3m x 10m, you’ll either need one 10m long section of a 4m multi-fold sheet, or two 10m long sections of a 2m single-fold sheet, which you’ll then place alongside each other, with some overlap, to cover the required area.

When purchasing your plastic sheeting, don’t forget that 4m-wide multi-fold sheets will, in general, be sold on a roll half the length of a 2m-wide single-fold sheet, as there is twice as much plastic being wrapped around the roll.

Both single-fold rolls and multi-fold rolls will, as standard, contain 200m² of plastic sheeting and will weigh the same (100 micron ‘medium duty’ clear polythene x 200m² = 18kg). The single fold roll will measure 2m x 100m, while the multi-fold roll will measure 4m x 50m.

Heavy or medium duty polythene?

Another important factor to consider when choosing the plastic sheeting you need for a job is the sort of debris you are protecting your floors, surfaces and objects from.

If you are only likely to create a light covering of debris, such as dripping paint or dust from sanding, then the chances are you will only require a medium duty plastic sheet, which comes in 100 micron (400 gauge) clear polythene.

If you’re working in a more ‘heavy duty’ environment, such as on a building site or in the garden, then you may find prefer to use 200 micron (800 gauge) heavy duty plastic sheeting, which will offer more protection to the surfaces from bumps, scratches or scrapes.

Extra thick plastic membrane

Even more durable and robust than standard heavy duty plastic sheeting is damp proof membrane - an extra thick sheet of polythene, weighing in at a minimum of 250 microns (1000 gauge) thick.

Usually made from black or blue recycled polythene, damp proof membrane (DPM) can be used as part of a damp proof course (DPC) to prevent the onset of rising damp in building work, or for other heavy duty waterproofing.

A good damp proof course is fundamental to preventing unwanted moisture from entering the interior space of a building. For this reason, damp proof membrane is quality controlled by the British Board of Agreement (BBA), such keep an eye out for their approval on the product before you buy.

Black plastic sheeting

Black plastic sheeting can be used in the same way as clear plastic sheeting, to protect surfaces during building or renovation work, or as a waterproof membrane. One advantage that black sheeting has over clear sheeting is that it also provides a light-proof cover and so can be useful for both absorbing heat and covering items when security is important.

Where to buy plastic sheeting

Plastic sheeting manufacturers and suppliers include:

Layflat Tubing
The number one layflat tubing website on the internet. Layflat Tubing stock a huge range of poly tubing and heat sealers at fantastic wholesale prices, with simple online ordering and free UK delivery. The only layflat tubing website you'll need.
www.layflat-tubing.co.uk

Polythene Sheeting
Poly Sheets is the website to visit for all of your polythene sheeting needs. Containing loads of useful information on poly sheeting, also known as builders rolls, plus builders bags and damp proof membrane, with details of where to buy them.
www.polysheets.co.uk

Polythene Rolls
If you're looking to buy polythene rolls, layflat tubing, shrink covers, stretch wrap or damp proof sheeting, then this is the website for you. Featuring loads of useful information on polythene sheeting and a list of the best online stockists.
www.polythenerolls.com

Polythene Tubing
A brilliant online resource for anyone interested in buying polythene tubing, also known as layflat tubing. Find out all you need to know about poly tubing, how it is made and what it is used for, with a detailed buying guide for you to get the best discount prices.
www.discountlayflattubing.co.uk

Rubble Bags
The number one website on rubble bags - the super-strong waste sacks that are essential for every building site and ideal for heavy duty work in the garden, DIY projects at home or transporting heavy rubble or rubbish to the tip.
www.rubblebags.org

Builders Rolls
Builders Rolls is the go-to website for the builders, painters and decorators looking to buy wide-fold plastic sheeting, often referred to as builders rolls. With lots of information on what to look for and where to buy builders rolls at the best prices.
www.buildersrolls.com

Research & Resources

For more information on plastic sheeting or builders rolls, including details of how it is manufactured and the range of protective polythene sheeting available, please visit:

PlasticBags.uk.com: The UK's premier polythene packaging online directory. Retailers can submit items for listing and customers can browse a selection of plastic sheeting websites.

PackagingKnowledge: The online polythene packaging encyclopedia, featuring a wide range of articles and a huge amount of information on plastic sheeting.

Goldstork: Free online directory listing the best of the web, featuring carefully selected information and specialist plastic sheeting websites.

Plastic rolls or polythene rolls?

What is the difference between plastic rolls and polythene rolls? These terms and others like them - including plastic sheeting, builders rolls, poly rolls or polythene film - are often mixed and matched to describe a variety of polythene products. The one thing all of the terms have in common is that they refer to a sheet of plastic - or polythene - that is wound around a central roll and dispensed by unwinding the roll until you have as large a sheet as you need.

Whilst the terms may be interchanged by some people, by and large, in the building trade the term 'plastic rolls' is used to describe plastic sheeting, also known as builders rolls, which is widely used by builders, painters and decorators to protect large areas or objects such as furniture from dust, dirt, stray paint and so on. Damp proof membrane, used to provide a damp proof layer for buildings, is also included in the 'plastic rolls' family.

The term 'polythene rolls' on the other hand, is most often used to describe rolls of polythene film that are used for packaging or wrapping items. These include single layers of film, such as shrink wrap pallet covers, PVC clear wrapping and glossy clear polypropylene wrapping, as well as polythene tubing - also known as layflat tubing - which is used to wrap objects of awkwards shapes and sizes and comes in regular or anti-static polythene.

Interesting information about plastic sheeting

6 Mil Plastic Sheeting, Poly Sheeting in Stock – ULINE

Poly sheeting earns its place when a job requirements a transparent barrier that can stand up to rough handling. A woven strengthened sheet at 6 mil has more body than thin film, so it copes better with wind, snagging and repeated folding on site or in the warehouse. The transparent stop still lets stock, plants or equipment remain visible, which assists with checks amid storage and dispatch. Buying it in skid quantities also makes sense where usage is proper, because bulk supply cuts down on service interruptions and retains the line moving. That sort of specification is normally chosen for practical protection, not glamour, and it does the job well.

Clear polythene suppliers Sheeting 4m x 25m Poly Sheeting Plastic

Clear polythene suppliers sheeting works optimal when it is chosen for the job rather than treated as a generic roll of plastic. At 4m wide and 25m long, it gives a big sheet area that can cover machinery, keep safe products in storage, or act as a temporary barrier without also plenty connects. The transparent stop matters because it lets light through and retains items visible, which assists with checks on an active warehouse floor. Gauge and film quality still matter, though, because thin sheeting can flap, split, or tear on rough edges. A decent roll saves time and reduces repair work later.

Builders rolls need to be chosen for the method they will be handled, not only for how they see stacked in the warehouse. A roll that appears tidy and well enclosed can still give trouble once it is fitted into a dispenser or pulled across a work area, particularly if the gauge is also light or the winding is slack. That normally shows up as splitting, jerky unwinding, and uneven use, which slows the job and creates scrap. A grade matched to the handling requirements stays stable from storage through to use, so the roll works as intended instead of failing at the first pull.

Reinforced Plastic Sheeting Market Major Manufacturers, Trends, Demand, Share Analysis to 2024

Reinforced plastic sheeting wins business where normal film tears also easily below proper handling. The reinforcement inside the sheet gives it better resistance to puncture, stretch and accidental snagging, which matters when rolls are moved through a yard, loaded by fork-lift, or enclosed round awkward products with sharp edges. That additional strength can also improve load security on pallets, reducing the chance of split covers and exposed stock amid transit. Specifying the proper gauge and mesh pattern matters, because a sheet that is also light fails early while one that is also heavy adds cost and stiffness. The proper grade gives proper protection without creating handling trouble later.

4 metre wide 1000g BLACK sheeting (By the metre)

Black sheeting at 4m wide and 1000 gauge suits jobs where coverage, screening, and strength all matter at once. The width cuts down on connects, so less overlaps are needed on the floor or around stored products, while the heavy gauge gives a tougher barrier that resists tearing when dragged, folded, or fixed in position. In warehouse and site conditions, that matters because thin film can split on rough edges or amid handling damage. The black colour also blocks light, which assists when the aim is to conceal stock, keep safe contents from sunlight, or tidy up a storage area. A sheet like this works optimal when the roll size and handling method match the job.

Clear sheeting can be turned into a tidy indicator lens if the print, backing and stop are all matched properly. A blacked-out strip with the symbols left transparent gives a clean face when the lamp is off, nevertheless the proper trick is controlling the method light passes through the build-up. A thin Lexan backer adds stiffness, while a coloured layer behind it sets the lit appearance and stops the icons glowing in daylight. A matte transparent coat on the front cuts reflections and conceals the internal detail until the lamp is active. That sort of layered construction requirements proper stickiness and proper curing, nevertheless it gives a smarter result and avoids a cluttered dashboard see.

APPARATUS, WORK STATION AND METHOD FOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE SHEETING OF POLYMER MATERIAL TO A PIPELINE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD

Protective sheeting around a pipeline cutback only works properly when the guide gear stays out of the method until it is needed. A system that can swing between a working position and a rest position lets the extrusion die follow the pipe cleanly without blocking forward movement or other finishing work on the exposed area. That retains the sheet application controlled, which matters when polymer material has to wrap evenly around an awkward part rather than bunch up or leave gaps. The practical earn is less interference on the shop floor and a tidier, more proper stop on the cutback.

Medium Duty Cable Tray

Medium duty cable trays sit in the middle ground between light storage assist and the heavier systems needed for larger cable runs, so the specification has to match the job rather than only the load on paper. A 150mm width gives enough space for a sensible bundle of cables without wasting material or making the installation fat. That balance matters in converting and handling because a tray that is overbuilt can be awkward to transport, while one that is also light may flex or distort amid fitting. The proper medium duty selection assists retain alignment tidy, reduces damage on site, and avoids having to replace parts later.

Wide sheeting relies on proper melt flow and even cooling, because a big web shows faults that a narrow strip can conceal. When an extruder feeds sheet through a multiroll calender, the gap setting, roll temperature and material viscosity all shape whether the finished sheet lies flat or comes off with thickness bands and edge curl. Small changes in gauge can cause trouble later in slitting, stacking or thermoforming, where one weak area leads to splits or poor tray formation. Good control at the machine saves waste and reduces handling damage further down the line.

How to Use Damp Proof Membrane

A damp proof membrane provided in 10kg containers requirements careful view at the packing line because the weight is small enough to handle easily nevertheless still heavy enough to punish poor stacking. If the product is rolled or folded film, the container has to keep safe it from edge crush, dust and moisture while leaving enough room for tidy presentation on the shelf or pallet. Loose packing can lead to scuffed faces, split corners and messy loads that slip amid transit. A well-judged container retains the membrane clean and saleable, which saves repacking and avoids awkward complaints at dispatch.