Polythene sheeting, cut to the width and gauge you need

What is polythene sheeting used for?

Polythene sheeting is a flat film used as a physical barrier between something you want to keep clean and everything that would dirty, wet or scratch it. On site it covers floors, fittings and part-finished work during refurbishment. In a warehouse it goes over machinery, racking and stock that is standing for a while, or lines crates and stillages so bulk goods do not sit against bare timber or steel.

Because it is sold by width and length rather than as a finished item, sheeting is also the starting point for anything you want to cut and tape to shape yourself. Buyers who need a made-up bag or cover to a fixed size usually order a converted product instead, so tell us what the film is doing and we will point you at the format that costs less to use.

What gauge of polythene sheeting do I need?

Gauge is the thickness of the film, measured in microns, and we manufacture polythene sheeting from 100 to 500 micron. The lighter end of that range suits short-term dust covering and single-use protection where nothing is going to walk on it or drag across it. The heavier end suits sheeting that takes foot traffic, sharp edges, repeated folding or a spell outdoors.

If you are not sure, describe the job rather than guessing a number: what the sheeting covers, how long it stays there, whether anyone walks on it, and whether it is reused. We will recommend a gauge from that, and we can tune strength, stiffness, elasticity and slip in the film itself rather than simply making it thicker.

How is polythene sheeting specified and supplied?

A sheeting specification comes down to four things: gauge in microns, the width of the film, the length or sheet size, and the colour. Clear film lets you see what is underneath, black film blocks light and hides the contents, and we can manufacture in a colour you specify if you use colour to separate grades or sites. Sheeting can be printed to your artwork where you need branding, a batch reference or handling wording on the film.

We supply polythene sheeting on rolls or as cut sheets, folded where the finished width is wider than the roll can carry flat. Tell us how the sheeting is handled on your side, by hand from a dispenser, off a roll stand or dropped over a load, and we will supply it in the format that suits that rather than one you have to cut down first.

Can polythene sheeting be made with recycled content?

Yes. We manufacture polythene sheeting in recycled grades as well as virgin polythene, and biodegradable film is manufactured too. Recycled film generally has a slightly different look, often greyer or less clear than virgin film, which matters if you need to see through the sheeting and does not matter at all if you do not.

Recycled content also affects your position under the UK Plastic Packaging Tax, which applies to plastic packaging that does not meet the recycled content threshold set by government. We can quote sheeting against a recycled content you specify so you can compare properly. Check gov.uk for the current rate, threshold and registration rules before you budget.

Common applications for polythene sheeting

• Construction and refurbishment dust sheeting
• Temporary weather and overnight protection on site
• Covering machinery, racking and standing stock in warehouses
• Crate, stillage and box liners for bulk goods
• Floor and furniture protection during removals and fit-outs
• Agricultural and horticultural covering
• Waste and offcut collection on production lines
• Separation layers between palletised or stacked goods

Questions

Polythene sheeting FAQs

What is the difference between polythene sheeting and shrink film?

Polythene sheeting is a flat film used as a static cover, liner or dust sheet, and it stays whatever size you cut it to. Shrink film is manufactured to contract tightly around a load when heat is applied, which is what holds a pallet or a multipack together. If you need to cover something, order sheeting. If you need to grip and stabilise a load, order shrink film.

How wide can you make polythene sheeting?

We manufacture sheeting to the width you specify rather than to a fixed list of standard sizes. Give us the finished width and length you need and we will confirm what we can extrude and convert for that gauge, and whether it comes to you flat or folded. Very wide sheeting is usually supplied folded so it fits on a manageable roll.

Will polythene sheeting last if it is left outside?

Polythene sheeting will keep rain, wind-blown dirt and dust off a load, but standard polythene is intended for temporary outdoor cover rather than permanent exposure. Sunlight and repeated flexing will degrade any untreated film over time. Tell us how long the sheeting needs to stay outside and we will recommend a gauge and specification suited to that period.

Can you supply sheeting already made into a bag or liner?

Yes. We convert as well as extrude, so instead of flat sheeting we can supply the same film as layflat tubing cut and sealed to length, as a gusseted cover, or as a finished bag sized to your crate or pallet. That usually saves labour if your team is currently cutting and taping sheeting by hand. Send us the dimensions of what you are wrapping and we will quote the converted format.