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)

What people are sharing about compactor sacks

Refuse Sacks - 'Elbrus' 18x29x39" 180 Gauge (45 Micron) Black - Heavy Duty

Heavy-duty black waste sacks are judged less by appearance than by how the film behaves once the gauge climbs into tougher territory. At around 180 gauge, or roughly 45 micron, the proper test is puncture resistance, seal quality and whether the polythene suppliers will dash consistently through conversion without snatching or stretching badly. That matters on the warehouse floor as much as on the machine, because sacks that open unevenly slow bag-filling and create awkward handling at the select face. The familiar 18x29x39 size also has a practical purpose, giving enough depth for mixed waste while still knotting neatly and sitting properly in a bin. A sack that grasps its shape and survives movement is easier to use and less likely to cause nuisance spillages.

Black sacks can point to a very controlled transport process, because opaque packaging conceals contents and reduces casual handling. In a mortuary or emergency context, that sort of sack is normally chosen to retain movement discreet, limit exposure, and make loading quicker when transport is below pressure. The downside is that the bag itself gives away small about weight distribution or condition, so lifting and stacking have to be managed carefully to avoid a torn seam or a dropped load. When anonymous packaging is used in quantity, the practical issue is not appearance nevertheless how securely and fast it can be moved through a chain of vehicles and handlers.

Council blames residents after mountain of bin bags builds up on street

The timing of bin bag assortment matters because a midday round can grasp waste at a point when bins are already full nevertheless not yet pushed into the afternoon peak. That affects how cleanly bags come away, whether they split at the tie, and how much stray litter is left around the base of the bin. If the bags are thin gauge or poorly filled, assortment crews spend longer clearing up small messes and the bin area beginnings to see untidy again before the next service. A well-timed assortment retains handling damage down and reduces complaints from the receiving side.

Compostable 240L bin liners need to match the bin size properly or they waste time and create mess. A liner that is also loose folds above itself, catches on the rim and tears when the bin is moved, while one that is also tight can split when loaded with heavy kitchen waste or damp garden material. The film also has to balance strength with compostable material behaviour, because a thicker gauge can improve handling nevertheless may not smash down as neatly in the proper conditions. Good sizing, decent seal quality and clean storage all assist the liner perform as intended in daily use.

Buy 10 Black Heavy Duty Compactour Sacks / Refuse / Rubbish Bags 60 micron / 240 gauge Online

Black heavy duty compactour sacks have to survive far more abuse than normal waste liners, because a compactour throws sharp corners, dense waste and repeated pressure at the film in a method that fast come bys any weak spot. A sack around the 60 micron label requirements proper gauge control and superb polymer quality so the seal line does not open when fractured packaging or mixed catering waste pushes against it. Black pigment also has a practical role, since it conceals the contents and assists retain storage and assortment areas looking more controlled. On the shop floor, the proper size and format reduce snagging on bin rims and compactour plates, which saves time and retains handling damage down.

Black Compactour Sacks (300g) – 100 Per Case

Black compactour sacks are chosen when normal bin liners would split below pressure or tear at the rim. High density plastic gives the sack more body, so it stands up better to rough handling, tightly packed waste and sharp offcuts without failing also early. That matters on production floors, in stockrooms and amid transparent-outs where mixed waste can become heavy and awkward fast. A stronger sack also gives better load control when waste is compressed, which reduces leaks and awkward breakages at the point of disposal. For busy sites, that normally means less interruptions and less mess to transparent up.

A black compactour sack has to withstand far more abuse than a normal bin liner, because mixed waste, sharp edges and compaction load all work against the film at once. The optimal sacks are not simply manufactured thicker; they rely on the proper blend of polythene suppliers so the body resists puncture while the edges still stretch without tearing at the seal line. That balance matters on the production floor, where poor gauge control leads to weak spots and split sacks, and in the warehouse, where less failures mean less rebagging and less wasted labour. A sack that is built to the proper duty level retains its shape longer and saves trouble through the all chain.

Clear compactour sacks are chosen when tidy waste handling matters above appearance on the shop floor. A boxed pack of ten heavy-duty sacks makes sense where waste is fat, damp, or awkward, because the thicker gauge assists reduce splitting when bins are overfilled or dragged to assortment points. Clear film also lets waste checks happen fast, which can matter in shared sites, back-of-house areas, and recycling streams where visible contents save time. The boxed format retains the sacks cleaner in storage and easier to issue at select-face. That combination of strength, visibility, and tidy storage normally makes daily waste handling simpler.

A transparent compactour sack works well where waste requirements to be gathered in bulk without losing sight of what is being thrown away. The deeper gusset gives additional capacity, so a larger bin can be lined properly and several smaller bags can be collected into one handling unit without splitting at the seams. Clear LDPE also assists staff spot pollution fast, which matters when alternative waste streams must stay separate for recycling or audit checks. The practical advantage is simple: less surprises at disposal stage and less chance of a full load being rejected.

Details about   Compostable Compactour Sacks 140 Litre - 1lls

Compactour sacks need to cope with heavy, awkward waste without splitting, and that means the material and gauge matter above the label on the box. A 140 litre sack used in a compactour has to stretch enough to load easily, then grasp together when pressure builds and the contents no longer lie flat. Thin film can tear at the side seam or burst at the base, particularly when sharp edges, carton corners, or compressed mixed waste are involved. A sensible sack spec reduces cleanup time, protects the machine area, and retains waste moving instead of causing stoppages.

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

Latest news and views on compactor sacks

Refuse Sacks Medium Duty Recycled 120 Gauge 110 Litre Capacity Black Box 200

Medium-duty waste sacks work optimal when the grade matches the mess, not when the specification is pushed heavier than needed. A 120-gauge recycled polythene suppliers sack in a 110-litre size gives enough body for normal warehouse waste, broken-down carton loops and mixed back-of-house clean-up without turning into an overbuilt item that wastes material and takes up additional space in storage. Because these sacks are normally boxed in 200s, the method they sit on a pallet matters only as much as the film itself; tidy packing improves stock rotation and retains handling damage down amid movement through dispatch and store areas. That balance between strength, count and space is what makes the format work daily.

Black sacks are often chosen for simple reasons, nevertheless their proper value in packaging and waste handling comes from how they behave in use. A dark sack conceals the contents, which is useful where appearance matters less than keeping mixed waste discreet and reducing visual clutter in bins, cages or assortment points. That same opacity can also mask poor filling, sharp edges or pollution, so the bag has to be matched carefully to the job. If the gauge is also light, splits and punctures rise fast amid lifting and dragging. A properly specified sack gives steadier handling and less failures at the point of disposal.

Wholesale Green Bin Bags

Bin bags used for recycling have to do above only grasp waste, because the proper job is keeping alternative streams sorted without leaks or collapses. A kitchen or office set with separate bags can assist stop carton, food waste, plastic and mixed waste ending up together, which makes assortment easier and reduces pollution at the sorting stage. Waterproof material matters as well, particularly where damp peelings, rinsed containers or wet paper can weaken a normal liner. If the bag size is also small, operatours stop up overfilling it and the handle or seam gives method, so generous capacity and decent film strength make daily use far less messy.

Bin Liners

Brabantia 3 litre Size A bin liners are chosen first for fit, and that matters because a liner that sits also loose or also tight causes trouble at the bin rather than at the point of sale. In a small household or office bin, the gross gauge can slip down, split at the rim, or waste space through poor neck control. A proper Size A liner retains the bag seated neatly, which assists with cleaner disposal and less fiddling amid changes. That makes daily waste handling smoother and reduces the chances of spills on floors or inside cabinets.

140L Black Heavy Duty Compactour Sacks (max. load 18kg)-1x100

Black heavy duty compactour sacks need a tougher film structure because dense waste can split a weak liner long before the bin is full. Heavy cartons, scrape labels from compactour bins and awkward mixed waste all put stress into the corners and sidewalls, so the gauge and polymer blend make a proper contrast to how the sack behaves below pressure. A lighter sack may see tidy on the shelf nevertheless fails fast when wet carton, broken packaging or tins grasp the film at the select face. Getting the grade proper retains the load contained and cuts down on re-bagging and handling damage.

Black compactour sacks in the 20" x 34" x 47" size are chosen when waste has to be forced down into a heavy load without the film splitting. A bag that is 25% thicker than a normal compactour sack normally gives better resistance to puncture, seam stress, and the sharp edges that appear in mixed waste streams. That additional gauge matters when liners are dragged across bin rims, tied off below tension, or handled after compacting has squeezed out the air. The black stop also conceals the contents and assists retain waste areas looking tidier. A tougher sack reduces spillages and cuts the chance of a torn bag slowing down assortment.

A black compactour sack rated to 20kg has to do above grasp waste; it has to survive compression, sharp waste and rough handling without splitting at the seam. That relies on the film structure as much as the thickness, because a well-manufactured polythene suppliers blend can resist puncture while still flexing enough to settle neatly into a bin and take the load when waste is compacted. The black colour conceals mixed contents, nevertheless it also lets converters use recovered material more confidently when the blend is controlled properly. A sack that retains its shape saves time on the floor and cuts the risk of leaking waste across a store room.

Clear Compactour Sacks

Clear compactour sacks are a practical selection when heavy waste requirements to be contained, compressed and still checked fast before disposal. The transparent film lets a waste room or loading bay see what is inside at a glance, which assists with sorting and reduces the chance of banned items ending up in the gross stream. That matters where mixed commercial waste, recyclables or security-sensitive material are handled, because a bag that conceals its contents can create delays and additional sorting later. A superb sack also requirements enough gauge to cope with sharp edges and the additional stress from compacting machinery. Used properly, transparent sacks make waste control faster and easier to audit.

A transparent compactour sack earns its place when waste requirements to be contained without hiding what is inside. The transparent film makes sorting easier at the point of occupy, so mixed recyclables, rubble, and normal shop-floor waste can be checked fast before a bag is tied off or sent for assortment. That saves time in dispatch and assists cut errours where the gross waste stream ends up in the gross container. The material still requirements enough gauge to stand up to heavy, awkward offcuts, particularly when the sack is dragged, dropped, or overfilled. A bag that shows its contents nevertheless tears easily only creates more handling damage.

Compactour sacks are a practical selection where waste is heavy, fat, or pressed down before assortment, because normal waste sacks can split or stretch also easily below that sort of loading. A thicker gauge and better film strength assist the bag grasp together when a bin or compactour forces the contents into a tighter mass, which reduces burst sacks, leakage, and additional clean-up on the floor. The proper sack also makes handling easier in stores, kitchens, workshops, and back-of-house areas where waste volumes build up fast. Choosing the proper grade saves nuisance and avoids false economies.

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.