There’s a world of difference between a DIY shop polythene sheet and a custom-manufactured, industrial-grade polythene sheet from NPF Packaging. We’re not just talking about the prices or the sizing – this is about the very nature of the product. This guide will help you understand those differences, so you can get the right product for your needs on the first try.
What Screwfix sells
Screwfix, and other trade and DIY shops, sell polythene sheeting as a general-purpose material. You will find it in a few standard sizes and thicknesses.
You’ll find general purpose, clear sheeting at 150 gauge – for use as dust sheets. They stock heavy duty repair sheeting at 620 gauge, and polythene for damp-proof membranes at 1000 gauge.
The main selling points are convenience and price for relatively small jobs. You can pop in, grab a roll, and probably use it over multiple jobs if you’re self-employed in the trades.
But this is a “one-size-fits-all” product, manufactured to a general spec that is good enough for a wide range of low-stakes applications. It’s there to be fit for purpose for a DIYer or a tradesperson on a single job.
For as little as £18 quid a roll, it’s brilliant. But that’s not what NPF packaging deals with…
The NPF difference: what you get from custom polythene sheet
At NPF Packaging, we do not sell general purpose sheeting. We manufacture high-performance, bespoke polythene products for industry. The difference is not just the quality – it’s the intention behind our products.
Minimum order quantity: the crucial difference
This is the big one. We’re a polythene manufacturer, and our production runs are designed for volume.
Our minimum order quantity for custom polythene sheet is typically 2,000 kg.
This kind of order makes sense for a factory, a logistics company, or a large construction firm. If you need a roll or two of sheeting, then Screwfix, Wickes, or B&Q is where you need to go.
Thickness and grade precision
When you buy a 1000 gauge sheet from Screwfix, you are getting a specific product at a specific thickness. With us, 1000 gauge is just the start of the conversation. We have the capability to produce polythene sheet from as thin as 32 gauge right up to a super heavy duty 1200 gauge, and everything in between, in custom sizing and formats.
But more than that, we offer a choice of polymer blends, each with different properties for strength, flexibility, and puncture resistance. You’re not locked into one standard blend. This is crucial for high-stakes, large scale construction jobs, where masses of damp-proofing and gas membranes are needed – requiring custom materials, additives, sizes, and thicknesses.
While we are leading polythene experts, we’re also a packaging-first business. Our material is intended for a wide range of use cases in many industries, and you can see examples of the sectors we serve here.
Bespoke sizing and colours
A Screwfix sheet comes in a fixed size. Our polythene sheet can be made to almost any width you need, from just 20mm wide right up to several metres(!).
Need a sheet that is exactly 2.35 metres wide? No problem. Need it in a specific shade of blue to colour-code your parts? We can do that, too. Need it printed with your branding, lot numbers, QR codes, or compliance information? We’ve got you covered.
Material composition and additives
Screwfix sheeting is often made from parts unknown. It could contain recycled content, non-compliant additives, and may not be traceable to source.
If you need a specific type of material, like virgin polymer for food contact or medical use, or a sheet with antistatic, UV-resistant, or flame-retardant additives, a standard Screwfix sheet won’t cut it.
We can formulate the polythene with a comprehensive list of additives, to perform perfectly in challenging environments – whether that means extreme cold, direct sunlight, or a sterile medical setting.
Trade tolerances and traceability
For a DIY job, a slight variation in thickness or a minor imperfection in the film is not a big deal. In an industrial or regulatory setting, it could be a disaster.
Our custom polythene sheet is manufactured to tight trade tolerances, for consistency across the entire roll. We can provide full traceability for our materials, which is essential for industries like medical, aerospace, or food processing, where material provenance is critical.
The bottom line
There is a clear and distinct line between the consumer-grade polythene sheet you buy in a shop and the industrial-grade, custom-manufactured product we produce. One is designed for convenience and small tasks – the other is engineered for performance, consistency, and volume.
So if you’re looking for a 1000 gauge polythene sheet for a single small job, Screwfix is your friend! But if you’re looking for a bespoke, high-performance polythene solution for your business, you need it in bulk, and you need it fast – then we’re the partner you need.
If you’re ready to talk about a major project with specific material requirements, then let’s have a conversation about what we can create for you. We manufacture polythene film, sheets, and bags in any configuration – with complete design freedom and a host of options.
Custom polythene sheet, made to spec
With in-house production, fast lead times, and full customisation (including recycled content and additives), we create your ideal polythene sheet.
Get in touch online or call us on 01773 820415 to talk to a polythene expert.