Polythene Covers Made to Last

12/11/2018Sean Barker

First Tunnels Polythene covers are made to last. That’s why we guarantee them for a full 5 years. But, if your Polytunnel polythene cover has past its prime, you have inherited a polytunnel frame or maybe bought a second-hand structure, a replacement cover will soon get your polytunnel back in business.

We have a number of different polythene covers for you to choose from, each of which will be suited to different range polytunnel applications. These polytunnel covers are cut to fit your polytunnel with the minimum of wastage and no charge for cutting.

What Sort of Polythene Cover Should I Choose?

The sort of cover you will choose will depend on a number of factors, most importantly, it will depend on what you plan to do with your polytunnel – the various purposes to which it will be put. You should think about a number of different factors, including:

How much light will be required within?
What sort of temperatures would you like to maintain?
Will you be growing plants, if so, which sorts?
Will you be keeping livestock in your tunnel?
Will your polytunnel be used for storage? If so, what will you be storing?

First Tunnels stocks a range of different polythene covers, each of which is best for certain applications. Here is a brief guide to the different cover types that you can choose from:

Smart Therm

This material is a clear cover and will allow around 90% of the sun’s light to pass through, yet will minimise heat loss. This can be especially beneficial in the winter months and can be of particular benefit to those who would like to grow crops in their polytunnel throughout the coldest part of the year.

‘Smart White’

Smart white will allow 65% light transmission, which can be ideal for some livestock applications, or for growing plants that appreciate a degree of shade. The lower temperatures within can also make a polytunnel covered with this material a more comfortable temperature for work or play.

‘Smart Green’

Another option which allows sunlight to pass through at about 65% transmission is Smart Green. This sort of cover, made of green polythene, is designed to mimic the conditions found below a forest canopy, where red light is filtered out by the leaves up above. This green-spectrum environment is ideal for growing shade-loving plants which are habituated to the conditions in a woodland or forest setting.

Green & White Polythene

Covers with 0% light transmission are available. These cover options are ideal for some livestock applications, or in polytunnels used to grow mushrooms, or those which are used for storage, where heat could also become a problem.

You could also choose to cover a polytunnel frame with a net. The netting serves as a windbreak and shade and also offers protection from birds and insects.

When is The Best Time to Cover Your Polytunnel?

The last thing you need is to cause disruption during spring and summer’s busy growing season. But re-covering your Polytunnel now with better weather and longer daylight hours means it doesn’t have to be a weekend project, and your Polytunnel will be prepared for the growing season and gets you perfectly set-up ready for the busy growing year to come. Just make sure you don’t pick a windy day!

How Big Does The Polythene Sheet Have to Be?

With an easy to use online Polythene Calculator, simply enter the details of A – the length of the Polytunnel, B – the height and C – the distance over the hoop and the nifty online calculator will determine the size of polythene sheet you will need in order to cover your structure. Watch the video to show how to measure for replacement polythene.

If you are still unsure as to what size of cover you require, please ring the First Tunnels customer service team on 01282 601253

See How to cover a Polytunnel – Watch the video And don’t forget, your old cover is still perfect for making cloches or mini tunnels to use in the garden, on the patio…or even inside your Polytunnel to help create an ever warmer micro-climate.

We’ll match any price!

First Tunnels are confident our quality and price are second to none. So if you can find any comparable polytunnel cover at a lower price than ours…we’ll match it! Could it be any better…the lowest possible outlay for turning an area of your garden into all-year-round self-sufficiency? Interested in a Polytunnel? – We’ll also …match it!