Polyethylene sheeting comes in many different weights and is sometimes clear or black. The sheeting is readily available for homeowners and has many uses around the house. The weight or thickness you buy may depend on what you are doing with it, so it is a good idea to look at the packaging or ask at the store to get an idea of what your job requires.

Covering Drafty Windows

If you have a window on your home that is cracked or very drafty and letting cold air in during the winter, you may want to get some clear polyethylene sheeting to put over it. The plastic sheeting will let light in but can help to reduce the cold air moving through the window or frame. 

Use some one-inch wood strapping to nail the sheeting to the window frame or the exterior wall of the house so the wind does not tear the sheeting down. You will need some sheeting in the three- to six-millimeter range to stand up to the elements and keep some of that cold air at bay. 

Garden Weed Barrier

If you are planting flower beds around your property in the spring and you want to reduce the number of weeds coming up through the beds, laying down a layer of black plastic sheeting and then putting down your soil will help you block the weeds from the sunlight so they do not grow in the beds.

Cut small slits in the plastic to place your plants in so they can root properly under the plastic and water can get through to the root system. The sun and rain will nourish the plants you put in, but things trapped under the plastic cannot get the light or the water they need to thrive, and while you may still have a few weeds to deal with, the plastic can reduce the growth of the weeds substantially.  

Paint Drop Cloths

If you are painting your home, lightweight plastic sheeting makes a great drop cloth. The paint can not seep through the plastic if it is dripped or spilled on the sheet. You can use the sheeting to cover furniture, the floor, or other things in the house you do not want to get paint on.

You can also use plastic sheeting outside to cover bushes and flower beds when painting the exterior of the home. Drape the plastic lightly over the things you do not want to get paint on, and when the job is complete, you can take off the plastic and throw it away.

It is inexpensive and easy to find at any home center and can save your plants from damage during the scraping, priming, and painting of the house. Contact companies that supply light-duty plastic sheeting, such as Dow Caide Supply, to learn more.

Share