Greenhouse cover plastic is offered in four roll widths: 4 m, 6 m, 8 m and 10 m, all 50 m long. The four variants are technically identical: 5-layer co-extruded polyolefin (PO) film with an EVA middle layer, 200 µm thick (800 gauge), in a 70% diffused version, with anti-drip, anti-fog, dust-repellent, HALS UV stabilization and thermal infrared (IR) additive treatments. They share a light transmittance of ≥88%, a tensile strength of ≥25 MPa and a certified lifespan of 3 years (700 KLy in the High-Weather-Resistant category). The choice between the four variants depends only on the cover width of the greenhouse or structure you are going to cover.
🎯 Choose your variant in 10 seconds
- If your greenhouse has a cover up to 4 m wide: go to the 4 m × 50 m roll (200 m²)
- If your greenhouse has a cover up to 6 m wide: go to the 6 m × 50 m roll (300 m²)
- If your greenhouse has a cover up to 8 m wide: go to the 8 m × 50 m roll (400 m²)
- If your greenhouse has a cover up to 10 m wide: go to the 10 m × 50 m roll (500 m²)
What to consider before choosing a variant
The four variants are technically identical: the same 5-layer co-extruded PO film, the same thickness (200 µm), the same treatments (anti-drip, anti-fog, dust-repellent, HALS UV, thermal IR, 70% diffusion) and the same lifespan (3 years / 700 KLy). The only difference is the roll width. Here are the criteria for choosing well:
- Greenhouse width: the cover width of a greenhouse (measured over the arch, from one side to the other) determines the roll to choose. If your greenhouse has an arched cover with a 6 m span, you need a roll of at least 6 m to cover it without joints. Joints are the weak point of a greenhouse: water and wind get in through them, and the film tears there more often.
- Margin for fastening and overlap: add at least 50 cm on each side for fastening to the greenhouse legs or to the ground, plus another 30–50 cm for overlap or folding. For example: greenhouse with a 6 m span → a 6 m roll is enough, but an 8 m roll gives more margin for robust fastening.
- Greenhouse length: the length is always 50 m. If your greenhouse is longer, you will need more than one roll and plan overlapping along the length. The recommended minimum overlap is 30 cm with pressure sealing or tape.
- 70% light diffusion: the masterbatch with TiO₂, talc and inorganic fillers scatters light uniformly inside the greenhouse, prevents harsh shadow areas on the plants and reduces sun stress on the upper leaves. 70% haze is the optimum for tropical climates: enough to prevent burns and scatter light to the lower leaves, without sacrificing total brightness (≥88% transmittance). It is the preferred choice for crops sensitive to sunburn (lettuce, spinach, delicate fruit) and for greenhouses at low altitude.
- Anti-drip, anti-fog, dust-repellent, HALS UV and thermal IR treatments: anti-drip prevents condensation from forming droplets that fall on the plants (a cause of stains and fungal diseases). Anti-fog improves transparency from the inner face when humidity is high. HALS (hindered amine) stabilization protects against UV aging throughout the lifespan, and the IR additive retains heat during cool nights. All essential in a humid tropical climate like the Dominican Republic.
- 3-year lifespan (700 KLy): certified in the High-Weather-Resistant category at 700 KLy (kilo-Langley), the unit of accumulated solar radiation. 700 KLy is roughly equivalent to 3 years of continuous exposure under the Caribbean sun. With correct installation and maintenance in the DR, it reaches the full 3 years without losing optical or mechanical properties.
4 m × 50 m variant: for small greenhouses and low tunnels
- 200 m² of coverage per roll
- Suitable for spans up to 3.5 m
- Easy to handle by hand
- Ideal for agricultural tunnels
- Insufficient for medium commercial greenhouses
- Will require joints if the span exceeds 3.5 m
The 4 m × 50 m roll is the choice for small greenhouses, low agricultural tunnels (protected cultivation of vegetables, aromatic herbs, small ornamental nurseries), individual shade structures and domestic or family-garden structures. Its narrower width makes one-person handling easier and reduces film waste on narrow covers. It covers 200 m² per roll, enough for a greenhouse about 60 m long if the span is within 3.5 m.
6 m × 50 m variant: for medium commercial greenhouses
- 300 m² of coverage per roll
- Suitable for spans up to 5.5 m
- Standard commercial width
- Compatible with modular multi-tunnels
- Handling requires 2–3 people
- Oversized for small covers
The 6 m × 50 m roll is the most widely used format in medium commercial vegetable production: protected cultivation of tomato, bell pepper, lettuce and leafy greens on medium-sized farms. It covers 300 m² per roll and fits tunnel greenhouses with a 5–5.5 m span, the most widespread modular format in the region. Handling requires 2 or 3 people to spread the film without creases, especially on windy days.
8 m × 50 m variant: for large greenhouses and intensive production
- 400 m² of coverage per roll
- Suitable for spans up to 7.5 m
- Cover without longitudinal joints
- Suitable for professional production
- Handling requires a team of 4–6 people
- Installation with machinery recommended
The 8 m × 50 m roll is the choice for large greenhouses in intensive vegetable production, fruit and vegetable agribusiness, and larger-scale commercial nurseries. It covers 400 m² per roll and allows covering tunnel greenhouses with spans up to 7.5 m without longitudinal joints. Installation usually requires a team of 4 to 6 people or the use of machinery with an extension bar to unroll the film without damaging it. The higher initial investment is offset by a lower failure rate at joints over the lifespan.
10 m × 50 m variant: for wide greenhouses and special installations
- 500 m² of coverage per roll
- Suitable for spans up to 9.5 m
- Ideal for wide or double tunnels
- Maximum film continuity
- Handling requires machinery
- Oversized for a medium greenhouse
- Higher cost per roll
The 10 m × 50 m roll is the option for wide greenhouses, double tunnels, "chapel"-type structures or the wide multi-tunnels typical of large-scale agribusiness. It covers 500 m² per roll and is used in greenhouses with 8–9.5 m spans. Installation requires machinery with an extension bar or an experienced team with guide ropes to avoid dragging the film on the ground (which tears it) or letting the wind roll it up during deployment. It is the preferred roll on farms where the cost of joints (maintenance, leaks, light loss) outweighs the extra cost of the wide roll.
Comparative table of variants
The four variants are technically identical (same material, thickness, treatments and lifespan). The only difference is the roll width and, therefore, the total coverage area.
| Feature | 4 m × 50 m | 6 m × 50 m | 8 m × 50 m | 10 m × 50 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ideal use | Small greenhouse | Medium greenhouse | Large greenhouse | Wide greenhouse |
| SKU | 854790 | 707537 | 974976 | 576426 |
| Width | 4 m (13.1 ft) | 6 m (20 ft) | 8 m (26 ft) | 10 m (33 ft) |
| Length | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m |
| Coverage area | 200 m² | 300 m² | 400 m² | 500 m² |
| Material | 5-layer PO + EVA | 5-layer PO + EVA | 5-layer PO + EVA | 5-layer PO + EVA |
| Thickness | 200 µm (800 gauge) | 200 µm (800 gauge) | 200 µm (800 gauge) | 200 µm (800 gauge) |
| Treatments | Anti-drip, anti-fog, dust-repellent, HALS UV, thermal IR | Anti-drip, anti-fog, dust-repellent, HALS UV, thermal IR | Anti-drip, anti-fog, dust-repellent, HALS UV, thermal IR | Anti-drip, anti-fog, dust-repellent, HALS UV, thermal IR |
| Diffusion | 70% diffused | 70% diffused | 70% diffused | 70% diffused |
| Light transmittance | ≥ 88 % | ≥ 88 % | ≥ 88 % | ≥ 88 % |
| Tensile strength L/T | ≥ 25 / 22 MPa | ≥ 25 / 22 MPa | ≥ 25 / 22 MPa | ≥ 25 / 22 MPa |
| Lifespan | 3 years (700 KLy) | 3 years (700 KLy) | 3 years (700 KLy) | 3 years (700 KLy) |
| Weight per m² | ~184 g/m² | ~184 g/m² | ~184 g/m² | ~184 g/m² |
Use case matrix → recommended variant
| If your case is… | Recommended variant |
|---|---|
| Agricultural tunnel for herbs or a family nursery | → 4 m × 50 m |
| Small vegetable greenhouse (span ≤3.5 m) | → 4 m × 50 m |
| Medium commercial tomato or bell pepper greenhouse | → 6 m × 50 m |
| Modular multi-tunnel for intensive horticulture | → 6 m × 50 m |
| Large agribusiness greenhouse (span up to 7.5 m) | → 8 m × 50 m |
| Large-scale commercial nursery | → 8 m × 50 m |
| Double tunnel or wide chapel-type structure | → 10 m × 50 m |
| Wide multi-tunnel for industrial production | → 10 m × 50 m |
Measure the curved development of the full arch (from the edge of one side over the top to the other side), not the horizontal span. A structure with a 6 m horizontal span can have a curved development of 8 m if the arch is tall. Add 0.5 m of margin on each side for fastening and choose the next format up if you are at the limit. Install on a windless day, ideally at dawn or dusk (the plastic contracts with midday heat and can deform). Stretch evenly and fasten with special greenhouse profiles, not with nails driven directly through the film.
Do not use narrower overlapping rolls to cover a wide greenhouse. The joint between two sheets is a structural weak point: rainwater gets in through it, wind weakens the joint tape and the film tears after a few months. Buying a wider roll (even if it costs more) reduces maintenance costs and increases the real lifespan of the greenhouse. Measure the arch development with a tape measure before buying and choose the roll whose width covers the full development with a margin for fastening.
Frequently asked questions
What does diffused mean?
A diffused film contains additives that scatter sunlight as it passes through. In this film, the masterbatch with TiO₂, talc and inorganic fillers reaches a 70% haze: the light entering the greenhouse reaches the plants from multiple angles (not just in a straight line), which reduces the harsh shadows cast by the upper leaves and lets light reach the lower leaves and the sides of the crop. It improves uniform growth and reduces sun stress. By contrast, a classic clear film lets light pass straight through, which can cause burns on upper leaves and dark areas below.
Why anti-drip, anti-fog and dust-repellent?
Anti-drip prevents condensation from forming large droplets that fall on the plants (droplets concentrate sunlight like a magnifying glass and burn the leaves, besides encouraging fungal diseases). Anti-fog keeps the inner face transparent when humidity is high, preserving light entry in humid weather. The dust repellent reduces dirt build-up on the outer face, prolonging light transmittance. In the Dominican Republic, with high relative humidity for much of the year, all three treatments are essential for greenhouse productivity.
What does the real lifespan depend on?
The certified 3-year lifespan (700 KLy in the High-Weather-Resistant category) depends on accumulated UV radiation (degradation accelerates at higher altitude or equatorial latitudes), mechanical stress (strong winds and constant vibration shorten life), installation quality (creases, contact with hot metal, inadequate fastening) and maintenance (cleaning with non-abrasive products extends life; solvent-based pesticides shorten it). Under typical Dominican conditions, it reaches the full 3 years with correct installation. KLy (kilo-Langley) is the unit of accumulated solar radiation: 700 KLy is the dose of sun the film receives in roughly 3 years of use under the Caribbean sun.
