Temporary Roof Cover – Reinforced Woven Polyethylene Scaffold Sheeting

When the felt or tiles come off a roof mid-refurbishment, the timbers underneath are exposed to whatever the UK weather sends next — and with autumn and winter storms a genuine risk on any live re-roof, an unprotected open roof can mean soaked joists, ruined insulation and a stalled job. A temporary roof cover gives you a fast, reliable way to weatherproof an open roof structure overnight, over a weekend, or for the full duration of a re-roofing or refurbishment contract, so the job stays on programme whatever the forecast does.

This is a heavy-duty, reinforced woven polyethylene sheet — not a lightweight domestic tarpaulin — built specifically for dressing tightly over exposed roof timbers, battens and rafters on refurbishment and re-roofing sites. It is supplied plain, with no printed branding, so it goes straight to work protecting the structure beneath it.

Key benefits

• Heavy-duty reinforced woven polyethylene construction, built for scaffold and roof-refurbishment use rather than general-purpose covering
• Reinforced edge bands for secure fixing and tensioning along the roof edge, eaves and ridge
• Available as a standard grade or a fire-retardant grade for sites where flame risk is a specific concern
• Wide 3.35m roll width suited to typical UK pitched and low-rise roof spans, in 30m and 50m roll lengths
• Keeps timbers, insulation and internal finishes dry while re-roofing, dormer, loft conversion or refurbishment work is in progress

Applications

• Weatherproofing an open roof overnight or over a weekend during re-roofing or reslating work
• Protecting exposed timbers, battens and insulation on longer refurbishment and extension projects
• General scaffold sheeting where a climate shield is needed to protect workers, materials and the building fabric from wind, rain and dust
• Interim cover between strip-off and the new roof covering going on, particularly where the programme runs into unsettled weather

Specification

Installation & usage guidance

• Dress the sheet tightly over the exposed roof timbers or battens, working from the ridge down, with no gaps and no loose, flapping material that could catch the wind
• Secure firmly along the eaves, ridge and verges using the reinforced edge bands, battens or fixings appropriate to your roof structure and scaffold setup
• Avoid ponding by maintaining a positive fall across the covered area wherever the roof pitch allows
• Inspect regularly, especially after high winds, and re-tension or re-fix as needed for the duration it stays in place
• Remove and store, or dispose of responsibly, once the permanent roof covering is complete

Ordering information

Choose the roll length and grade that matches your roof and site fire-risk requirements from the options above. Inventory is held as always-available to order — if you need a bespoke size or a large multi-roll order for a whole-street or commercial refurbishment programme, contact our team and we'll help you get the right quantity out to site.

Protecting the roof edge itself while this cover is in place? Our Freestanding Roof Edge Protection Guardrail Kit gives operatives a non-penetrating, counterweighted barrier along the roof perimeter for the duration of the refurbishment.

FAQs

What's the difference between this and a standard tarpaulin?
A general-purpose tarpaulin is a lightweight, multi-use cover. This is a heavier reinforced woven polyethylene sheet purpose-built for scaffold and roof-refurbishment use, with reinforced edge bands designed for tight, secure fixing over an exposed roof structure rather than loose draping.

Do I need the fire-retardant grade or the standard grade?
The fire-retardant grade is worth specifying wherever there's a specific fire-risk consideration on site — for example where hot works are taking place nearby, or where your site fire-risk assessment or principal contractor calls for fire-retardant sheeting. For general weatherproofing with no particular fire-risk factor, the standard grade is the more economical choice.

How long can I leave it up on the roof?
It's designed for typical refurbishment programme timescales rather than permanent use — the manufacturer's guidance covers roof structures that permit proper mechanical fixing. Check it regularly, keep it well tensioned, and plan to have it removed once the permanent roof covering goes on.

Will it cover my whole roof in one piece?
The 3.35m roll width suits most UK pitched and low-rise roof spans. For a wider roof, or for hips and valleys, you may need to run more than one length and overlap them — measure your roof area first and get in touch if you're not sure how much you need.

Is it reusable?
Provided it isn't damaged during removal, a temporary roof cover can typically be folded and stored for reuse on a future job, though its condition should always be checked before re-fixing.