Durable plastic sheeting sources?

brown40 · Sep 24, 2015

Good morning,

I'm working on a composting heat exchanger (aka Jean Pain?) to tie into the domestic water, and am looking for a 48" wide plastic sheeting that would be strong enough and UV/heat resistant enough to use over time to line the pile/keep the biological activity away from the frame. If it works I'll rebuild the pile annually after compost harvest.
Would have to be durable enough to take the occasional strike by a shovel or fork.
I can find HDPE products that are through the roof for pricing, but I thought there were alternatives out there used to line stalls and cover processing areas to make them cleanable surfaces that wouldn't break the bank.
I'd appreciate any experiences--could be geotextile, roofing, housewrap--I don't know--my searches aren't going well. Thanks in advance for any shared knowledge!

Hiltz · Sep 24, 2015

U.S. Plastics in Lima Ohio

MMagis · Sep 24, 2015

It would help if you clarify what price is “through” the roof, and also where you live so shipping can be considered. Also, you don’t mention how much you need.

brown40 · Sep 24, 2015

Thanks for the quick replies. On Grainger and MSC I see 4x8 sheets up over $100 for thin stuff to nearly $1000 for thick stuff--but not at all what I'm looking for. I need about 25 feet to line an 8 foot circle, and I'm up in Maine. I was hoping for something that came in 50 or 100 foot rolls in case it is really effective and I'd like to make more.
I compost anyway, as well as harvest wood from the property, so have a bunch of raw materials available--it won't replace oil, but would gain heat from a process I'm doing anyway. I'll check on US Plastics and see what they offer. Thanks again!

MMagis · Sep 24, 2015

I’m not positive I’m visualizing what you’re doing accurately, so just a few ideas:
Can you line with cheap/thin plastic, and then cover with something more durable?
How about the peel and stick “tar” paper used for construction?
Would the peel and stick vinyl floor tiles work? They’re durable and cheap.

flusher · Sep 24, 2015

Maybe this would work for you

http://www.menards.com/main/paint/d...g-with-uv-additive-8-x-100-roll/p-1497093.htm

Good luck

Mendonsy · Sep 24, 2015

Would an above ground swimming pool liner work??

kencunningham · Sep 24, 2015

Have you thought about using rubber?

farm boy00 · Sep 24, 2015

Why not use rubber roofing. It's I think usually 4 ft wide but I know our roofer that we use has huge rolls too. But that's in Michigan

brown40 · Sep 24, 2015

Great ideas and suggestions--thanks for the replies. I knew the community would start me looking in other directions. The EPDM and virgin roofing products are pretty pricey for compost containment, but the pool liner/rubber ideas got me looking at conveyor belts, repurposed vinyl signs, and recycled tire flooring...
Appreciate the ideas!

jaotguy · Sep 24, 2015

4 x 8 sheets of Formica / counter top material ... using contact cement to stick it to plywood ....

fish tank material , plexi or lexan ..

corrugated fiberglass roofing ( the clear / green blue , orange stuff for awnings )

DuckSlayer1017 · Sep 24, 2015

ice and water shield.

Djames55 · Sep 25, 2015

How about pond liner?

Leejohn · Sep 25, 2015

Look into dairy panels. They come in 4 X 8. Most farm stores have them.

rgr33 · Sep 25, 2015

I wonder if a commercial truck tarp would work. If you could find a used one, the cost would be resonable and it would last a long time, even in bad weather conditions.

muddstopper · Sep 25, 2015

If you want cheap and in rolls, why not green house plastic. Wouldnt hold up much against a shovel strike, but it can be bought in varying widths and lengths. Last a long time out n the sun. The regular rolled plastic wont last one season before the sun breaks it down and the wind blows it all over the place.

brown40 · Sep 25, 2015

Thanks for all the ideas. I have some linoleum, leftover insulation and a heavy tarp I'll use for this fall. The best stuff I found were a HDPE and HMWPE roll product carried by Farm-tek that seemed like they'd be perfect. Shipping to Maine is quite a haul though, and this is a repurposing sort of project. Anyone know of a good source for those sorts of products that have retail outlets?