Soak up the sun behind your windbreak that lets the warm light through, but blocks the fresh wind. Are you bothered not only by the wind, but also want a little privacy? With a tinted or opaque plastic windbreak, you can enjoy your garden or balcony out of sight.
Making your own windbreak is easy with custom-made plastic panels. Order all the pre-cut sheets you need here. You can specify length, width, but also screw holes and even cut-outs when ordering. After fast delivery, you can get straight to work and be finished in no time.
Windbreaks are usually permanently mounted, but they can also be movable. There are transparent, opaque and tinted materials to choose from. We list all the options for you here.
A windbreak made of acrylic or polycarbonate has the great advantage of being completely transparent. This allows you to retain your view and the sun can cheerfully shine through it. Moreover, both of these plastics are UV resistant and weatherproof. Occasionally cleaning with a mild soap is the only maintenance required.
Both plastics are lighter and stronger than glass. Acrylic can take a big hit, while polycarbonate is completely impact resistant. So the sheets do not crack into a thousand pieces like glass does. A nice idea when children walk barefoot through the garden in the summer.
Acrylic and polycarbonate are also available tinted. The colours opal white and tinted grey let light through, but offer more privacy from prying eyes.
If you prefer not to be seen at all, choose HPL. This plastic is strong, opaque and available in many colours. Why not choose pine green to let the windbreak blend into your garden. Or make a statement with modern steel blue.
A glass windbreak is heavier and more fragile than a plastic one. A glass windbreak runs the risk of shattering into a thousand pieces in a storm.
Furthermore, glass panels do not have pre-drilled screw holes. This makes glass windbreaks difficult to install.
Mobile windbreaks are mounted on wheels. Handy, because if the wind turns, you can simply move the windbreak to the other side of your seat. Acrylic and polycarbonate are ideal for portable screens because these materials are light and strong.
If you want to be sure that your portable windbreak will not be blown over, combine your windbreak with a planter on wheels. In this way, the weight of the plants and soil make the windbreak extra stable. Note: make sure the wheels also have brakes to prevent accidents.
A retractable windbreak can be rolled up whenever you need it. The roll up windbreak needs to be securely fastened, both on the roller side and on the side where the windbreak hooks on when unrolled. So they are not always possible for your environment.
Roll up windbreaks are also pricey and not transparent. Of course, if you want to enjoy the sun and the view of your garden out of the wind, this is a bit of a shame.
Acrylic allows you to create a transparent or tinted windbreak in your own style. With polycarbonate, you can make a transparent or tinted windbreak that is extra impact resistant. With HPL, you can make a windbreak in the colour of your choice. You can’t see through it, which is great for more privacy or blocking an unsightly view.
First think about how you want to place your windbreak and then take the dimensions of the panels you need. First choose the type of plastic you want to use (acrylics, polycarbonate or HPL) and then the thickness. Then enter the dimensions in the order module. Here you can also specify drill holes and cut-outs.
In the order module, many more shapes are possible than just rectangles. Think, for example, of a quarter-round circle for mounting on your wall and terrace for shelter by the sliding door. If you have a very special shape, upload a DXF File drawing with your order. You can easily create a DXF file yourself with our tutorial. Please note our drawing rules.
The thickness of your windbreak depends on the material you choose and the size of the panels you are going to mount. Below you can see which thicknesses we recommend for mounting along at least three sides of the panels. Only the fourth short side then remains free.
Always ensure that the mounting is correct. Your windbreak catches a lot of wind and must also withstand storms. Also pay attention to shrinkage and expansion: make sure that the panels have room for some movement, so they do not deform.
| Longest side up to 1 metre | Longest side up to 1.5 metres | Longest side up to 2 metres | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HPL/ Trespa | 6 mm | 6 mm | 8 mm |
| Polycarbonate | 5 mm | 8 mm | 10 mm |
| Acrylic | 8 mm | 10 mm | 12 mm |
First carefully consider where the wind is coming from in your garden and how you want to mount your windbreak. Do you want a permanent screen or one that can be moved? In case of the latter, consider planters on wheels to which you mount a frame and screen.
Do you want to preserve or block your view? Choose transparent sheet materials or dense materials in a stylish colour. For a combination of both, we recommend a tinted sheet material. This way you can still see through it, but not as well as with the transparent version.
However you answer these questions, with us you will always find an acrylic, polycarbonate or HPL sheet that exactly fits your job.
Mounting a windbreak is very simple: use screws and rubber washers and secure the sheet to a solid frame via the pre-drilled screw holes. To create a solid assembly, we recommend securing at least both of the long sides and one short side.
If you have more DIY experience, you can also treat a windbreak like a window. Making a frame construction in which you place the plastic sheet between the uprights, and secure it at the bottom, with wooden laths on either side. Other mounting options include using U-profiles or mounting the panel between two corner profiles, which in turn are mounted to a wall or post.
To prevent cracking, always ensure that no tension is exerted on the panel. Make drill holes slightly larger than the screws and use rubber washers when mounting. Using foam tape is very important when installing sheets into profiles. This gives the panel room to shrink and expand.
Acrylic, polycarbonate and HPL are all UV resistant and maintenance free. Clean your windbreak occasionally with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Do not use abrasives.
Acrylic and polycarbonate can get scratched if you rub sand or abrasive dirt with the cloth when cleaning. Rinsing the panel with water before cleaning helps to remove dirt and avoid scratches. It also keeps your screen looking good for a long time. Find more tips on our maintenance page.
You simply attach the panels of your windbreak with screws in the pre-drilled screw holes. Use rubber washers to give the material some room to expand and contract. We recommend mounting along two long sides and one short side to properly secure your windbreak.
If you prefer to use profiles, make sure you use foam tape along the edges to prevent damage and allow some working space for the panel.
Furthermore, there are many ways to mount your windbreak. You can, for example, use bolts and clips. As long as you take into account mounting on three sides and allow for possible shrinking or expanding.
The order arrived exactly when it should, and the products were exactly as described.
One of the items was damaged during transit (no fault of Plasticsheetshop), I contacted them by e-mail, and they replaced the item immediately. No questions, no courier fees!
I have other projects in the pipeline, so I'll be prdering more acrylic sheets from them in the future.
The website offered many options, so I could order exactly the size I needed. It arrived and exactly matched what I needed. Great colour and quality.
