Answers the desk gives daily
Questions we are asked most
Shade factors, gauges, lead times and freight — the things worth knowing before you send a specification.
Shade netting
What shade factor do I actually need?
Leafy greens, nursery benches and propagation runs sit comfortably at 50–60%. Tomato, pepper and cucumber tunnels want 35–50% in temperate summers — enough to take the edge off the midday load without slowing fruit set. Orchids, ferns and shade houses go to 75%. Below 20% you are no longer buying shade, you are buying bird or insect exclusion, and the mesh count matters more than the percentage.
Is the shade percentage the same as heat reduction?
No. A 50% net drops roughly half the light, not half the heat. Air temperature under the cloth falls far less than the number suggests, because heat also arrives by conduction and convection. Pick the factor for the crop, not for how hot it feels.
How long does the cloth last?
Our UV-stabilised HDPE carries a 5–7 year rating depending on the range, measured at the fixing line where flexing is worst. Life is decided far more by how it is fixed than by the cloth: clips through the reinforced hem onto a wire last; staples through the mesh start a run.
Can you cut and hem to my span?
Yes, and it is the normal way we ship. Send the structure length and width and we work out the drop, the overlap and the seam positions, then cut and hem at the plant so there is no waste to pay freight on.
Rubber matting
What gauge do I need?
15–17 mm suits cubicles and walk lanes. 24 mm is for standing areas and horse boxes, where an animal spends hours on the same spot. 15–20 mm recycled SBR tile is the gym and plant-room answer. Send the bay dimensions and what stands on it and we will tell you.
Do the mats need adhesive?
No. Mats are laid butted hard against each other and trapped by the kerb or a stall divider. Puzzle-edge tiles interlock dry, so a single sheet can be lifted later without disturbing the rest.
Should I drill drainage holes?
Never. Grooved and studded bases carry liquid out on their own, provided the slab still falls to the channel. If liquid sits on the floor the slab has stopped falling, and a hole through good rubber only moves the problem somewhere less convenient.
Ordering, freight and payment
Is there a minimum order?
For stock sizes, no. For cut-to-size netting and matting there is a practical minimum around one roll or one pallet, because the setup cost does not shrink below that. Ask and we will tell you where the line falls for your specification.
How long does it take?
Standard sizes ship from stock. Anything cut to order leaves the plant within 48 hours. Sea freight to most destinations runs 3–6 weeks from dispatch depending on the lane.
How is freight quoted?
Separately from the goods, because it changes the sensible order size. Tell us the delivery town and country and we will quote ex-works and delivered so you can compare.
What are your payment terms?
Net 30 for established trade accounts. First orders are usually proforma. We will confirm on the quotation.
Safety netting
Is debris netting the same as fall netting?
No, and it matters. Debris and scaffold screening contains material and reduces wind load. Fall protection is knotless HDPE tested to EN 1263-1, and nothing in the screening range substitutes for it. Tell us which duty the net has to perform and we will supply to the standard you name on the order.
Do you certify to a standard?
Safety netting is supplied to the standard named on your order and confirmed in writing on the documentation. If your site requires EN 1263-1 fall netting, say so at enquiry stage.