Self-adhesive plastic sheet, known in the United Kingdom as sticky-backed plastic, is wide plastic sheet or film with an adhesive layer on one side, used as a surface coating for decorative purposes. It is typically smooth and shiny, but can also come in textured varieties, in which case it can sometimes be used as a cheap alternative to veneer. The plastic is often PVC. The sheeting is typically sold with a removable paper release liner to prevent it from adhering prematurely.
Self-adhesive vinyl sheet was introduced to the UK market in the 1960s under the brand name Fablon.[1]
It was extensively used in DIY at the time,[2] and notably featured in children's DIY projects on the British TV show Blue Peter, but always under the generic name "sticky-backed plastic."[3][4]
Smooth self-adhesive plastic sheet is typically used to cover the studio floor for shiny-floor shows, thus giving them their name.[5]
"sticky-backed plastic" was the term used for the product marketed under the trade name Fablon
Blue Peter conjures up cosy memories of pets, badges and sticky-backed plastic