Abstract: A pipe nipple protective sleeve that includes a sheath that is closed at a forward end and connects to a collar at an open rear end, where the collar is open into the sheath and the collar hole and sheath diameters and the sheath length are selected to fit over a particular diameter and length of a pipe nipple as projects from a wall of a building under construction, with the sheath to fit over and cover the pipe nipple and the collar is to receive fasteners, such as staples, driven there through for mounting it onto a wall stud or sheet rock surface adjacent to the pipe nipple. With the pipe nipple protective sleeve installed onto the pipe nipple, a section of skeet rock that the pipe nipple is fitted through, is textured, painted or tiled over during the wall finishing and, after completion of the wall finishing, the sheath is separated from the collar, exposing the nipple surface that is free of contaminants and is ready for receiving a fitting or fixture attached thereto.