Deciding which material to use in your conservatory is one of the most important decisions.
So why is the most popular choice for conservatories - PVC-U?
Briefly, the technological benefits of modern materials available to us today for the construction of a new conservatory can be summed up as follows:
| PVC-U for the main frames, windows and doors. |
| Features: |
Benefits: |
| Bright and fresh, available in white and simulated grained mahogany and oak variants. Fully reinforced. |
Easy to maintain, no splitting, swelling or other problems associated with the degeneration of wood. |
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| Polycarbonate as a roof material. |
| Features: |
Benefits: |
| Wide choice of types with fantastic insulation and strength properties. |
Around 200 times stronger than glass, far lighter, very attractive choice of colours and shading options. |
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| Double Glazing. |
| Features: |
Benefits: |
| Sealed unit double-glazing with Pilkington K glass. |
Reduced heat loss, and together with polycarbonate roofing allows all year round use of a new conservatory. |
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PVC-U is no 'ordinary' plastic:
The letters 'PVC' stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride, which is a chemical compound of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen.
The components of PVC originate from the naturally occurring raw materials of petroleum, or natural gas and common salt. The 'u' stands for unplasticised, (sometimes called unmodified), and it means that the material has not been softened by the addition of chemicals known as plasticisers.
As for any environmental issues, PVC-U is100% recyclable.
The origins of PVC
PVC was produced for the first time in 1935 and has been industrially manufactured in large quantities for over 50 years. It has been developed into a material that offers a wide range of properties, including being rated as 'self extinguishing' when exposed to fire.
Total PVC production can be split into the following applications:
55% Construction, 16% Packaging, 04% Furniture, 04% Cars, 02% Electrical,19% Others, including Medical and Horticultural.
How PVC is produced:
The process starts with sodium chloride, (common salt) from which chlorine gas is obtained by electrolysis. Petroleum or natural gas is used to produce ethylene, one of many products of the process known as 'cracking'. Bringing together chlorine and ethylene, liquid vinyl chloride (VC) is produced which is immediately changed in the process by polymerisation to polyvinyl chloride. Although vinyl chloride (VC) itself is toxic, and a closed production process is used, the resultant PVC as a white powder is chemically stable and has no known adverse effects on humans.
There really is no contest:
Modern technology now provides all the ideal materials with which we can have our chosen conservatory style constructed from, and PVC-U provides:
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Clean lines and good looks |
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Materials designed to last |
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Low maintenance |
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No degeneration of wood |
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High insulation and strength properties |
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All year round enjoyment |
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Elegant variety of styles |
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Initial cost and long term economy |
Upon full consideration of the many and varied merits of the latest materials, it is little wonder that PVC-U is now by far the most popular choice of so many when adding a new conservatory to their home and family lifestyle.
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