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| Solarkote® acrylic capstock  Homeowners longing for the low maintenance benefits of vinyl building products, but in deep, rich colors, can finally have their wish. The reason: the advent of new acrylic technology that now permits darker colors not only in vinyl siding but also in vinyl window profiles, fencing, decking and railings. Vinyl building products have grown rapidly in popularity over the years because of their ease of installation, low maintenance and reasonable cost. Despite their popularity, however, they generally have not been offered in a wide variety of colors, especially on the darker side of the palette. That's because rich, dark colors couldn't always hold up to the strong ultraviolet rays of the sun.Now, all that has changed. The limited palette that once offered only light colors is a thing of the past, thanks to a new generation of vinyl building products that can stand up to the sun without fading or discoloring. For the first time, colors such as deep reds, greens, browns and charcoal grays are available in a highly weatherable form. As a result, homeowners can now side their homes in almost any combination of colors they choose along with matching or contrasting accents. Imagine, for example, a white home with dark green vinyl trim and matching deck railing and fencing in the yard. Or, a beige home with dark brown scallop accent shingles and brown window profiles. Or, a deep red vinyl-sided home with either white or gray accent trim. The technology that enables this breakthrough is called Solarkote® acrylic capstock. It was developed by Altuglas International, the same company that developed Plexiglas® acrylic resin and sheet, both of which have earned a reputation over the past 60 years for their long-term appearance and durability, even in extreme weather conditions. Solarkote® acrylic capstock is applied to a vinyl building product during the manufacturing process. As a result, the protective layer of acrylic is an integral part of the product and won't peel off like paint. The capstock also significantly reduces the tendency of building products to fade or yellow over time. The end result of the new acrylic technology is the emergence of a whole new array of dark-colored vinyl building products that offers enhanced color retention, long-term weatherability, and outstanding aesthetics, along with the virtually maintenance-free performance for which vinyl products have been known for years. So, if you are one of those homeowners who has longed for deep, rich colors but didn't want to give up the easy care maintenance of vinyl building products, it's time to celebrate. You can now have both. write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Construction News :: home page |