Building materials have come a long way in recent years and the focus is on durability, health, and safety, as it should be. One building material that many people have heard of but know little about is uPVC – or Unplasticised Polyvinyl Chloride. Most of us know about PVC, but what is uPVC and why is it increasingly finding a home in the building and construction industry?
The Benefits of uPVC
Most of us have come across things made from PVC but uPVC is different because of the following characteristics:
- Hard rather than flexible, so it can be used in a wide range of manufacturing applications where rigidity is useful
- Relatively safe compared to other materials of this nature because it does not contain phthalates or BPA
- Considered safe enough for use in the dental industry as mouthguards and retainers
Due to these major features, uPVC is being widely used in the building and construction industry for window frames, fascia boards, doors, plumbing and piping, and cladding.
Why Use uPVC in Your Home?
To some homeowners, it might seem strange to use uPVC as part of their homes but as times have changed and materials have developed, uPVC has become a very common material. In fact, many homeowners are very happy to have uPVC doors and even windows installed. If you’re looking at investing in some new doors, for example, here’s why you might want to consider uPVC:
- Strong: The features of uPVC mean that it is rigid, strong, and durable. This not only translates to being tougher during everyday use in the home but also as greater longevity. A single investment can last for many years, making it a truly cost-effective building material.
- Safe: As mentioned previously, uPVC does not contain the phthalates and other chemicals found in certain other plastics. In recent years, the use of BPA and phthalates in some plastics has become a major concern because they can enter the human body. UPVC materials are free of this worry.
- Resistant: If you live near the coast, you’ll appreciate that uPVC materials are resistant to the salty air. They will not corrode in the rain either, making them a great investment for homes. Not only this, but the material is also fire-resistant, making it great for those of us who live in bushfire-prone areas.
- Light: Lots of construction workers appreciate uPVC because it is much lighter than other materials such as This means that if you have a uPVC door or window in your home, it requires less effort to install it and use it.
For some, the thought of using uPVC as part of their homes might take some getting used to but there is no denying that its durability, strength, longevity, and resistance makes it a fine building material. And for anyone worried that a uPVC door or window might look distinctly dull, the good news is that uPVC can come in a wide range of styles and colours.