Below are some Vinyl Cladding FAQ’s
Q: Will vinyl cladding insulate my home?
A: Our Neopor® insulated vinyl cladding will certainly boost the energy efficiency of a home. The range of temperature variation inside the building will be greatly reduced, making it cooler in summer and warmer in winter. This can lead to significant savings in energy costs and benefits to the environment. Insulation against noise will also be improved by the application of our insulated vinyl wall lining.
Q: Will Vinyl Cladding Burn?
Royal Crest vinyl’s self-extinguishing and can’t support flame on its own ; thus it can only be damaged by a continuous flame source. In such an instance, simply shrinks to nothing, and doesn’t drip like conventional plastics. Red cedar self ignites at 260°C.Vinyl only ignites at 387°C
Q: If I have reflectve (silver) paper installed behind the cladding, will it increase the overall insulation performance?
A: Because vinyl cladding has to be continuously supported (installed over bracing ply or an existing substrate), any reflective insulation will have no cavity to reflect into. This will result in adding zero to any R rating computations, meaning there is no insulation benefit from installing reflective paper. However we do recommend installing a vapor permeable building paper (impermeable to moisture yet still allow the free flow of water vapor from the frame to the back surface of the cladding) as a barrier to prevent moisture entering the frame but also allowing it to escape. For further information refer to the Insulation Handbook page 28.
Q: How does vinyl cladding compare with other external building materials?
A: In a way, it’s almost no contest. When compared to wood, brick, stone, stucco, and metal cladding on the basis of initial cost, maintenance costs, appearance, durability and value, vinyl cladding is clearly superior. Vinyl Cladding never needs painting or staining. It doesn’t chip, peel, dent or rot, so you can forget costly repairs. Just rinse occasionally with a garden hose.
Q: Is there a brand of paint that matches Prestige Exteriors’ vinyl cladding colours?
A: Yes! Given today’s paint technology a sample or chip of the cladding can be matched using electronic colour matching capabilities. Prestige Exteriors have already had all their colours colour matched and can provide you with a unique paint mixing code for each individual colour that will be sure to match your new cladding.
Q: Isn’t it less costly to just repaint my home?
A: If your home has lead-based paint that has to be scraped and sanded off–the cost of painting can become truly staggering. Investing in vinyl cladding can prove to be an excellent choice in terms of an investment. As a home owner, you can recoup a significant portion of the cost of vinyl cladding in terms of resale value added to the home and savings on electricity from the insulation it provides. Compare the ongoing costs of painting every three to five years to a one-time investment in a new vinyl exterior. For most home owners the conclusion is obvious–vinyl cladding is by far the better long-term value.
Q: Is Vinyl Cladding really as durable as everyone says?
A: Absolutely. The correct technical name for the material used in vinyl is polyvinyl chloride. It’s a strong, durable, proven material that has earned a solid reputation for its beauty and permanence. It’s used in automotive applications, medical devices, defense weapons, appliances, floor coverings, and of course, home construction. It’s ideal as an exterior material because vinyl cladding doesn’t rot or crack. And because the colour goes completely through Prestige Exteriors vinyl cladding, it never has to be scraped, sanded or painted
Q: My home is partially brick and partially timber cladding. Can I still use vinyl cladding?
A: Yes, because vinyl cladding is extremely versatile and can be used with just about any exterior building material including brick, cinder block and asbestos.
Q: Do I need to remove existing asbestos wall sheeting?
A: Prestige Exteriors vinyl cladding is designed to be installed over existing asbestos sheeting to encapsulate the fibers and prevent disturbing the material. It also provides the underlay required by Australian Standards for correct installation of Type B cladding. The existing material also assists with increasing the insulation value of the cladding.
Q: Can damaged boards be individually repaired?
A: With our vinyl cladding, it is easy to remove and replace individual damaged boards without having to take down an entire wall of cladding. A special tool is available to assist with this process, and we are able to access large stocks of popular colours and profiles.
Q: Do I ever have to paint my Vinyl Cladding?
A: No! Prestige Exteriors’ vinyl cladding is virtually maintenance free. The most you will ever do is to wash your cladding with soap and water, perhaps yearly.
Q: What is the warranty for Prestige Exteriors’ vinyl cladding?
A: Our vinyl cladding is supported by Royal Building Products with a Transferable Lifetime Warranty. High standards of manufacture, installation and quality control also ensure that warranty issues rarely arise.
Q: What is Neopor® Insulation?
A: Neopor® is a material patented and manufactured by BASF. Composed of small black beads of polystyrene granules containing a blowing agent, which makes it expandable, these black beads are manufactured into insulation products by BASF’s customers.
Q: What makes Neopor® Insulation better?
A: Neopor® gives our Premium Series products their super-efficiency and that dark grey colour. The crucial difference in Neopor® is that BASF integrates high-purity graphite particles within the bead cell structure. This graphite reflects radiant heat and significantly improves insulation capability, providing up to 20% greater R-value than traditional white EPS of the same thickness.