Cost down exercise for soffit board has hidden benefits
14 August 2016
As wood was replaced by uPVC in exterior construction, now Precision Plastic Moulded PVC begins to replace uPVC. It gives all the aesthetic benefits of uPVC but at a reduced cost and with some key environmental benefits.
Roofing in construction is a work of art, especially the components making up the facia
The ‘roofline’ is the point where the roof meets the outer walls of the house, and to keep it water tight and pleasing to the eye, there are several components.
- The fascia - the long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of the roof, supporting the roof tiles and is typically the fixing point for the guttering.
- The bargeboard - the board used on the gable end of a house.
- The soffit board - the board you see most of from street level, because it’s tucked away under the fascia board, often ventilated to allow the flow of air into the roof area.
- The Boxend - the cap which covers off the lower gable end where the soffit, bargeboard and facia all come together.
Wood to uPVC, uPVC to Polypropylene
The purpose of plastic replacement of the roofline fascia timbers was two fold, it reduced maintenance (the need to paint annually) and it didn’t rot. In modern construction these ‘plastic replacement’ elements have been uPVC for some time and involve a mixture of manufacturing processes (extrusion and injection moulding).
uPVC soffit board to Polypropylene soffit board
With advances in technical polymers, the development of UV stable product has brought about significant changes in the options available to anyone thinking about using plastic as an external construction material. The new polymers can bring several benefits, from fire safety to shortened lead-times. The introduction of a new replacement material goes through intensive testing to ensure validation and compliance.
The change in material can bring about significant savings
- Lower costs raw materials
- More efficient manufacturing processes
- Improved supply chain efficiency
PLUS - three critical environmental benefits of switching uPVC to Polypropylene
Which adds up to Polypropylene being better for costs and the environment
It’s clear that Polypropylene is a safer, non-toxic and environmentally friendly alternative to the obsolescent technologies that gave us plastics such as uPVC. Given the cost benefits and other manufacturing advantages, isn’t it time you thought about making the switch?
Would you like a 360˚ review on a product you have produced in uPVC?