Alfresco blinds
Weather screens also called pergola blinds or blinds on the verandah, Alfresco blinds can be made as sliding screen doors which will give outdoor privacy & shade if tinted material is used. This will create an outdoor room. Making an enclosed outdoor room to protect from wind & rain is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Alfresco blinds are weather Screens and can be a ridged framed blind, they have a full aluminum frame and inserted with cheap economical PVC, same material as in cafe or bistro blinds.
PVC has an average life span when used in a blind of about 6 years & although these inserts work reasonably well for a few years there are much better long-term materials that can be used.
Polycarbonate panels
Polycarbonate & Acrylic plexiglass are both superior materials that will last up to 30 years of performance with some maintenance.
Polycarbonate is many levels above PVC . It is used in area of high impact like prisons & correctional facilities the impact strength of polycarbonate panels are very safe.
Acrylic plexiglass panels are widely used, they are strong lightweight & crystal clear to see through while still creating a solid barrier the objects & weather. The impact strength is 20 times that of glass making it very safe to use for screening.
Opti-screens are a good example of this plexiglass acrylic is used in aluminum frames that are then installed into all types of alfresco areas, pergolas & verandahs as a weather wall which are able to be closed to the weather or removed when needed.
Most popular are optiscreen sliding screen panels for ease of operation, bi-folding door panels are also a good choice for the modern alfresco area as they can usually be stacked away to open the entire alfresco to summer living.
All these screens are a form of blind and are designed to hang like a blind but with clever drive pins witch secure them in place.
The use of plexiglass acrylic & polycarbonate panels makes these screens the best choice on the market & are excellent value for money.
Plexiglass will last up to 30 years & is recommended not to discolor within 30 years (Clear views)
The use of Acrylic plexiglass as an outdoor room barrier to the wind, rain & sun
is a very suitable choice for the homeowner.
Acrylic Plexiglass Superior material
The visual difference between Acrylic plexiglass & PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) is significant most PVC films have an orange peel appearance when viewed from difference angles this is because they a calenderer PVC two thin sheets laminated together which distorts the view slightly through the material
Plexiglass acrylic is one solid sheet which is perfectly clear on all levels & looks & acts the same as glass, can be polished if needed just like polishing the car.
The health danger of PVC
There are concerns around the ongoing use of PVC as it is becoming clear that it is a toxic material and has been given the title “poison plastic” there is a great deal of information about this follow the link POISON PLASTIC to understand the dangers to you & your family.