Choosing plastic building materials involves selecting the appropriate material for the job. PVC is popular due to its moisture and sun resistance, while recycled plastics have minimal environmental impact. Care should be taken to choose sun-resistant plastics for outdoor use and to check building code requirements. Recycled plastic and rubber building materials are also available for various applications.
Choosing the right plastic building materials is generally a matter of choosing the right materials for a particular job. Two varieties of plastic building materials are widely used. Some plastics, especially polyvinyl chloride (PVC), are made from petroleum, like any other plastic, and are used primarily because they are superior to conventional materials in several key ways. A second category of plastic building materials is made from recycled plastics. These materials are often very resistant and have the advantage of having minimal environmental impact.
PVC building materials have gained great popularity in recent years. These materials are impervious to moisture, highly resistant to sun damage, and can be made nearly as strong as treated wood. This material is often used in outdoor applications, such as in deck construction or for home trim. It is also an excellent choice for interior applications in areas such as basements where humidity can be a problem.
Other non-recycled plastic building materials may be appropriate for specific building applications. All plastics are moisture resistant. Not all of them are impervious to sunlight, and care should be taken to choose only sun-resistant plastics for outdoor use. Similarly, not all plastic building materials may be used to support weight or meet building code requirements for flame resistance and these standards should always be checked.
Homeowners or architects who want to take advantage of the durability of plastic building materials can opt for recycled materials instead of newly manufactured plastics. There are recycled plastic building materials available that have very similar properties to PVC products and can be used for bridge or fence construction or as a finish. Many of these materials are both sun resistant and durable.
Rubber building materials can be newly manufactured or recycled. Fresh rubber building materials are most often used in applications where a flexible seal is required. Rubber fittings are common around garage doors, for example. Any rubber fittings should be of high quality and should generally be thick and strong.
Recycled rubber building materials are not typically used to seal openings, but are commonly used in structural applications or as flooring materials. Recycled rubber bricks can be used in place of pavers and are kinder to your feet and the planet than more traditional concrete pavers. When buying this type of material, you should look at the durability reviews, as the quality of these materials varies between brands.
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