Marine Grade Vinyl Vs Leather

It is for this reason why all of the products that i have listed are made of vinyl fabric.

Marine grade vinyl vs leather.

The skin is made of pvc and it s how the skin is made that determines whether the material is considered marine grade vinyl. Marine vinyl fabric is your best option for outdoor use since it s 100 waterproof uv protected and weatherproof. Some vinyl material so closely resembles leather that sometimes it s difficult to tell them apart. When the outer skin is made additional additives are used to make the material marine grade vinyl.

The stiffness of the sunbrella marine grade doesn t lend itself well to upholstery projects as it doesn t easily flow around curves and is less desirable to sit on than something softer. Leather is created through the tanning of animal skin or hides. The word vinyl brings to mind the hard shiny materials right out of a 50 s diner but vinyl has come a long way. Marine vinyl and standard vinyl are really the same thing except marine grade vinyl has two extra features.

Upholstery vinyl contract vinyl marine grade vinyl marine flooring sunbrella fabrics awning vinyl automotive vinyl specialty vinyl 877 618 4695. Part of the confusion is caused by orafol s website that lists 751c and 951 for use with marine applications. As the name suggests marine vinyl is perfect for boats but it s also great for motorcycles outdoor furniture and awnings. And it also has antibacterial and antifungal additives to make it mildew resistant.

Go commercial for heavy use furniture. Why is leather better than vinyl. You may also try other fabric but i personally suggest marine vinyl upholstery fabric. These additives provide uv protection prevent mold mildew bacteria growth prevent yellowing and help prevent staining.

Its durability allows it to withstand high temperatures without cracking or fading. As a general rule there are commercial grade marine grade and lightweight materials. Posted on july 10 2017 june 6 2017 by all vinyl fabrics. It also can be a bit difficult to sew as the stiffness keeps the fabric from folding over itself.

General which is better. It goes without saying leather is a highly superior product over vinyl material. It has additional uv protection to prevent the color from fading in sunlight. The material is rich flexible and soft to the touch.

Manufactured for durability and heavy use commercial or contract grade vinyl upholstery is about 1 16 to 1 8 inch thick and is more of a foam like material. Oracal doesn t really make a marine grade vinyl although that is what people commonly call higher models because it s rated for a longer durability than lower models like 651.