Top off profits with corrugated panels

tflflE LIGHT weight and high dur- I ability of comrgated panels make them an ideal add-on sale for d-i-y projeca. Or, marketed correctly, they can become the project themselves.

Used primarily for their color- and light-transmitting properties, the translucent fiberglass and plastic panels are a perfect way to finish off a patio, deck, porch, carport, awning, storage shed or backyard greenhouse, serve as fencing or skirting, or illuminate bams, metal buildings and commercial greenhouses.

The amount of light and solar energy txansmitted depends upon tbe color of the panel. Dark panels can block nearly all of the sunlight, while clear greenhouse panels transmit neady l00vo. Panels that transmit about 50Vo of the light come in colors like smoke (an aesthetic way to cover a pool) and white (for privacy).

The most popular are the 2-ll2 corrugated, usually 26" wide so the end corrugations overlap on the rafters. Strndard lengths are 8', 10'and l2'.

Traditional fi berglass panels usual- ly weigh 4-5 oz. per square foot" with sturdier 6 oz. often available. Lighter panels cost less, but require more understructure to meet building codes. Panels providing roof skylights and perimeter lighting in famr and industrial buildings come in 5, 6 and 8 oz.

Sturdy and affordable, fiberglass panels capitalize on the most economical lighting sour@, the sun.

Although fiberglass may do the job, it can be difficult to work wirh

Story at a Glance

How to market corrugated fiberglass and plastic panels ... advantages: sturdy, lightweight, versatile ... various types, uses, accessories.

and may shatter or leave fiberglass slivers in your hand. About seven years ago manufacturers introduced an alternative: PVC (polyvinylchtoride) building sheets. Stronger and more attractive, they're a step up in quality and in price. "PVC and fiberglass are completely different resins," said Elizabeth Benham, Sel Group International. *PVC is more consumer friendly. It's flexible, so it's easier to transport and work with. It's not susceptible to breakage and weathers about the same as fiberglass. Lightweight fiberglass is a litrle less expensive, but PVC is competitive with heavier fiberglass."

But nothing is perfect. PVC can break and get brinle at low temperatures and soften in extreme heat. After a few years, its UV resistance begins to weaken. Palram subsidiary Suntuf USA produces PVC in white opaque to minimize the effects of the weather on the panels. They also runufacnrre even tougher panels, made of virtually unbreakable corrugated polycarbonate. Though twice

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