Comparing Strataglass With Vinyl Alternatives

Strataglass

Strataglass is a clear, press-polished, poly-vinyl sheet (PVC) with a special, scratch resistant coating. Strataglass, LLC brought this technology to market in 1994 and revolutionized the marine enclosure industry. Since that time, it has been adopted into the automotive and architectural industries as well as a few other niche markets.

Clear vinyl products have the advantage of being flexible and rollable but this comes at a price. To be flexible, it has to be softer than its stiff counterparts (glass, plexiglass, acrylics, polycarbonates, etc) which means it scratches easier. The addition of the Strata coating to our vinyl helps avoid these scratches but the product is not scratch-proof, it can be damaged and proper care should be taken to avoid sharp edges and scuff points.

With proper care (use of the IMAR products as described on the Care and Maintenance video) customers can expect a life expectancy in excess of 3-5 years. Areas of intense sun exposure or industrial fallout will stress the vinyl, you may recommend increased coverage with the IMAR Strataglass Polish for these areas.

Sheet size is 54in x 110in (137cm x 279cm). Choice of thickness is .030 mil, .040 mil, and .060 mil. The .040 mil version has the option of clear, light smoke or dark smoke tints.

Why Strataglass over uncoated vinyl?

When it comes to vinyl, pressed polished sheets are far superior to extruded vinyl rolls in color consistency, clarity and dimensional stability. With the addition of the Strataglass coating, we take a superior pressed-polished vinyl product and further enhance it to be resistant to fine scratches and pollutants, while adding more UV resistance. Strataglass is much easier to work with, handle, fabricate, and install as uncoated vinyls are easily scratched.
The number one cause of vinyl failure, over time, is exposure to the sun. The majority of boats are kept outside, not in warehouse rack storage, which means the sun is constantly baking away at the surface. All this heat and UV exposure eventually takes its toll in the form of evaporating plasticizers (the component that makes clear vinly pliable). Once a sufficient quantity of plasticizers are lost, the vinyl becomes brittle, changes color and can eventually crack. Strataglass’ coating seals in the majority of these plasticizers prolonging the natural aging process, giving Strataglass a much better lifespan than uncoated vinyls. To further enhance the coating, polishing and sealing Strataglass (or any vinyl) with a quality product, like the IMAR Strataglass Protective Polish, on a regular basis, will further protect the vinyl. Applying polish to vinyl is the equivalent to putting suntan lotion on your skin when exposed to direct sunlight. The more often you use it, the more protection it can provide.

Strataglass Panels vs. Rigid Panels

	Rigid	Strataglass
Cost	Expensive	Advantage
Sheet Size	Typically 48” x 96”	54” x 110”
Shipping	Flat, requires common carrier	Rolls up / can ship UPS
Ease of Manufacture (panels)	Sew / Glue / Tape	Advantage
Sewable	Depends on thickness	Yes
Can Roll Up	No	Yes
Can Add U-zips	No	Yes
Radius (corner windows)	Rigid, limited radius	Easily conforms to bends
Resistance to Damage / Scratches	Advantage	Moderate
Restorable Once Damaged	Many scratches can be buffed out (uncoated versions)	Slightly / Rarely
Life Expectancy	3 years	3-5 years

Strataglass vs. Uncoated Vinyl

	Rolled Vinyl (Isinglass)	Uncoated Pressed Polished Sheets	Strataglass (Coated Press Polished Sheets)
Cost	Inexpensive	Mid-range	Expensive
Size	54” x 15/20/30/40 yard roll	54” x 110”	54” x 110”
Thickness	0.01 - 0.04 mil	0.02 / 0.03 / 0.04 / 0.06 mil	0.03 / 0.04 / 0.06 mil
Shipping	Equal	Equal	Equal
Handling	Soft, scratches easily	Scratches	Scratch resistant
Clarity	Prone to distortion	Clear	Clear
Shape	Often wavy/wrinkled	Holds shape	Holds shape
Longevity	Easily damaged	Mid-range	Coating adds protection
UV Protection	UV built in	UV built in	UV built in and sealed

Strataglass Comparison

Strataglass

Why Strataglass over uncoated vinyl?

Strataglass Panels vs. Rigid Panels

Strataglass vs. Uncoated Vinyl