Did you plan to rock your commercial buildings with a modern touch? The best-suited thing is to install glass doors and windows. Even though plexiglass is the best option when you want beauty and security, both.
Plexiglass is mainly used for many exterior projects, like windows, doors, or even rooftops. Your space is well worth it if you have installed good quality and cheap plexiglass.
No doubt, we all want to embellish our spaces with lots of ornaments but the point is to choose the right and affordable accessories. So, here it is.
Plexiglass is an acrylic sheet that provides an easy and clear view of each and everything laying inside the shop, mall, or any other place.
These acrylic sheets perfectly blend with any theme and provide UV rays protection while illuminating the entire space with natural light.
Everything you need to know about plexiglass!
Plexiglass is not a glass in actuality, rather it’s a thermoplastic sheet or you can say a product, which looks like glass and possesses glass-like characteristics.
Well, plexiglass has another name, too, an acrylic sheet. Plexiglass has several benefits and uses like, it’s highly heat-resistant, shatterproof, and gives easy access to model everything visible.
The benefits of plexiglass outrun the cost of the product. Therefore, in commercial buildings, high-rise apartment buildings, and office buildings the use of plexiglass has been noticed widely.
Not only, it is better than glass but also it can be recycled and reused!
They are utilized by manufacturers in different projects such as:
- In the car windows
- Elevator doors
- Durable windows
- Office buildings
- High-rise apartment buildings
- Airplanes and submarines etc.
Sometimes, manufacturers coat the plexiglass sheets with SPF of up to 16 to be used in Greenhouses or other projects. Depending on the coating on the sheets, the manufacturers elevate their prices.
The plexiglass is highly durable and very versatile. It is shatter-proof, this quality makes it seek the attention of the owners of utility stores and other buildings. Because it won’t break with a hit or two!
Different types of plexiglass: each one has its benefits!
The plexiglass sheets are a modern alternative to acrylic and glass sheets, and they come in different colors, sizes, shapes, and sorts, depending on the manufacturer’s wills.
Cheap plexiglass sheets can be bought from any supermarket or a hardware shop! Because of their vast usage, they can be bought online as well!
However, finding good quality is a bit difficult, so here you can find a huge variety with amazingly flexible prices.
- Polycarbonate sheets (Lexan): good for UV protection!
Polycarbonate is a type of cheap plexiglass because of its low-quality, it is not shatter-proof or scratch-proof. It can only tolerate temperatures up to 240F, which is low for a regular plexiglass sheet.
Lexan is available as tinted, frosted, and in different colors as well. They are more versatile and provide UV protection as well. They are not breakable.
- Acrylic sheets- used abundantly!
They are the best in their form. They cost more but they are highly durable and versatile for expensive projects. They can tolerate the thermostat up to 500F.
They are easily available in the market and are shatter-proof, heat resistant, UV resistant, and sound-proof as well.
- Co-polyester sheets- Flexible!
These are also one of a type of plexiglass that can tolerate the temperature up to 250F, and they are highly flexible.
How is Lexan different from plexiglass?
Unlike plexiglass, Lexan is made out of polycarbonate. This is the most fundamental difference between these two. Well, here we will explain what’s the difference between these two when it comes to flexibility and stability?
If you still confused to differentiate about Acrylic (Plexiglass) vs Polycarbonate (Lexan), This guide will help you a lot to know more in depth.
- Flexibility- Lexan is highly flexible!
Lexan is highly flexible, and on the other hand, plexiglass is not. Lexan sheets bend while extreme pressure is applied to them but they don’t break. However, plexiglass is prone to breakage under extreme circumstances.
- Stability under extreme heat!
Because plexiglass is made of acrylic, it can bear a temperature of 50F or more. However, Lexan cannot do so. Hence, plexiglass is best for places that are more vulnerable to heat.
In what way plexiglass is more beneficial?
Plexiglass sheets are in abundant use for different interior and exterior design projects. Some of the benefits of plexiglass sheets areas:
- Crystal clarity of plexiglass!
Plexiglass sheets are highly durable, versatile, safe, and transparent. This crustal-like transparency makes it easier for the owner to build a safe wall around himself and be able to talk to the opponent without any trouble.
This is the reason why they are highly used in bank buildings, and for the windows of cars, airplanes, and submarines.
- Ease of installation
Plexiglass is flexible, which makes it ten times easier to install and fabricate than regular glass.
Because they are made of acrylic, they can cut, fabricated, and welded in many shapes and sizes. You can adjust them to your desire after purchasing from the market.
- Strength adds extra safety
Plexiglass sheets are very thick and cannot be cracked easily. It adds extra security and safety. They are much stronger than the regular glass, and they can withstand the normal hits without cracking.
- It’s highly Scratch-resistant
They are highly scratch-resistant, which means the splashes, blotches and other stains can be easily removed with the swipe of a wet cloth!
Common uses of plexiglass- install it now!
- Apartment/Building windows
They are a bit stronger than the regular glass, and therefore, they are preferred for the construction of apartment windows.
Windows made out of them are UV resistant, heat resistant, sound resistant, and not easily breakable. Because of these wonderful characteristics’ plexiglass is used to make windows.
- Bathroom enclosures
Plexiglass sheets are crystal clear and very transparent. This makes them a wonderful product for bathroom enclosures like shower doors, basin slaps, etc. They are also good for maintaining the temperature of the bath.
- Greenhouses and Solar panels
Plexiglass has the highest UV protection among its types. This makes it an excellent product to use in your greenhouse.
It will protect the flora and plants that are flourishing inside the greenhouse. Also, it will trap the heat for plants. They are also being used in solar panels.
The thickness of plexiglass according to its size!
As plexiglass sheets are available in different sizes and shapes, their thickness varies according to their size.
Don’t worry, you can get all its sizes easily from online stores. They are usually available in 1/8’’, 3/16″, 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/4″, 1/2″, 1″, 1.25″, 1.5″, 2″, 2.5″, 3″, and 4″.
Final words!
Plexiglass sheets are shatterproof, scratch-resistant, and can bear up to a very harsh thermostat. All these qualities make plexiglass one of the best products to use in double pane windows, doors, greenhouses, commercial buildings as in other different territories!
Plexiglass sheets are the best alternative to glass. They are highly durable and reliable. They are used in windows, bath enclosures, solar panels, greenhouses, etc.
They come in different sizes and their thickness varies accordingly! Plexiglass is also very cost-efficient.