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SELECTING THE RIGHT OUTDOOR FABRIC
ARE THEY DIFFERENT   ~  WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT  ~  AVOIDING COSTLY MISTAKES
Plus, Learning To Identify the Seconds, End-Runs, and Knock-offs (When Presented As first-quality)
Remember:   The Internet has become a Con-Man's Paradise... 
The Con Begins With A Known Quality-Product, Being Offered At A Ridiculously-Low Price...

> > > Well-Informed, Educated Consumers Are Our Best Clients < < <

  Keep In Mind:  
In Auctions, if You're Lucky, you may get what you paid for...

Most Bargain-Priced Sunbrella Isn't First-Quality. . .  You should expect a much shorter lifespan and problems
 for the Bargain selections (to include un-even fading/discoloration, blotching, and fabric-distortion from sun exposure)
Plus the cost and time of Re-doing the project work
(dry-rot has been reported as well, by those who fell victim)...
Also, if a seller has two or more partial-rolls of the same-color number in auctions, it is more than likely an End-Run/Second
 (considered trash by the mills)...

SUNBRELLA & the other Mills Won't Sell 
Their FIRST-Quality Fabric At Bargain-Prices to their Legitimate
Distributors (which is the Only Source of getting the true First-Quality material) . . .  

Some online claim it to be "First-Quality End-Run" which is a twisted way of saying that it is a "Second... 
Quality-Control Reject", by less than honest vendors (who know it is a Rejected Second, since they bought it from the
Mills for that reason)...  The Term "End-Run" Is what is used by the Mills for their Rejected Seconds with flaws
(which may not be obvious to the untrained eye and unqualified-vendor)...

Don't Fall Victim to the Bargain-Priced Sunbrella-Fabric Scams...
  Most are seriously flawed or damaged material.
eBay
and bargain websites have become a way to profit from flawed and damaged stock, which would be usually trashed.

First-Quality fabric is treated as a commodity. . .  They are usually sold By-the-yard (due to its value)... 
A Full-Roll is usually 60-yards...   Choose Wisely, and don't fall victim...  Dave

 

Quick Comparison Guide
~ Base It On Your Actual Intended Use and Needs ~
FABRIC Series Brief Description/Application
Sunbrella-PLUS 8400 (Marine) 60"wide ~ An Acrylic Fabric, Coated (on one side) with Urethane for Added Water-Repellency made for most Marine/Boat-type applications.  Breathes to help avoid moisture being trapped when used as a Cover. UV-Resistant, Colorfast.  10oz square-yard
Top Gun (Marine) 62"wide ~ A Polyester Fabric, Coated with Acrylic for Added Water-Repellency made for most Marine/Boat-type applications.  Breathes to help avoid moisture being trapped when used as a Cover.  The idea is that most Thread used to sew it is Polyester, so they will have a similar life-span.  Polyester costs less than Acrylic fabric. UV-Resistant, Colorfast.    11oz square-yard
Stamoid (Super-Light, Marine) 80" or 59" wide ~ A Polyester Fabric, Laminated on One-Side with Vinyl for Waterproofing  made for most Marine/Boat Top/Cover applications.  Does Not Breathe, so Added Vents required to avoid moisture being trapped when used as a Cover.  The Thread used to sew it is usually Polyester, so they will have a similar life-span.  The Super-Light is that it weighs less with only one-side with vinyl.  The 80"width is available to prevent seaming for some.  More popular worldwide than SeaMark.  8.3oz square-yard
Stamoid (Double-Coated, Marine) 80" or 59" wide ~ A Polyester Fabric, Laminated on Both-Sides with Vinyl for Waterproofing  made for most Marine/Boat Top/Cover applications.  Does Not Breathe, so Added Vents required to avoid moisture being trapped when used as a Cover.  The Thread used to sew it is usually Polyester, so they will have a similar life-span.  It is Heavier, since it has vinyl on both sides of the polyester fabric.  The 80"width is available to prevent seaming for some.  More popular worldwide than SeaMark.  12.7oz square-yard
Odyssey-3
(Boat and Outdoor Covers)
62"wide ~ An economical Lightweight Polyester Fabric, Coated with Acrylic for Added Water-Repellency made for Temporary Cover-type and Travel-cover applications.  Breathes to help avoid moisture being trapped when used as a Cover.  The idea is that most Thread used to sew it is Polyester, so they will have a similar life-span.  Polyester costs less than Acrylic fabric.  6.5oz square-yard
Sea Mark (Marine) 60" wide ~ A Sunbrella Acrylic Fabric, Laminated on One-Side with Haartz-Vinyl for Waterproofing  made for most Marine/Boat Top/Cover applications.  Does Not Breathe, so Added Vents required to avoid moisture being trapped when used as a Cover.  UV-Resistant, Colorfast.  10.25oz square-yard
Sunbrella 46"w or 60"w
(Awning/Misc. Boat)
The economical Regular Sunbrella Acrylic Fabric, for Awning, window canopy and miscellaneous boat-type applications (not covers).  Breathes, although allows moisture thru, so should not be used as a direct-contact Cover where rain/water is involved.  Water Repellent fabric, UV-Resistant, Colorfast.  9.24oz square-yard
Sunbrella 54"w Outdoor Upholstery If it's 54"wide, it's for Upholstery/furniture/seating applications.  Can also be used for outdoor Umbrellas, Curtains, Drapes, Table covers, and Throw-Pillows.  A lighter-weight Water-Repellent Acrylic Fabric, made to take the curves and contours needed for seating applications.  Breathes, although allows too much moisture thru, so should not be used as a direct-contact Cover where rain/water is involved. UV-Resistant, Colorfast.  8oz square-yard (some vary)
Sea Quest 54"w
(Marine Upholstery)
If it's 54"wide, it's for Upholstery/seating applications.  An Expanded-Vinyl (retains shape from sitting) outdoor Fabric, made to take the curves and contours needed for seating applications.  Excellent for Marine seating, or any area where water or moisture is a problem. UV-Resistant, retains color and pliability twice-longer than most similar competitor series.  Available Flat or Pleated-filled, and matching Welt and Gimp where needed in your design.  32oz linear-yard (some vary)
Tempotest/Para 47"w or 60"w
 (Awning/Marine)
Made almost identical to Sunbrella Acrylic Fabric, except woven tighter for added water-repellency (so it can be more-so used for Marine applications than regular-sunbrella).  Use for Awnings, window canopy and boat-type applications (even covers, although not as good as Sunbrella-Plus).  Breathes, although allows moisture thru, so added vents required when used as a direct-contact Cover where rain/water is involved.  Water Repellent. UV-Resistant, Colorfast.  It is more popular worldwide than nationally (USA).  8.82oz square-yard (some vary)

 More Details Further BELOW

Outdoor Thread Either Sunguard or Star Ultra polyester thread (most commonly used by professionals in these industries)  Water Repellent, UV-Resistant, Colorfast.  Avoid using Nylon thread, since it will dry-rot after a couple of years.  GoreTex/Tenara is the best, but outlasts most fabrics it's used on (used by NASA and very-expensive.)
 

Selecting OUTDOOR Fabric

 
 

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SUNBRELLA Or Outdoor FABRIC For Your Intended Use . . .

   SUNBRELLA is one of the best fabrics for outdoor use.  Although it is very well known, a lot of confusion and misconceptions exist for the non-professional looking to use these products.  It is well known for its UV-Ray "sun" resistance, color retention, and water-repellency.  There are also other name brands made very similar like Para-Tempotest and Dickson (also owned by the makers of Sunbrella), so you are not limited with only one choice.  Tempotest and Dickson also offer  very Unique array of Colors and Patterns not available with Sunbrella,  so your project doesn't need to look like a carbon-copy of your neighbors'...

Sunbrella makes different grades and series of fabrics, based on its intended use... 

The most commonly known, the Regular 46"-wide and 60"-wide Awning and Canopy weight fabric, at 9.25 ounce per square-yard, is the economically-priced series in over 100 choices.  This is also the most commonly mis-used outdoor fabric, simply since it bears the name Sunbrella.  It can also be used for miscellaneous non-essential marine-type applications, but should not be use for Marine-covers or areas where added water-repellency is essential.  It should not be used for Outdoor-Furniture applications if you don't want the "short cut, stiff, home-made look", there is a special Sunbrella 54"-wide series intended for that as well. 

For Marine applications, Sunbrella makes the Sunbrella-PLUS-8400 Marine series 60"-wide the "Plus" is the added urethane repellency treatment added to it by Sunbrella.  The objective is to repel water and moisture from collecting, yet continue to breathe, so that moisture isn't trapped and creating an annual mildew problem.  Regular Sunbrella will allow too much moisture through, when used for mooring covers (a very common and costly mistake, even by many uninformed within the profession, unfortunately).  Since they look very similar, the only way to know you are getting Sunbrella-Plus is by its Color Number (The true Marine Series Begins with the number 84... ), and hope you are dealing with an honest vendor, if you are not familiar with it.  It is available in the most popular marine colors.   Sunbrella has also recently added a new Marine Series, which has not yet gained popularity, due to its much higher cost...

For Outdoor-Furniture and Drapery applications, Sunbrella makes the 54"-wide series, with a weight of about 8-ounces per linear-yard (not square yard).  It is not as stiff as the Regular Sunbrella Awning material, so it can take the curves and contours needed for furniture and pillow applications more easily, and allows the fabric to flow when used for drapery applications.  It doesn't have the rigid-look that using regular Sunbrella will give.  Available in over 130 decorator solids, stripes, and textures, in different price categories.  If it's not 54-inches-wide, it is not a furniture-weight Sunbrella...

Each is priced accordingly, and based on the added technology applied by Sunbrella to make them.  Using the right series for your intended use is very important, unless it is only a temporary measure.

Also making sure that you use material from the same dye-lot is essential.  Although Sunbrella's colors appear very similar when new, fabric made by Sunbrella at different times and widths, may not fade evenly as it's exposed to the elements, and make your project less impressive.  The use of seconds or end-run material is also not recommended, since there are many variants which can crop up in your finished-project as time passes, and the cost and time involved in repairing or replacing the less than adequate project.  Keep in mind, that there are reasons why those who are reputable in the profession refuse to purchase the so-called bargain-priced end-runs or seconds from the mills. Even Sunbrella knows this, and that's why they pass it on to those who it doesn't matter to, which is much of what appear to be great-bargains online (but not labeled as end-runs, as they should be)...

Sunbrella is a wonderful outdoor-use product, and for indoor areas heavily exposed to the sun or moisture, so be sure to select the right series for its intended use.  You won't regret it, even if it costs a few dollars more to do it right.

Unfortunately,  Most Of What Is Being Sold Online at what appear to be Bargains in Auctions like eBay, Are SECONDS, End-Runs, Cleaned-up Stale or Poorly Stored Stock, and Display or Refurbished Stock with a shorter life span... (Without It Being Noted As Such)  If purchased, expect a much shorter lifespan on this material, and to pay to re-do it again.

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Selecting MARINE Fabric For Your Intended Use . . .

   If You've Been Confused by All the Outdoor Fabric hype sold as Boat and Marine use, Let me try to shed a little light on it for you...     Not all outdoor materials are created equal...

Selecting the right fabric for your boat or marine application, based on the performance you need and are looking for, is very important...  Protecting your Investment is of foremost importance...

Not All Outdoor Fabric is intended for use in Boat & Marine-type Elements...   If you want it to last long and not create other problems, you need to get the Right Fabric Made for your intended use...

Different Grades and Levels are made for Bimini-Tops, Covers, Dodgers, and proper Mooring-COVERS (to help avoid Mildew Build-up)...

Regular Sunbrella fabric, although an excellent awning material, is a short-term solution for most of these type applications, since it doesn't contain the level of repellency needed for essential marine use...  That is why Sunbrella makes a Special-series intended for Marine applications, called Sunbrella-PLUS-8400-series (Not Regular Sunbrella)... 

For Boat Covers or Mooring Covers, you should use a Fabric which repels water and moisture better, yet breathes so that some air can filter through and not trap moisture in the boat, which will eventually turn into mildew.  Vents should be also added to help prevent moisture build-up.  Marine Fabrics with the added Water-Repellency needed which Breathe, are TopGunSunbrella-PLUS-8400 series (Not Regular Sunbrella), and economical Odyssey...

How Can You Tell The Difference on the Sunbrella products?   The Marine Sunbrella-PLUS colors, start with the number "84", like 8401 etc...   Sunbrella also applies an additional urethane coating on one side to give it the added repellency needed...   It does cost a few dollars more, but well worth it...  Regular Sunbrella does Not have this feature... 

If you prefer a Water-Proof Marine Fabric, you could use SeaMark, or Stamoid What makes them Water-Proof is a layer of marine Vinyl applied to one side.  The downfall is that it doesn't breathe, so additional Vents should be installed to assure that moisture doesn't get trapped under the cover.

Stamoid is available in 59"-wide and a larger 80"-width with limited color selections.

SeaMark is a blend of Haartz Vinyl and Sunbrella Acrylic laminated together in a 60"-width, and looks like regular Sunbrella on One side...

The Waterproof fabrics are better suited for  Boat Top and Bimini Top applications, since there is air flow.

For Bimini Tops, you have many choices... The most reliable and cost-effective are TopGun, Sunbrella-PLUS-8400 (Not Regular Sunbrella), or economical Odyssey, and the waterproof  Stamoid and SeaMark vinyl-laminates.  You can use regular Sunbrella, Dickson and Para  for non-essential tops, although they are not the best choices for this.  There are other name brands also available, but not truly worth a mention.

For the best over-all Long-Term Solutions, consider  TOP-GUN, Sunbrella-PLUS 8400 Series (Not Regular Sunbrella), STAMOID, SEA-MARK, or economical-Odyssey... Each Offers Features different from the other, and priced accordingly...   

So you do have a Real Choice...   There's a reason why I carry them all...  Choose Wisely...

Unfortunately,  Most Of What Is Being Sold Online at what appear to be Bargains, Are SECONDS, End-Runs, Cleaned-up Stale or Poorly Stored Stock, and Display or Refurbished Stock with a shorter life span... (Without It Being Noted As Such)

I hope you found this information helpful...  Enjoy your Online experience and Stay-Safe...  Dave  CSC-Textiles
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SUNBRELLA Care & Cleaning:  Sunbrella Fabric STAIN & CLEANING CHART
 

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