Corrosion Resistance

Fiberglass has grown in popularity of partially due to its incredible durability. It possesses unique properties that allow it to hold its own against outdoor elements and corrosive chemicals.

Fiberglass composite is highly resistant to most acids, bases, oxidizing agents, salts, corrosive gases such as sulfur dioxide. In addition, they are able to withstand temperature extremes with little risk of compromise to its structural integrity.

Furthermore, being a plastic polymer, fiberglass does not suffer from corrosive growth like other building materials such as rust in iron and the build-up of mold and algae growth in concrete, wood, and clay. Because of this, your fiberglass construction is bound to look good as new for not just years but decades!

Cost Advantage

While the cost will vary widely depending on the application in which fiberglass is being used, on average, fiberglass is one of the more affordable materials out there. The economy of the material is further realized by its long-lasting nature and low maintenance, which is a result of highly durable and corrosion-resistant properties.

Lightweight

Fiberglass is one of the lighter construction materials, with aluminum being one of the few that are even more lightweight. However, compared to aluminum, fiberglass offers both greater affordability and durability.

A lighter weight material is easier to work with, saves costs in terms of transport and labor as well as allow construction to be done on a faster note.

Easy to Work With

Fiberglass is probably one of the easiest materials to work with. In addition to being lightweight, working with fiberglass is also easy as individual pieces can be shaped and assembled at the warehouse under controlled conditions and then transported onto the site in an almost finished form. Often no special tools or welding are required on-site when working with fiberglass.

Less downtime, faster installation, fewer personal associated with working with fiberglass also translates to a lower overall cost of construction.

High Strength

Fiberglass is an extremely strong material, possessing tensile strength of up to 30,000 psi, the same as construction-grade aluminum. While steel is overall a stronger material than fiberglass, the strength-to-weight ratio of fiberglass far surpasses that of the former by as much as 75%. This property of it makes it excellent for such building applications as columns, pergolas, cornices, balustrades, exterior shutters, domes, bridges, and other such structures.

Water-proof

Another useful property of fiberglass is that it is completely water-proof. Unlike other building materials, it does not absorb water nor does the liquid act as a corrosive agent against its surface. This makes fiberglass ideal for such architectural applications such as roofing and exterior installations. In addition, fiberglass can also be utilized indoors for rooms where water is used extensively such as bathrooms and swimming pools.

Versatility

From intricate indoor aesthetics to exterior cornices to building columns, fiberglass has found its use in virtually every aspect of construction.

Being a plastic polymer, fiberglass can be easily molded into shapes, configurations, and structures that would be difficult or expensive to do with other construction materials. This allows for a great level of architectural applications and methods in which fiberglass can be utilized.

In addition, for a specific application, certain properties of fiberglass can be further enhanced by making the required adjustments during the production process.

Thermal Insulation

Fiberglass features a heat distribution gradient that is considerably lower than that of steel and aluminum – almost comparable to that of wood. This translates to greater energy-saving and thus lowers utility bills.

Electrical Insulation

The non-conductive nature of fiberglass makes it a great electrical insulator and helps reduce the complexity in the earthing process at the time of installation. It also lessens the risk of any hazardous electrical damage due to any faulty wiring, due to it being both highly resistant to heat and electric current.

Sustainability

Some people may abstain from using fiberglass because of its non-biodegradable nature, seeing it as unsustainable. However, fiberglass is, in fact, a highly sustainable building material.

The energy-efficient production process of fiberglass profiles translates to lower emission plus the material’s exceptional durability means that fewer resources are wasted in the long run in maintenance or replacement. Furthermore, being both a lightweight and easy-to-work-with material, the emissions associated with transport and activity on the side is also considerably less.

While in the past, fiberglass was impossible to recycle, today discarded fiberglass is increasingly finding its usage in concrete production or being reused in other construction such as manhole covers and picnic tables.

Key Takeaway

Fiberglass is a highly versatile construction material that boasts the strength of its metal counterparts while also featuring the insulation properties similar to that of wood. Furthermore, unlike concrete, it is also far lighter, is easier to work with and even manages to last longer without the need for maintenance. It is also increasingly sustainable due to lower emissions and finding usage beyond its original design purpose.

Are you looking to incorporate fiberglass into your architectural design needs? Call us at 267-484-4989 or use our contact form to know more about the amazing fiberglass product we offer for your architectural needs.