Some of the benefits of having an unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) porch include added insulation, ease of upkeep and improved home security. Thanks to its low heat energy conductivity, a UPVC porch adds insulation to the front of a house. Unlike painted wooden porches, the surface of a UPVC porch will not chip, warp or crack, nor will the pigment fade from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. UPVC porches can be used as a small mud room for wet shoes and coats to be placed. Dirt that gets onto an UPVC porch can be washed off with soap and water.
Poorly insulated homes cannot prevent outside air from getting inside. Hot or cold drafts alter the room temperature and cause a furnace or air conditioner to working harder. The installation of a UPVC porch adds insulation, which stops drafts and often saves people money on heating and cooling bills.
UPVC porches are made out of a strong, rigid, plastic-like material that is resistant to color fade from sunlight, chemical erosion and water oxidation or rust. This flame-retardant material is resistant to acid and alkali corrosion. Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride differs from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in that it does not contain chemicals called phthalates, which are added to PVC to make it flexible. These carcinogenic chemical additives leach out of the materials, such as plastic water bottles, and are thought to mimic human hormones in the body when consumed.
Rigid UPVC is a tough substance that is difficult to cut through. It is heat resistant and solder resistant, which prevents it from being melted easily. These two physical properties of a UPVC porch gives a home an extra layer of protection against intruders.
House-building materials such as vinyl house siding, gutters, downspouts, window frames and pipes can all be made with UPVC. Double-glazed windows also can be made out of UPVC. Electrical wiring insulation is often made with UPVC materials because of its poor conducting properties.
Another name for UPVC is vinyl. It is a manufactured plastic that is made using saltwater that has had an electric current sent through it to create chlorine. Ethylene extracted from oil is added to the chlorine to make ethylene dichloride. This substance is heated to high temperatures, which causes it to undergo a molecular change. The heat turns it into vinyl chloride monomers that combine to make polyvinyl chloride resin, which is used to make PVC products.