Frequently Asked Questions
MarineVinylFabric
This section covers everything you need to know about MarineVinylFabric. It includes information on where the vinyl is made and how to get the best price. There's also a guide to how big a yard is and whether your order will arrive in one piece. It also includes insights like how to remove creases and the best way to clean and maintain your marine vinyl.
Our warehouse is located in Saint Croix Falls Wisconsin.
We work directly with our manufacturer and sell our own Flexa Marine product. This allows us to cut out the extra costs of distributors. As we buy and ship in bulk it creates additional savings that we pass on to the customer. It also gives us complete control of our quality to make sure the products are built to our specifications.
- 1 yard is 36” long x 54” wide
- 2 yards is 72” long x 54” wide
- Check out our size guide on the product pages
Clear Vinyl and Flooring will always come in one continuous piece assuming you buy less than a full roll which the length varies based on thickness.
Upholstery Vinyl - 95% of the time orders are sent in one continuous piece. Larger orders may have a split or two from the manufacturing process. Our Flexa Marine Vinyl rolls come in 30 yard lengths so any orders over 30 yards will come in more than one package. The clear vinyl rolls come in different lengths. The clear 20 Gauge comes on 40-yard rolls. The clear 30 Gauge comes on 20-Yard rolls and the clear 40 Gauge comes on 20-yard rolls.
Lay the marine vinyl flat on the ground in the sun. You can also use a heat gun to smooth it out. You can also use a heating pad or heated blanket on a low setting. The material will always bounce back to its original shape, but it can take time. Smaller pieces can be placed in a drier on a low setting to help smooth it out. Please be careful not to use so much heat where it melts.
Our product cannot be found in other retail stores. We prefer to sell directly to the consumer.
This is not a simple question so we wrote a blog post that goes over this topic in great detail. It will give you some awesome tips. Check the article out - How to clean your marine vinyl?
Keeping your vinyl clean and out of the sun will extend the life of the material. Our material is UV treated, but over an extended period the sun will break down the material. They make boat and furniture covers for a reason and it's because the harsh sun will break down just about anything. You can also use products like 303 and Meguiars Marine Vinyl Cleaners.
- V-69 Bonded UV Polyester Thread
- BT-92 Bonded UV Polyester Thread
- There is no right or wrong needle as many people have different preferences
- When we asked some marine experts they recommended the following needle sizes.... #16, #17, #18, #21, #22
Clear Vinyl
This section should answer any questions you have about our clear vinyl. We cover what it is, how it's made, and the different thicknesses available. We also go into detail about how to order, clean, and store it. There's even a section on what makes our clear vinyl different from others on the market, including what kind of plasticizers we use for safety. You'll also find answers to common questions about width limitations and shrinking.
This item is sold by the linear yard or full roll. Select the product you need in the drop-down menu. Select "By The Yard" if you don't want a full roll. This will come in one continuous piece. It is sold as a linear yard. 1 yard would be 36" inches long by 54" or 72" wide which can also be seen in the product selected. 2 yards would be 72" long by 54" or 72" wide. etc. See the Length Guide for additional examples. If you want a full roll, select that option instead. You usually get a better discount on a full roll. Once you select the product change the "Quantity" to how many yards or rolls you need and add the items to your cart.
Clear Vinyl is 54" or 72" Wide and is Double Polished For Crystal Clear Viewing. Prices as low as $2.75 Per Yard. It's Easy to Cut and Sew and is Perfect for Windows, Porch Enclosures, Boat/Auto Windows, Barriers, Table Coverings and Much More. Comes in 10, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80 Gauge thickness. It is a PVC plastic that is extruded out of a machine into different thicknesses or gauges. It is flexible, durable and highly transparent. Not all clear vinyl is created equal. Some clear vinyl can have distortion, waves and air bubbles. Some clear vinyl may be opaque and not be seen through like a painter’s tarp commonly found at home depot. We pride ourselves on having some of the highest level of optically clarity clear vinyl in the marketplace. Our product is manufactured with a patent pending water bath technology that cools the product faster creating incredible visibility. It’s not perfect, but it’s really impressive.
Clear Vinyl can also have additional additives added to it to give it different properties. Things like color additives, UV stabilizers, Cold Crack stabilizers and Fire Retardant are only some of the many additives that can be used to make some clear vinyl different from regular vinyl’s.
There are also different types of plasticizers that can be used to make clear vinyl. These plasticizers are important to consider. Many of the plasticizers can contain lead and phthalates which can be harmful. We make sure to use a DOTP plasticizer which is the safest in the market which is lead and phthalate free.
Another difference that can be found between different clear vinyl’s is the PHR value. This number determines how hard or soft the plastic will come on the roll. Some plastics can be stiff and less flexible than others. We have found a PHR of 44 works best for most people but different companies use different PHR values.
No clear vinyl will still melt in high heat environments. The Fire Retardant makes it safer for indoor and outdoor applications preventing fires from spreading quickly. Many commercial building codes require this higher level of fire retardant to keep people safe.
We have talked to over 100 manufacturers and they have all told us they simply don't make machines large enough to produce larger vinyl. It took us years to find a factory that could produce the 72" vinyl. The only way to make it larger is to make it incredibly thin like a painters tarp you would find at a Home Depot which is not suitable for windows. The other way to make it wider is to heat seal the panels together which is not seamless and requires a $50,000 machine.
80 Gauge is the thickest clear vinyl we offer. Clear vinyl and plastic is measured differently than metal. The smaller the gauge for clear vinyl the thinner. The higher the number the thicker.
Clear Vinyl will shrink about 1-3%. Over time the plasticizers inside the vinyl dry out. As that happens it causes the vinyl to slightly shrink and tighten up. High heat environments will usually cause it to dry out a little faster (Example: storing it in a hot attic). The clear vinyl will also shrink a little after it is unrolled for the first time. The manufacturing machines wind the rolls so tightly they need about 24 hours to relax to remove the stress built up in the roll. If the product is stored in a hot area like an attic the product can shrink almost 2"-4" as it dries the product out even faster.
Extremely Clear, UV Resistant, Water Resistant, Highly Flexible, Durable and Strong and Easy To Clean.
Dish soap and fresh water is the best way to clean marine vinyl. There are also some products like 303 Clear vinyl cleaner/protectant, and our top choice IMAR Cleaners. DO NOT use harsh cleaners like Windex or bleach as those cleaners will harm the vinyl. Start by cleaning with a soft cloth with mild dish detergent to make warm soapy water. If needed you can purchase vinyl cleaner and restorative products from 3M or 303 Marine for additional cleaning needs.
When storing your vinyl products first make sure the vinyl is clean and dry. For best results roll material back onto the cardboard tube it was shipped to you on. DO NOT put any packaging materials or paper interleaved with the vinyl. Store the rolled up product in a climate controlled environment in a vertical position.
Marine/Boat Enclosure Windows, Porch/Patio Enclosures, Safety Barriers (office, counters, gym/warehouse dividers, Greenhouses, Restaurant Enclosures, Golf Cart and UTV Enclosures, Tent/yurt windows, Table Coverings/Pads, School Bulletin Board Covers, Shower Curtains, Furniture Covers, Art Projects, Clear Stadium Bags, Bag Liners and Purses, Pet Doors, Chicken Coops, Cleanrooms and any other window applications.
View Our Thickness Guide above to identify which thickness is best for different projects.
Mils and Gauges are oftentimes used interchangeably. Technically speaking they are functionally different. Mils are usually 6-12% thicker than a gauge. Since more people look for clear vinyl by “Gauge” we promote it as gauge, but we always make the vinyl to be the same thickness or slightly more as if it were a Mil. We like to over deliver as much as possible. The truest measurement we use is millimeters. The Thickness Guide above translates our gauges into millimeters for people as it’s the truest most accurate number for our vinyl. Saying that clear vinyl is an expandable product so it’s never exactly the same thickness, but we do check every batch to ensure accuracy and consistency as close as possible.
Marine Vinyl Fabric Upholstery
This section covers all the bases from selection and cleaning to common questions about properties and maintenance. Whether you're wondering about the differences between regular and marine vinyl or how wide the rolls come, this FAQ has the answers.
This is a popular question so we answered it in a long blog post. You can check out the full post here on How to find the best marine vinyl for your project
Marine Vinyl is a standard 54" wide (See Length Guide)
Marine vinyl has special additives added to the vinyl while it's being made. Marine Vinyl protects the material from harsh elements like UV rays, Mold and Mildew, Cold Temperatures and salt water.
This is not a simple question so we wrote a blog post that goes over this topic in great detail. It will give you some awesome tips. Check the article out - How to clean your marine vinyl?
Keeping your vinyl clean and out of the sun will extend the life of the material. Our material is UV treated, but over an extended period the sun will break down the material. They make boat and furniture covers for a reason and it's because the harsh sun will break down just about anything. You can also use products like 303 and Meguiars Marine Vinyl Cleaners.
Lay the marine vinyl flat on the ground in the sun. You can also use a heat gun to smooth it out. You can also use a heating pad or heated blanket on a low setting. The material will always bounce back to its original shape, but it can take time. Smaller pieces can be placed in a dryer on a low setting to help smooth it out. Please be careful not to use so much heat where it melts.
This is a standard test length. Most of our products can very easily exceed this length of time. There are a few colors that will fade at a faster speed (red, orange and neons - 50 hours). The other colors can easily achieve 500+ hours. Please note to extend the life of any marine vinyl we recommend covering the material when it's not in use. They make boat covers and furniture covers for a reason.
Marine Vinyl is made with a PVC top and knit polyester backing. The vinyl itself is waterproof, but if you sew it together water can get through seams.
It has a knit polyester backing.
It has a mild leather texture. The carbon fiber does have a different carbon fiber appearance/texture.
If you order less than 30 yards the order should come in one continuous piece. We do our best to send rolls in one piece, but occasionally our team may accidently send out a split roll. If you order a 30 yard roll it may contain up to 1 factory split. If you need the material not to have a split please let us know before the order is filled.
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