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Q. WHAT ARE THE RAW MATERIALS USED FOR eco-Profil?
A. eco-Profil composite profiles consist of recycled polyolephins (polyethylene, polypropylene), reclaimed wood fibre, UV-inhibited pigment systems and selected process additives.
The recovered wood fibre (60%) utilized in eco-Profil is compounded with plastic into a rigid board.
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Q. TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THE RAW MATERIALS USED ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?
A. The raw materials are reclaimed products that are otherwise likely to be incinerated or used as landfill. The main plastics used are polyethylene and polypropylene. They are generally considered to be amongst the most environmentally-friendly polymers around.
The eco-Profil products can easily be recycled into new, similar products after a lifetime that is many times longer than conventional wood.
For the environmentally conscious amongst us, we provide a more detailed overview of the environmental considerations that we strive to respect when developing and producing these wpc profiles.
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Q. WHAT BENEFITS DOES eco-Profil HAVE COMPARED TO CLASSICAL WOOD?
A. eco-Profil materials exhibit exceptional resistance to corrosive substances, oil and fuels, insects, fungus, salt spray, and other environmental stresses.
These products have excellent weathering resistance. The composite does not absorb moisture, therefore it will not rot, splinter or crack.
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Q. TO WHAT EXTENT DOES eco-Profil KEEP ITS COLOUR?
A. eco-Profil products have excellent weathering resistance; however, the colour will change slightly over the service life of the product. The reason for this is that, although the plastic is mass coloured, the wood showing at the surface will inevitably, as all natural products, change its colour under UV exposure. Typically, the colour will change towards a darker, warmer tone. The product will however not loose its mechanical properties.
Because of the fact that the pigments used are of the highest light stability, the profiles require no waterproofing, painting, staining, or similar maintenance, even when used in exterior applications. However, if requested, the product can be stained or painted with water-borne (preferred) or solvent systems.
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Q. WHAT ARE THE BASIC USES FOR WOOD COMPOSITES?
A. eco-Profil products are used in many conventional wood lumber applications, and are often the product of choice for exterior applications where weathering resistance and low maintenance are required.
Used in both residential and municipal applications, eco-Profil products are cost effective alternatives for ground contact and animal contact and all wet, corrosive, and environmentally harsh conditions.
eco-Profil products may be used as flooring material for terraces (see also the installation instructions) or as siding material. For both applications, eco-Profil has developed specific profiles.
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Q. HOW MANY PRODUCTS DOES eco-Profil PRODUCE?
A. eco-Profil products are manufactured in several dimensional sizes, shapes, and colours.
Surface treated terrace planks (decking board) are available in two popular colours: Bahama Brown and Ash Grey.
The standard lengths supplied by eco-Profil for its decking board are 2.40 , 3.00 , 3.60 and 4.80 meters.
There are also various profiles to be used as supports. They are made of the same water resistant material.
They are available in 2.4 meter lengths and are either 25mm (1") thick and 45mm (1 3/4") wide or 28mm (1 1/8") thick and 62mm (2 3/8") wide.
The appropriate skirtboards in the corresponding coulours are part of the accessories, together with stainless steel clips for normal mounting (CN075) and for butt joints (CT050).
Our surface treated siding and cladding planks of 10mm thickness are available in more colours: Bahama Brown, Sahara Beige, Ayers Red and Ash Grey are most popular. The standard lengths supplied by eco-Profil for its siding board are 2.40 meter and 3.60 meter.
Of course, the clips necessary for a troublesome hidden fixation are also available: clips CB100 .
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Q. SHOULD I USED SPECIFIC TOOLS TO WORK WITH eco-Profil PRODUCTS?
A. eco-Profil products can be fabricated and installed with the same tools used to work wood lumber. The product will cut and drill very cleanly, as there is no grain to split or chip. It is not necessary to pre-drill when fastening. Decking products may be screwed used high quality fasteners, preferably out of stainless steel. eco-Profil double grooved deck material is installed with a proprietary hidden fastening system that allows installation from the top of the deck.
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Q. WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE eco-Profil PRODUCTS?
A. This type of lumber product has less rigidity (modulus of elasticity) than wood lumber.
It is not recommended for use as a true structural member at this time.
Examples of applications that are inappropriate would be load bearing walls, deck framing, and floor joists.
It is recommended that an engineering study be performed prior to use of eco-Profil as a structural member. eco-Profil N.V. can take no responsibility for the product being used under conditions that are not prescribed within the technical sheets available.
Also, since the product is more flexible than regular wood, the support spacing as recommended should be respected.
The space below these products needs to be well ventilated. Failure to design and build accordingly may, in the long run, lead to deforming of the boards.
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Q. HOW MUCH DO eco-Profil PRODUCTS COST?
A: eco-Profil products are competitively priced when compared to tropical wood and certainly when compared to other composite materials. They are available through a variety of retailers. Please contact these regarding specific pricing.
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Q: CAN MY DECK GET SCRATCHED?
A: You cannot prevent scratches on any surface that is subjected to foot traffic, but scratches tend to become less visible after time. You can speed up this process by sanding -in the direction of the wood grain pattern- with #80 sandpaper.
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Q: HOW DO I CLEAN MY eco-Profil TERRACE?
A: You can easily clean your deck with a soft brush and mild cleaning agent. If needed, you can use diluted hypochloric solutions without problem. Also, power washing can be used.
Please be aware that there are basically four types of contamination you can get onto your deck:
- dirt and debris (leafs, sand, stone, ...)
- water borne (coffee, tea, wine, ketchup,...)
- oily stains (oils, greases, mayonaise, ...)
- solvents
Solvents
Unless you know what you are doing or you are testing if certain stains can more quickly be removed using a certain solvent, keep away from your deck or terrace with solvent products. Although the polyolefins that we use are typically stable when exposed to most solvents, we cannot guarantee that under all conditions the integrity of your deck board will remain intact.
Oils and greases
Typically, first remove, e.g. with a paper tissue, as much of the stain that is on top of the board.
Since the oils and fats will only penetrate into the wood particles that are at the exposed surface of the board, and as the affinity of wood for water is higher than for virtually all types of oils, the stains will gradually wash out with the rain. This may take some time, typically four to five good rain showers, possibly longer. Eventually, all grease will be washed out of the wood fibres.
Rinsing with large amounts of water, several times, will have the same effect. Prior spraying with a soapy solution mayspeed up the process.
Water based solutions
These solutions, as stated above, have high affinity for the wood fibre. When allowed to dry, the colouring agents may have been intimately coupled to the wood and may form a strong bond with it, thus making removal quite difficult. However, they also have the tendency to break down under the influence of UV, or at least to loose their colour after longer time exposure to sunlight.
Rinsing the stain with a Javel water solution (hypochloric acid solution) as bleaching agent may take away the colour pigments of the stain also. In this case, the natural colouring of the wood fibres may also be taken away, thus leaving lighter spots on the deck. However, with time, these spots should again obtain the same hue as the rest of the decking.
Dirt and debris
These can easily be removed with a soft brush or a power washer.
When using a high pressure water jet, only use it in the general direction of the wood grain or grooves. Only use a pressure washer with wide fan tips, at low pressures under 100 bars (1 500 psi) and at safe distances, 30 centimeters (12”) above deck. First test each power washing machine, and your own skills in using it, on a small area.
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Q: HOW DO I BEST INSTALL MY eco-Profil TERRACE?
A: You should pay attention to the correct joist spacing, to proper ventilation underneath the deck, to the board spacing necessary for correct drainage and thermal expansion, and to the fastening system you intend to use. Please note that pre-drilling is not needed when working at temperatures above 5°C.
For more information, see the installation instructions.
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