What is a foamed PVC profile?
A foamed PVC profile (Dutch: volschuim profiel) is a plastic building profile with a core of foamed PVC and a thin, hard, UV-resistant top layer. The top layer is applied by co-extrusion: the core and top layer are pressed through the die together in a single production run, so that they form one whole.
Properties
- Does not rot and does not need painting; cleaning is enough.
- Lightweight and can be sawn, planed and drilled with ordinary woodworking tools.
- Not load-bearing: a foamed PVC profile is a cladding, not a structural element.
- PVC expands more than timber when warm. You need to allow for this during installation.
Applications
Foamed PVC profiles and panels are mainly used as low-maintenance cladding in places where timber needs a lot of painting:
- fascias and bargeboards;
- gutter cladding and roof edges;
- dormer cheeks and fronts;
- the underside of overhangs (soffits).
Installation tips
- Fix onto a dry, flat and ventilated timber substrate. Replace a rotten fascia first; do not clad over it.
- Use stainless steel screws or nails and do not overtighten them, so the profile can move.
- Leave room for expansion at butt joints and use the matching connectors and corners from the system.
- A dark colour heats up more in the sun and therefore moves more than a light colour. Follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions for fixing spacings.
- Make sure the ventilation of the roof and the cavity is not blocked.
Related terms
- Fascia
- Dormer
- PVC
- Plastic
- Facade cladding
- Trespa
- Rockpanel
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