The main difference between coated and uncoated Sunbrella fabrics lies in their level of protection and usage.
Uncoated Sunbrella Fabric
Composition: The uncoated Sunbrella acrylic fabric is lightweight and flexible, weighing 300g/m² while being extremely durable. It is not coated, so it remains waterproof up to 40cm of water in 24 hours.
Usage: It is ideal for a variety of marine applications, such as boat covers, boat upholstery covers, boat awnings, or even covers for garden furniture.
Advantage: It offers excellent UV protection, blocking more than 98% of the harmful UV rays from the sun.
However, UV protection varies depending on the colors. For example, white and light colors provide less protection than dark colors.
It is breathable, allowing your sails to dry, which is not the case if you enclose your sail in coated Sunbrella.
Implementation: If you cut it with scissors, it will fray. To prevent threads from appearing, you need to cut it with a hot knife (hot iron) that cauterizes the cut or, as we do, cut it with a laser cutting machine, which is professional equipment. If you don’t have a hot iron, you will need to bind the edges or make a double hem.
Coated Sunbrella Fabric
Composition: The coating added to the Sunbrella fabric improves its resistance to water and stains, making it ideal for applications requiring increased waterproofing (waterproof up to 100cm of water in 24 hours).
However, the coating can make the fabric heavier and less flexible than the uncoated version.
Usage: It is important to choose the type of Sunbrella fabric that best suits your specific needs. If you need a fabric resistant to water and stains, the coated version may be the best choice (boat canopies, biminis). If you prefer a lighter and more flexible fabric, the uncoated version might be more appropriate.
Advantage: The coating can also increase the fabric’s durability, making it more resistant to tears and wear.
Implementation: It can be cut with scissors, as the resin in the coating blocks the weave, so no threads come loose.