Cast vs. Calendered

Not All Vinyl is Created Equal

When deciding on a bird collision deterrent product, there are two components that are often not discussed, but should always be considered: durability and longevity.

Most, if not all, bird collision deterrent products are converted from sheet vinyl (PVC) and involves two basic manufacturing methods: cast or calendered. Final products may feel and look similar, but the differences in durability and longevity are substantial:

  • Cast vinyl is a premium product that won’t discolour, shrink or delaminate; it has an expected serviceable life of 15+ years.
  • Calendered vinyl is used for short-term applications and will start to degrade in three to five years.

The true value of the product being used should meet high standards as it relates to maintenance, long-term appearance and expected serviceable life.

Expected
Lifespan


Cast vs Calendered Lifespan

Using Cast Vinyl for your Project

Coupled with a premium exterior adhesive, a cast vinyl outdoor marker, stripe or printed design film should provide maintenance-free service for 15+ years (quality exterior UV inks must be used). Product cost is not necessarily the most expensive component of a project; labour for installation can raise your price, particularly when considering access equipment, additional labour, etc. In addition to durability and longevity, the following should always be considered when establishing criteria for a successful project:

  • Marker spacing
  • Colour contrast
  • All technical requirements as specified through bird collision guideline.

When deciding on a bird deterrent collision product, be sure to insist on a product that gives you the long-term performance that is required. Manufacturers such as Oracle and others go into further detail on manufacturing procedures and the difference between cast and calendered on their websites. Feather Friendly® uses only premium grade cast vinyl in both its DIY and Commercial products. For more information on Feather Friendly® Bird Deterrent Technology, please contact us!.

Understanding Thermal Glass Breakage

Thermal breakage or thermal fracturing is the “cracking” of glass caused by uneven heat absorption. It occurs when temperature difference create stress in the glass where hot and cold spots meet. Thermal breakage happens most often when there is an existing defect, such as a chip or uneven cut along the edge.

Some materials—such as window films—installed on the glass lead to increased heat absorption, and the resulting heat build-up can crack the glass. Thermal breakage almost always occurs on the internal glass pane, and where there is a defect on the edge of the glass. However, thermal breakage can also occur on exterior panes, if the whole surface is covered with a dark, heat absorbing material or if there is a dark decal covering a large portion of the surface of the pane.

Feather Friendly® does NOT increase the risk of Thermal Breakage

Feather Friendly® is not a film. Rather, individual markers are placed on the outside surface, covering only about ≤ 7% of the glass. Therefore, any additional heat absorption due to the markers is negligible, meaning that Feather Friendly® does NOT increase the risk of thermal breakage. In nearly two decades of commercial and residential installations, there has never been a documented case of Feather Friendly® markers causing thermal breakage

Additionally, Feather Friendly® applications will not damage glass surfaces or exterior glass coatings, such as Solar Reflective, Low-E, or other types of glass treatments. And Feather Friendly® will not void your window manufacturer’s warranty.

With Feather Friendly®, you can rest easy.