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Polyurethane vs Synthetic
1. Polyurethane Balustrade: A polyurethane balustrade has a 32nd of an inch of gel coat or primer membrane on the outside with a foam interior that has a plastic pipe ran through the handrails and steel pipe in the balusters for strength. If the membrane is damaged it exposes the foam core.
*Fiberglass Balustrade: This system is made from a very durable polyester resin & crushed limestone, it is the same material through out, this balustrade system is impact resistant.
2. Polyurethane Balustrade: It is very hard to attach rails on this balustrade because the foam interior has no strength.
*Fiberglass Balustrade: Our balustrade system is very strong product it will hold screws better than wood, you can anchor this balustrade into the newels with masonry screws.
3. Polyurethane Balustrade: This balustrade system reacts to the weather changes by expansion & contraction; this in turn is a constant maintenance issue in the balustrade system.
*Fiberglass Balustrade: Our completed balustrade system expands and contract very little, once it is installed there will be very little maintenance to this product.
4. Polyurethane Balustrade: These balusters have a steel pipe in middle of the balusters it is very hard to cut & install the balusters on stairways; you have to cut around the steel baluster pipe.
Fiberglass Balustrade: Our baluster is extremely strong; we have a plastic pipe in our baluster, when cutting the baluster you cut the baluster all the way through and insert a ½” cpvc pipe into the pipe that is inside the baluster already.
Polyurethane Balustrade: If you do not keep up with painting the balustrade system it will develop hair line cracks that eventually cause water to get inside the balustrade, causing major problems with the balustrade system.
Fiberglass Balustrade: Since our balustrade system is the same material throughout, there is nothing that can crack to allow water penetration.
Polyurethane Balustrade: When a 10’ section of this balustrade system is installed, it is not a rigid material allowing movement of the balustrade system when weight is applied in the middle.
Fiberglass Balustrade: Our fiberglass balustrade is made of a very strong and durable product, when the same balustrade length is installed their will be no movement in the middle of our balustrade system.
Polyurethane Balustrade: Newel post is so hard to make sturdy because of design and the hardware they send for the balustrade system attachments.
Fiberglass Balustrade: Our newels for the balustrade are hollow; we recommend you pour one bag of dry mix sacrete into post once the concrete sets you can not move the balustrade when weight is applied.