Corrugated Fiberglass
Used mostly within the construction industry, corrugated sheets of fiberglass are popular siding and roofing materials for sheds, outdoor patios and greenhouses. Corrugated fiberglass is semi-UV permeable, and different fiberglass compositions respond in different ways to UV exposure. Some varieties are resilient enough for use as greenhouse structural materials. Some fiberglass compositions are useful in such capacities because they reduce but do not eliminate the intensity of sunlight. Corrugated fiberglass is inexpensive and easy to replace. Corrugated fiberglass is commonly green in color and semi-translucent, but it may also be white. Transparent sheets are used because of their light transmission abilities in greenhouses or as skylights. Corrugated fiberglass is manufactured in long sheets, but it can also be cut to size and sold as panels. It is easily cut if necessary; drilling, punching, sawing and nailing can also be performed without the risk of damage to the material.
Standard fiberglass is made from limestone, silica, strand feldspar and borax. Thin, high strength mats that are composed of glass fibers are imbedded in resin. This material can easily be shaped, and in the case of corrugated fiberglass, it is heated and formed into an alternating curved pattern. It is manufactured by either open or closed molding. During open molding, a layer of gel coating is applied and cured on a single mold or structure. In the closed molding process, that gel coat is applied in a two-part mold, and chopped fibers are sprayed or placed in the female part of the mold on top of the gel coat. Most corrugated panels are composed of two layers. The top layer, which is exposed to the outside, is strong, rigid and weather resistant. It will not rust and can withstand prolonged exposure to a wide range of harsh outdoor conditions, both warm and cold. The other layers are made of thinner fiberglass sheets that provide strength and structure. The different layers are glued together to form a sheet of corrugated fiberglass.
