Categories
Acrylic Sheet

Why Acrylic Is Better Than Glass: 4 Ways to Use Acrylic Sheets at Home

plexiglass-acrylic-sheets-uses-benefits-canada-plasticsAcrylic sheets are a cost-effective and lightweight alternative to glass in the construction industry. While acrylic plastic sheets are commonly used in commercial construction, they’re quickly becoming a more popular choice for residential new builds as well. Not only is acrylic cheaper and easier to produce than glass, but it’s also easier and lighter to transport from the manufacturing plant to the jobsite. Plus, acrylic plastic sheets are also 17 times more durable than glass and offer enough flexibility to be moulded and shaped to fit into any structural design and size.

Acrylic sheets can also be cut down to any size. It’s the ideal material for DIY at home remodelling or reconstruction projects because it works well with common consumer-grade tools and products. Since acrylic sheets come in a variety of colour options and shades, it can match any home décor aesthetic. For a simple, clean, and seamless look, you can also choose white or clear acrylic sheets. As long as you work with a reputable acrylic sheet supplier in the GTA, you’re guaranteed to get a top-quality product.

Why Is Acrylic Better Than Glass?

There are a lot of reasons that acrylic plastic is superior to the conventional glass that’s used in residential construction projects. Glass is far more fragile and a lot harder to work with, meaning it’s more likely to break or get damaged during the transportation and installation process. All it takes is one misstep or accidentally mishandling and glass can crack or shatter on the spot.

Thermal acrylic plastic, on the other hand, is extremely durable and insusceptible to breakage. When you work with the right acrylic sheet distributors, you have the option of choosing from a wide range of colour options that are perfectly suited to match your preferred aesthetic. Unlike glass, acrylic is also incredibly versatile and can be used for a number of applications throughout your home.

Ways to Use Acrylic Sheets at Home

Whether you need to update a few original fixtures or simply want to revamp your living space, you can use acrylic sheets for a number of different projects to make your space feel new again. Here are a few examples of how you can incorporate white or coloured acrylic sheets into your home’s aesthetic.

Acrylic Windowpanes

Living near a golf course, baseball diamond, tennis court, or park where kids can play certainly has the potential to increase your home’s property value. It’s especially ideal if you’re an avid golfer or love to play other sports. The only downside is that, if you live close enough, you might have to deal with a broken window every once in a while due to a fly ball or other projectile objects. Traditional glass windows simply can’t withstand the impact of a runaway ball and the cost of frequent replacements can really add up.

You shouldn’t have to move out of a home and neighbourhood you love because of a few broken windows, however. There’s a better and more cost-effective solution: replace all of the glass windows in your home with thermal acrylic plastic. Acrylic has the flexibility and durability to withstand all kinds of heavy impact, whether it’s from a rogue sports ball or even a bird flying into your window (which also happens from time to time).

For the best results, be sure to work with professional clear or white acrylic sheet distributors in your area. Depending on the size of your home and how many windows you have, installation is easy and can be done in as little as 24 hours. You also have the option of ordering frosted acrylic sheets for more privacy in bathrooms and bedrooms without diminishing natural lighting.

Acrylic Kitchen Backsplash

Kitchen tile backsplashes eventually become outdated and need to be replaced. Grout needs to be cleaned regularly and some stains such as tomato sauce or caked-on oil are difficult to get out. Acrylic backsplashes are an affordable and timeless solution. Since acrylic backsplashes come in one large sheet, they’re a lot easier and less time-consuming to install than tile, which comes in pieces that need to be glued on one at a time with expert precision. White, clear, and coloured acrylic sheet suppliers in the GTA deliver the product in one piece. It can then be cut down to size according to the measurements of your kitchen wall.

Plus, acrylic is impervious to oil and food stains. Maintenance is easy. All you have to do is gently wipe it down with a damp microfiber cloth after each use to remove food splatter and smudges. Since there’s no grout to worry about, acrylic sheets provide a seamless, simple, and classic aesthetic that fits in with any kitchen design. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners as these can damage the material. Dish soap and warm water are sufficient for cleaning acrylic kitchen backsplashes.

Acrylic Cabinet Doors and Windows

If you love the look of accent glass cabinet doors and windows throughout your home, but hate the constant cleaning and maintenance involved to make them look pretty, then acrylic is the way to go. Clear or frosted acrylic cabinet doors and windows give you the same look as glass, but there’s a lot less cleaning and upkeep involved. Plus, acrylic lasts longer and is more durable and lightweight than glass, so it doesn’t need to be replaced as often and it won’t weigh down your cabinets and fixtures as much.

Acrylic Coffee Tables and End Tables

Believe it or not, acrylic is also a great option for furniture and decorative items throughout your home, especially coffee and end tables. It has a timeless sleek and modern design that fits with any home décor and is incredibly easy to maintain. Acrylic plastic can also be used as a decorative furniture cover for high-end sofas, dining tables, and chairs.

Acrylic Sheet Distributors in Ontario

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the leading commercial and residential acrylic sheet distributors in Ontario. In addition to supplying clear, white, and coloured acrylic sheets for residential construction and DIY renovations, we also provide acrylic sheet barriers for COVID-19 in public settings. Contact us today to learn more about our vast array of thermal acrylic plastic products and how we’re doing our part to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Categories
PVC Strip

What Are PVC Strip Curtains and Why Should You Install Them at Your Business?

PVC strip curtains clearWorkplace safety, productivity, and efficiency are all important factors that drive a business from the ground up, regardless of the environment or sector. If you’re looking for a feasible and affordable solution to enhance onsite safety standards and maximize efficiency and productivity, then PVC warehouse curtains are an excellent addition to your workplace.

What Are PVC Strip Warehouse Curtains?

PVC strip warehouse curtains are made of heavy-duty flexible industrial plastic that acts as a secondary barrier, a standalone door, or room divider in the workplace. Strip door curtains are extremely flexible and have a plethora of incredible benefits that can maximize the efficiency and productivity of your workplace while also reducing the risk of employee injury and contaminants entering into various areas that need protection.

PVC strip curtains are also extremely versatile and can be used in a wide range of work environments including retail storage areas, restaurants, and temperature-controlled atmospheres such as freezers, refrigerators, coolers, and shipping and receiving docks.

Top Reasons to Install PVC Strip Curtains in the GTA

PVC plastic curtains are the ideal choice for a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. They’re versatile enough to work in virtually any environment and they can be retrofitted to suit the design demands of your workplace. To make sure you’re getting a top-quality product as well as reliable installation and maintenance services for your product, make sure to work with reputable PVC strip curtain door distributors in the GTA.

Here are some of the top benefits that high-quality PVC warehouse curtains boast.

Portable and Easy to Install

Contrary to what you might think, PVC plastic curtains are actually incredibly lightweight, which makes them easy to transport and carry. Moreover, they can be custom-made to accommodate the architectural design of your warehouse, facility, or commercial space with ease. PVC strip curtains are the ideal solution to divide certain workspaces, manage moisture levels, and prevent contaminants from getting in.

Cost-Effective By Minimizing Energy Usage

PVC strip curtains are also an excellent cost-saving solution for businesses that need to manage their energy usage and reduce their carbon footprint in a completely sustainable way. PVC plastic strip curtains are designed to maintain top-notch temperature control and reduce moisture levels to create a cool and comfortable working environment for your employees while also preserving product quality at all times. Hot and cold air, contaminants, and air pollutants are effectively blocked from entering into product storage areas, which also helps reduce your energy and operational costs significantly.

Noise Pollution Reduction

Another noteworthy benefit of installing PVC strip curtains in your warehouse or any other work environment is that it can reduce or contain noise levels. Working in a warehouse, distribution center, or any other environment that involves the use of heavy machinery like forklifts, transport trucks, dock levelers, cranes, hoists, etc. can get extremely loud. Noises such as sirens, trucks being loaded and unloaded, crewmembers speaking at loud volumes, and so on can all travel throughout the workplace.

This can become an issue if your warehouse happens to be attached to your sales office or headquarters where you also hold company and client meetings. Installing PVC strip curtains throughout your facility creates sound barriers that prevent noise pollution from travelling from your warehouse into your office space or showroom.

Complete Transparency

PVC plastic curtains are also completely transparent, which increases safety standards in your facility because they allow for a clear line of vision on both sides. This can reduce the risk of a potential collision if two or more employees need to access the same space coming from different directions. Another reason why transparency is vital in an industrial environment is because it allows workers to easily access and see what materials are being stored in each section rather than having to open doors that lead to temperature-controlled spaces and potentially letting in contaminants in the process.

Being able to see into a room or closed-off section from the outside saves employees a lot of time when it comes to reassessing their chosen route throughout the facility. It also allows employees on both sides to effectively communicate using designated hand signals who should approach and who should choose a different route. Plus, since the PVC plastic strip doors are so light weight, they require minimal effort and strength to pull them apart or push them forward. Considering the inherent physically labourious nature of working in a warehouse, distribution center, or production facility, this is an important feature that reduces some of the strain put on your workers’ bodies throughout the day.

Maximizes Space Management

Space management and functionality has always been a top priority in the supply chain and manufacturing industry. Maintaining proper inventory records helps businesses stay on top of their expenditures and storage space requirements. The need for physical and social distancing brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly created some challenges in typically close-knit workspaces. Warehouse managers have been forced to make some necessary changes to the layout of their facilities to accommodate the necessary physical distancing regulations. Installing PVC plastic door curtains to separate and protect certain product storage areas can also help eliminate or greatly reduce the spread of contaminants within your facility while also keeping workers safe.

Moveable Access

PVC plastic curtains have a lot of the same attributes of heavy-weight or wood doors in the sense that they keep warehouses and other industrial facilities organized and free of contaminants while maintaining temperature control, energy efficiency, and noise pollution levels. But there is one glaring difference—PVC curtains are a lot more lightweight and therefore easier to maneuver as needed, whereas doors are heavy and require a lot more effort to move. Plus, PVC plastic curtains have antimicrobial and antistatic properties that prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses from one individual to another.

PVC Strip Curtain Distributors in the GTA

Your search for “PVC strip curtains near me” ends here.

Canada Plastics and Belting Inc. is one of the leading PVC strip curtain distributors in the GTA. Our PVC strip curtains are ideal for open door areas to help keep out dust, debris, and other contaminants or air pollutants throughout your facility. They also improve and support temperature-controlled environments, which saves you money on your monthly energy bills and they’re equipped with two-way visibility to reduce the risk of collisions. Contact us today or visit our showroom to learn more.

Categories
Sneeze Guards

How to Sanitize Acrylic Sneeze Guards without Damaging Them

Sneeze GuardEven before COVID-19, plastic sneeze guards were an essential protective fixture in a large variety of business settings from restaurants and delis to butcher shops and many more. In an effort to comply with COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, many businesses that didn’t traditionally use sneeze guards have installed them to protect their customers and employees. Sneeze guards are now being widely used at checkout counters in grocery stores, salons and spas, convenience stores, and many more places. But without following proper cleaning and sanitation techniques, sneeze guards are essentially useless. To maximize their effectiveness, it’s important to work with a reputable sneeze guard supplier and plexiglass distributor in Toronto and ensure that they’re being sanitized regularly.

How to Properly Maintain and Sanitize Your Sneeze Guards

By now, pretty much anyone who works in a customer-facing job should be accustomed to working with and around sneeze guards as a protective barrier. An important part of sneeze guard maintenance is knowing how to properly sanitize them. Sanitation techniques should be employed on a scheduled timeline to ensure any viruses living on their surfaces are fully eliminated.

Here’s how you can maintain and sanitize your sneeze guards without inadvertently damaging them.

Clean Sneeze Guards before Disinfecting Them

Sanitation and cleaning aren’t the same thing. Cleaning entails removing all visible dirt, crumbs, and markings from a surface. Sanitation involves actually applying a strong chemical agent that will kill any invisible viruses or bacteria living on the surface. In order for the sanitation process to be completely effective, the chemical agent must be applied to a clean surface.

Polish the Clear Plastic

No sneeze guard cleaning and sanitization process is complete without polishing the clear plastic. Sometimes, using microfiber cloths and bleach water or isopropyl alcohol to sanitize the plastic can leave behind an unpleasant cloudy film. To get rid of this cloudy film, you can use a specially formulated plastic cleaner or polish and achieve a smooth, fresh, and clean look.

Wipe with a Microfiber Cloth

Clear acrylic is highly sensitive and prone to scratching, which is why it’s important to use a soft microfiber cloth when wiping down a plastic sneeze guard surface. Microfiber is known to be anti-bacterial and incredibly soft so you can easily disinfect the surface without scratching it. Microfiber cloths are also eco-friendly and cost-proficient as they’re machine washable and reusable, which means you won’t have to replace them often.

Clean and Disinfect the Surrounding Surfaces As Well

Unfortunately, it’s not always enough to simply wipe down and disinfect the plastic surfaces on plexiglass or acrylic sneeze guards. The surrounding areas need to also be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized to fully eradicate any potential viruses or bacteria that are living on those surfaces as well. This is the most effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure everyone’s health and safety in public places.

When Is It Time to Replace Your Sneeze Guards?

Sneeze guards are designed to last a long time. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever and eventually, you will have to replace your existing sneeze guards. When you start seeing visible signs of wear and tear or that the sneeze guard is falling apart, that’s usually when you know it’s time to replace it with a new one.

Plexiglass and Sneeze Guard Suppliers in the GTA

When the time comes to replace your sneeze guards, Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. will be there for you. For over 20 years, we’ve been one of the leading plexiglass distributors and freestanding sneeze guard barrier suppliers in Canada. Contact us today for more tips on sanitizing and maintaining your sneeze guards!

Categories
Sneeze Guards

Why Sneeze Guards Are Essential for Every Modern Business

Sneeze GuardThis month marks the one year anniversary of the commencement of the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions in Canada. A lot has certainly changed over the course of the past year, especially the ways in which we do business. As we look back on the past year, it’s easy to see that a lot of businesses have taken the virus seriously and done everything in their power to mitigate the spread while ensuring the health and safety of customers and employees alike.

An important part of that initiative includes installing freestanding and attached sneeze guards throughout the workplace. If your business has been temporarily closed for a long time and you’re just now reopening, it’s important to make sure that you’re doing everything you can to follow government health and safety guidelines. Working with professional sneeze guard suppliers in Toronto guarantees that you’re getting a high-quality and effective product for a reasonable price.

What Is a Protective Shield Sneeze Guard?

Typically made out of plexiglass or acrylic plastic, a protective shield sneeze guard is a hard-surface barrier that separates workstations and the individuals who use them. Whether it’s separating customers from employees or coworkers working in the same space, freestanding or attached protective shield sneeze guards help prevent the spread of harmful disease-spreading germs.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, these protective barriers have become more important than ever. They’re instrumental in keeping people apart and ensuring that customer interactions are kept to the absolute bare minimum. Moreover, protective shield sneeze guards act as an additional barrier between individuals in public spaces and prevent droplets from making contact with other people and objects in the store.

Why Does Your Business Need Sneeze Guards?

Sneeze guards serve the dual purpose of protecting both your employees and customers from potential contamination. They’ve always been a staple in the food service industry, particularly buffets, fish and meat counters in grocery stores, sandwich shops, and any other restaurants where food is prepared in front of the customer.

COVID-19 has merely amplified the need and demand for freestanding and attached sneeze guards in more public places including nail salons, banks, and retail environments. Here are a few reasons why you should consider installing high-quality sneeze guards throughout your workplace from a trusted plexiglass supplier in the GTA.

Helps Stop the Spread of Infectious Diseases

Sneeze guards provide a thick protective layer between customers and employees in the workplace. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to wear a mask for long periods of time. Some people have pre-existing or extenuating medical conditions that prevent them from being able to wear a mask and installing sneeze guards can help prevent their water droplets from making contact with other people and products in your store.

Even before COVID-19, sneeze guards were proven to be effective in stopping or slowing down the spread of other viruses including the common cold and the flu. As long as they’re sanitized regularly, sneeze guards are highly effective at protecting customers, employees, and products from contamination.

They’re Easy to Install and Clean

Plexiglass or acrylic protective shield sneeze guards are extremely easy to install. Depending on the size and layout of your business, you can have your entire workplace covered in a matter of a few hours. Hiring a local attached or freestanding sneeze guard barrier supplier can help move the project along faster and minimize your business’s downtime in the process.

Once the sneeze guards are installed, they’re extremely easy to maintain and sanitize. Simply train your employees to clean them after each use or customer interaction. Sneeze guards are also designed for workplaces that don’t directly deal with customers in person, such as offices. Encourage your employees to keep their personal workspaces clean and sanitary by providing them with sanitary wipes to disinfect their desks, cubicles, and sneeze guards on a regular basis.

They Give Customers and Employees Peace of Mind

During these particularly trying and stressful times, many customers might be nervous about returning to in-store shopping. Your employees, who are expected to deliver exceptional customer service at all times, might also be a little wary about working a customer-facing job right now. The barrier created by plexiglass sneeze guards can help give both customers and employees peace of mind in knowing that you’re doing everything you can to ensure their well-being and improve the shopping and working experience.

They Provide Additional Protection Against Diseases

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, government guidelines and mandates in public places have included:

  • Wearing some type of face covering (e.g., masks, face shields, etc.)
  • Wearing gloves
  • Frequent hand washing
  • Sanitizing hands and frequently touched surfaces
  • Physical distancing

Installing sneeze guards throughout your commercial property in addition to all of these stipulations provides an added layer of protection for customers and employees. Individually, these measures are insufficient to fully slow down or prevent the spread of COVID-19. When implemented in conjunction with one another, however, they’re extremely effective and have been proven to significantly slow down the spread in public places.

Which Businesses Should Use Sneeze Guards?

All customer-facing businesses and work environments that require employees to work in close quarters with one another should install sneeze guards throughout their premises. If some employees are capable of working from home, then employers should allow them to do so for the foreseeable future.

With that in mind, here is a list of businesses that should consider installing protective sneeze guards, so that they can continue to safely serve customers in person:

  • Retail stores
  • Nail salons
  • Restaurants and cafes
  • Banks
  • Supermarkets

Plexiglass Sneeze Guard Suppliers in Toronto and the GTA

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is a leading plexiglass supplier in North America. We design and manufacture custom sneeze guards for a variety of businesses and purposes. In addition to plexiglass, we can also supply acrylic and polycarbonate sneeze guards. Our products are solid, easy to install, and affordable. Contact us today to learn more about our products and sneeze guard installation services or to place an order.

Categories
Polycarbonate Sheet

Benefits of Using Twin-Wall Polycarbonate Sheets in Your Next Project

COVERED BASEMENT ENTERANCETwin-wall polycarbonate sheets, which are also known as multiwall sheets, are the ideal material choice for a variety of commercial construction and at-home DIY projects. They’re incredibly durable, yet lightweight, and they offer exceptional light transmission, which makes multiwall sheets great for greenhouses. Whether you’re running a professional operation or working on a personal project, working with the right polycarbonate sheet suppliers in Ontario makes a world of difference. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of multiwall sheets for greenhouses and other applications.

Lightweight and Easy Application

One of the biggest advantages of using polycarbonate twin-wall sheets for various construction and DIY applications is that it’s extremely lightweight without compromising on durability and impact-resistance. The lightweight feature makes it easy to transport, lift, and install polycarbonate sheets and seamlessly incorporate them into the design of your structure. The rigidity of the material itself ensures that the structure will be capable of withstanding a wide range of external elements that it may come into contact with such as wind, rain, and snow.

Polycarbonate sheets come in a standard size, but they can easily be cut down to the desired shape and size that each individual project demands. Since the material is extremely durable, it can be altered or customized without cracking or splitting and will still hold its shape throughout the process.

UV Ray Protection

For decades, glass was the first choice for building greenhouses and other large structures. But all of that is changing now. Glass is being replaced with a far superior, more durable and flexible material: polycarbonate sheets. Polycarbonate offers unparalleled UV protection and excellent even heat distribution throughout your greenhouse structure to ensure the health and longevity of all of your greenery.

Multiwall sheets for greenhouses protect your plants from harmful UV rays which can burn their leaves and prematurely dry out the soil while emitting enough light to allow for the effects of photosynthesis to prevail. Glass, on the other hand, reflects the light from the sun which can cause greenhouses to overheat.

Light Transmission

Polycarbonate sheets share a lot of similarities with glass in the sense that they’re transparent and allow for extensive light transmission. The main difference between the two materials is that polycarbonate is lightweight, much easier to handle and install, and it distributes light more evenly than glass without causing the structure to overheat.

Essentially, polycarbonate sheets offer better temperature control for enclosed spaces such as buildings and greenhouses while providing exceptional natural lighting. From greenhouses to structural skylights and windows, polycarbonate sheets are capable of doing everything glass does, but with higher performance levels and greater durability.

Energy-Efficient Materials to Keep Heat In

Twin-wall sheets are also far more energy efficient than glass. They get their name from the structural design of the sheets. Each sheet is comprised of three layers: two external smooth sheets and one internal honeycomb sheet, giving you three layers of material to prevent heat from escaping your structure and external temperatures from penetrating through. The honeycomb layer also adds to the durability of the structure, preventing it from collapsing in on itself when pressure or high impact is applied.

It’s been proven that twin-wall polycarbonate sheets are capable of improving structural energy-efficiency by about 50%, which also helps keep your monthly heating bills low.

Virtually Unbreakable Material

As one of the most flexible glass alternatives on the market, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets are virtually unbreakable and impervious to minor damages such as cracks or chips. Even when exposed to the harshest external conditions and elements such as heavy snowstorms, ice storms, or hailstorms, polycarbonate can still hold its own with minimal to no damage.

Unlike glass, polycarbonate can withstand virtually anything you throw at it, whether it’s stray balls from kids playing nearby or Mother Nature herself. Due to its unparalleled durability and strength, polycarbonate is one of the most affordable building materials on the market and very rarely needs to be replaced or repaired, which makes it the ideal choice for a number of indoor and outdoor applications.

It Can Be Used as Room Dividers

In addition to facilitating healthy plant growth and providing excellent natural lighting, twin-wall polycarbonate sheets also serve as great room dividers for offices and cubicles. Whether you prefer transparent or frosted dividers for added privacy between workstations, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets are an affordable and virtually indestructible solution that’s also extremely easy to install. Frosted polycarbonate sheets give your employees the privacy they need to be productive without diminishing desirable and energy-inducing natural lighting.

Fire Resistance

For increased structural safety, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets are also chemical and fire-resistant. Additionally, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets are also made of non-toxic materials, which means they don’t release harmful gases when they’re exposed to extreme temperatures. As a result, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets are perfect for installation in high-traffic public places that may be prone to fires and other environmental hazards.

In addition to being fire-resistant, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets also manage to hold their form when exposed to extreme heat and won’t collapse in high-pressure circumstances.

Incomparable Flexibility

Despite boasting extreme durability and rigidity to a certain degree, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets are also highly flexible when the situation calls for it. These sheets are capable of being bent, cut, and reshaped to fit any structural requirement and ensure complete stability.

Polycarbonate twin-wall sheets also resemble glass, so they can help maintain a strong aesthetic structural appeal in addition to superior versatility and strength.

Completely Weather-Resistant Material

Unlike glass, polycarbonate twin-wall sheets are completely impervious to even the harshest weather conditions including snow storms, ice, wind, hail, and heavy rain. Glass is pretty durable in its own right, but continued exposure to inclement weather conditions could eventually cause it to crack or chip whereas polycarbonate, which is a form of industrial plastic, is specifically formulated to withstand the elements.

Canada Plastics and Belting Inc. is one of the most renowned and trusted suppliers of frosted and transparent polycarbonate twin-wall sheets in North America. We have a wide selection of polycarbonate sheets that can be used for various industrial, commercial, and personal applications. Contact us today to inquire about our products or to place an order.

Categories
Awnings

10 Stunning Benefits of Installing Canopy Awnings on Your Doors and Windows

WhatsApp Image 2023 03 24 at 3.31.26 PMWindow door canopy awnings add a great deal of value and curb appeal to your home while also helping you better manage and even lower your carbon footprint. If you’re interested in making your home more energy efficient and saving money on your monthly energy bills, then awnings are a great aesthetic and practical choice for your needs.

Now you can enhance the look of your home and get more enjoyment out of your outdoor space during the spring, summer, and fall seasons and enhance your home’s temperature and sunlight control all year-round. Custom-fitted to match the aesthetic and architectural design of your home, state-of-the-art awnings are available in a variety of colours, patterns, and configurations to suit your style preferences. Choose from a variety of designs including retractable awnings, door awnings, window awnings, canopies, metal awnings, and deck awnings. Whatever your taste entails, there’s an awning designed to suit every preference and requirement.

Here are the top 10 benefits of installing window and door canopy awnings using polycarbonate roofing panels.

1. Spend More Time in the Backyard

Rain or shine, awnings allow you and your family to spend more quality time together in your backyard. Whether you’re sharing a meal, doing some gardening, engaging in outdoor playtime with the kids, or simply enjoying some time outside, awnings are a great addition to your home. They provide you with cooling shade on hot, sunny days and protect you against a light drizzle when it rains, so that you can still get the most out of your backyard.

2. Block Harmful UV Rays

Window or door canopy awnings can block up to 98% of harmful UV rays from the sun from entering your home during the intensely hot summer months. Protect your family, your furniture, and the interior of your home from overheating due to excessive sun exposure. On a related note, custom retractable awnings also help your home’s cooling system run more efficiently than curtains, drapes, or blinds do in the summer by preventing too much heat from getting in.

3. Awnings Contribute to a More Energy Efficient Home

Awnings improve the energy efficiency of your home by providing shade when you need it and retracting back into the home base when you don’t. They provide year-round UV protection from the sun and help you maintain a more energy-efficient and temperature controlled environment throughout your living space.

4. Reduce Your Energy Costs

An excessive amount of sunlight entering your home during the summer months can counteract the effects of your home’s cooling system, forcing your air conditioner unit to work much harder than it should to keep your home cool. Ultimately, forcing your air conditioner to go into overdrive will also drive up your energy bills. Installing a retractable awning that’s attached to polycarbonate roofing panels can help reduce the amount of sunlight that enters your home while still allowing some natural light to get in. This will in turn help you conserve more energy and lower your costs.

5. Protect Delicate Shade-Loving Plants

Despite what you might think, not all plants love an abundance of sunlight. In fact, many plants fare much better in the shade where they’re exposed to minimal or no sunlight whatsoever. Awnings protect your more sensitive or delicate indoor and outdoor plants from excessive exposure to elements like strong winds, rain, and sunshine. This gives you more control to administer proper plant care.

6. Prevent Furniture, Rugs, and Fixtures from Sun Damage

As much as sunlight is missed during the winter months, it can get a pretty bad rap during the summertime. While some natural lighting is definitely a much needed reprieve from the dreary and cold winter weather, too much sunlight can do a lot of damage to your home’s interior. Over time, excessive sun exposure can cause furniture, rugs, flooring and other fixtures throughout your home to fade, making them look dated and worse for wear. By providing just the right amount of shade and sun protection when you need it, awnings can help you strike a good balance between getting too much sun inside your home and none at all.

7. Protect Your Outdoor Space

Depending on the size and layout of your backyard deck, you may require a little extra protection from the elements. Canopies act as an extension of attached awnings. They offer a wider range of protection for your brick, stone, or wood deck as well as your patio furniture and everything else that you keep in your backyard.

8. Increase Privacy in Your Outdoor Space

As mentioned, awnings can help increase the energy efficiency of your home. But did you know that they can also give your outdoor and indoor space a privacy boost as well? If the back of your home faces the back of your neighbour’s home, chances are that they can see directly into your living or dining room through your backyard door or windows. The simple solution is to just keep your blinds closed all the time, but that blocks out all of the natural light and can make an already small space feel even smaller. Installing an awning that extends directly above your backyard door and back windows gives you just enough privacy without completely closing off your space.

9. Low Maintenance and Easy Care

Modern awnings that are made out of UV-protected polycarbonate material such as the ones offered by Canada Plastics and Belting Inc. are incredibly durable, stylish, easy to care for, and low maintenance. Polycarbonate awnings offer superior performance to other conventional materials and they’re designed to last many years with minimal maintenance required.

10. Enhance Your Curb Appeal

Any addition or update you make to your home has the potential to add a great deal of value. Are you considering building an outdoor kitchen, dining area, or a relaxation space for yourself and your family? Adding a stylish awning is the perfect way to complete your desired look and protect your investment at the same time.

Canada Plastics and Belting Inc. is one of the leading polycarbonate sheet suppliers in North America. We’re proud to introduce our latest high-quality and high-performance line of polycarbonate products—window and door canopy awnings. The sleek powder-coated aluminium frame consists of rust-resistant aluminium alloy front and back fixing bars. It’s made from industrial-grade materials and adds a touch of elegance to your outdoor space. Contact us today to learn more about our products or to place an order.

Categories
Polycarbonate Sheet

Common Uses for Polycarbonate Plastic You Might Not Know About

Polycarbonate Corraugated PanelsPolycarbonate plastic is one of the most dependable, resilient, and durable materials on the market. Not only can it be used for a number of commercial and industrial applications, but its unmatched flexibility and strength also make it ideal for a number of everyday uses that most people probably don’t know about. In fact, polycarbonate plastic is such a commonly used material, that you probably don’t even realize just how many applications and products it’s used for.

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the premier polycarbonate sheet suppliers in North America. We supply our high-quality polycarbonate plastics to a number of manufacturers across various industries. Here are just some of the many uses and applications for polycarbonate plastic.

Fencing and Protective Barriers

Polycarbonate plastic is extremely durable and flexible to the extent that it has a high impact resistance rating. Given its incredible strength, polycarbonate plastic can be used to construct a variety of different types of fencing, protective barriers, and partitions. It’s commonly used for bulletproof barriers for banks, grocery stores, and other establishments. Plus, polycarbonate is also the material of choice to serve as a protective barrier in ice skating and hockey arenas.

Storefront Windows

With its incredible UV and sunlight protection capabilities, polycarbonate plastic is also commonly used for storefront windows, banks, and other public-facing businesses. Its transparency allows businesses to display products and it allows passersby to see inside without overheating the interior and causing sun damage or discolouration to the products.

Safety Glasses

Polycarbonate plastic is flame retardant, heat resistant, chemical-resistant, and can sustain large amounts of impact. These qualities make it the perfect material to use for the manufacturing of high-performance safety goggles and glasses that are used in a variety of applications, including woodworking, science labs, construction sites, welding, mining, and more.

Building and Construction

As a true testament to its durability and resilience, polycarbonate is over 200 times stronger and more impact-resistant than glass. It’s also a lot more flexible and affordable than glass and it can be customized to fit pretty much any building mould. That’s why it’s often used as a glass alternative in many building and construction applications. Given its incredible strength, flexibility, and insulation capability, polycarbonate is the top choice for transparent walkways and skylights in buildings.

Room Dividers

Another benefit of polycarbonate plastic sheets is that they’re lightweight, especially compared to other materials like glass. This makes them easy to transport and install wherever they’re needed. As a result, polycarbonate is the top material of choice for big and small room dividers. It’s typically used to divide office cubicles or as a sneeze guard in grocery stores and restaurants.

Polycarbonate Sheet Suppliers in Canada

Whether you need a durable and resilient material for an at-home DIY project or a major construction development, there’s a reason that Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the most trusted suppliers of transparent, frosted, and twin wall polycarbonate sheets in North America. All of our products are custom designed and manufactured in Canada, which is how we’re able to keep our prices low and ensure consistently excellent customer service. To learn more about our products and services, please feel free to contact us.

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Sneeze Guards

How to Choose the Right Sneeze Guard for Your Business

sneeze 1Sneeze guards have been a staple fixture in a number of industries, especially restaurants, for a number of decades. It all started with the pioneering restauranteur, Johnny Garneau (a known germophobe), who designed the first prototype for sneeze guards that were used in buffets. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the need for sneeze guards has expanded to a variety of other customer-facing and non-customer-facing businesses alike. Employers are emphasising the need to not only protect their customers but also their employees. Providing them with the proper PPE such as gloves, masks, and face shields and encouraging them to wash or sanitize their hands frequently is a good start. But installing sneeze guards adds a whole new level of protection against the virus.

Keep reading to learn more about why sneeze guards are so effective and how they can help you do your part in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Why Are Sneeze Guards Necessary?

Sneeze guards provide an added layer of protection against liquid droplets that are released from people’s mouths when they speak. Face coverings such as masks and shields are designed to prevent water droplets from being dispersed through the air, but they’re not completely infallible. Some droplets may still be released. Sneeze guards prevent these rogue droplets from making contact with certain surfaces and products that will be touched by other people.

Given the new and emerging government-mandated health and safety guidelines, businesses will be legally required to install sneeze guards wherever people come in face-to-face contact with one another to prevent or minimize the spread of these droplets. It’s up to business owners and management staff to guarantee the safety of employees and customers alike. Businesses that fail to comply with COVID-19 health and safety standards will be accordingly penalized. So, it’s in their best interest to follow the guidelines as closely as possible.

How Can Your Business Benefit from Installing Sneeze Guards?

The current climate and state of the world has caused many people to understandably feel a little on edge about going out and about to run errands, eat in restaurants (when dining rooms are actually open), or even getting their hair cut at the salon. While no method of COVID-19 prevention is completely foolproof, installing sneeze guards in between work stations, at restaurant hot tables, and at grocery checkout lanes can certainly ease some of the tension and anxiety people may be feeling.

It’s simply not enough to tell your customers and employees that you’re regularly sanitizing and cleaning your place of work for their well-being. They need to see tangible proof of the measures you’re taking to give them more peace of mind. Installing sneeze guards is just one prong of a multi-prong COVID-19 prevention process.

Of course, every business needs to adapt sneeze guard installation based on their specific needs. Here are some of the businesses and industries that stand to benefit the most from installing sneeze guards throughout their premises.

Restaurants and the Service Industry

Indoor dining is one of the many things that was taken for granted pre-pandemic but is now greatly missed. Enjoying a nice meal with friends and family every once in a while was one of the simple pleasures of life that’s been taken away from us.

Japanese restaurants that prepare fresh sushi in-house have always had sneeze guards along with buffets. But now, many restaurants are proposing installing sneeze guards at individual dining tables to further mitigate the potential for spreading COVID-19. Although it won’t be the same as before, this could be a step in the right direction for restoring indoor dining setups.

Salons, Barbershops, Nail Bars

Certain sectors of the beauty industry have also suffered greatly as a result of the pandemic. Deemed non-essential, salons, barbershops, and nail bars have been forced to shut down on and off again during the course of the pandemic.

In response to hygiene concerns regarding space restrictions and close proximity to other patrons and employees, salon and barbershop business owners have taken it upon themselves to install sneeze guards separating work stations from one another. In addition to implementing stringent sanitation measures, this also forces customers to social distance from each other and most employees in the place of business.

Gyms and Fitness Centers

For a while, many gyms and fitness centers operated on an appointment-only basis, which limited the amount of people using the facilities at any given time. Unfortunately, gyms are like a breeding ground for bacteria and they’re the ideal environment for viruses like COVID-19 to spread rapidly. The very premise of a gym or fitness center involves people working out and therefore inhaling and exhaling the same air that’s constantly being circulated throughout the property. To better adapt to the current circumstances and prevent the spread of COVID-19, gyms can install sneeze guards to serve as partitions between customers in common areas such as between exercise equipment, at the service desk, at juice bars, and at customer hangout spots.

Grocery Stores

Grocery stores have been deemed an essential service from the very beginning. As such, they’ve been subject to the greatest scrutiny when it comes to mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and protecting customers and their employees alike. Corporations have gone to greats lengths to minimize the spread by installing sneeze guards at all cash registers including self-checkout and asking customers to refrain from touching glass, plastic, or metal surfaces throughout the store as much as possible. Continuing these measures and maintaining cleanliness and sanitation methods is critical.

Offices

Many office management teams are allowing some employees to indefinitely work from home during this time. However, not all office jobs allow for that. Office managers are implementing strong measures such as installing sneeze guards between cubicles, enforcing physical distancing protocols, providing hand sanitizing stations, and asking people to wear masks in common areas. Combined with regularly scheduled office sanitations, all of these measures can effectively limit the spread of COVID-19 in these settings and prevent business disruptions.

What Are Common Sneeze Guard Materials?

  • Acrylic
  • Glass
  • Plexiglas
  • Polycarbonate

Are You Looking for a Sneeze Guard Supplier in Toronto?

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the premier suppliers of sneeze guards in Toronto. We design and manufacture custom sneeze guards using a variety of materials including acrylic, glass, Plexiglas, and polycarbonate. Our sneeze guards are suitable for any work environment and effectively create safe barriers in public locations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Contact us today to learn more or to place an order.

Categories
Corrugated Sheets

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Corrugated Plastic/Coroplast?

Coroplast SheetYou’ve probably seen tons of lawn and real estate signs in your lifetime. Whether people are advertising their own businesses on their front lawns, selling their homes, or showing support for front line workers, there’s no doubt that these signs certainly have the ability to grab your attention as you’re walking or driving by.

But did you ever stop to wonder what these signs are made of or what happens to them after they’re taken down?

Typically, these signs are made of a material called corrugated plastic or Coroplast sheets. If you’re looking for an affordable and versatile blank sign to advertise your business or services, then Coroplast corrugated plastic sheets are an excellent choice. Keep reading to learn more about corrugated plastic and its many applications.

What Is Corrugated Plastic?

Corrugated plastic goes by a number of names including corriboard, Polyflute, FlutePlast, Proplex, Correx, Twinplast, Corriflute, Corflute, etc. Above all, Coroplast is the most common brand name for corrugated plastic sheets. Corrugated plastic is a type of plastic cardboard that consists of three layers of polypropylene plastic substrate.

The two external layers, which are known as twin-wall plastic sheeting due to their uniform design and parallel positions, hold together an internal layer of honeycomb-shaped plastic. This makes corrugated plastic sheets one of the most lightweight, versatile, and shock-absorbent plastic materials on the market. Polypropylene is an extremely sturdy thermoplastic polymer with a neutral pH that allows it to withstand all kinds of external temperature, weather, and usage conditions for long periods of time with minimal wear and tear.

What Is Coroplast?

Coroplast is one of many brand names that helped popularize the use of corrugated plastic for a number of industrial, commercial, and even household applications. The terms corrugated plastic and Coroplast are often used interchangeably amongst industry experts. This is a classic example of what’s known as genericization (when a brand name becomes synonymous with a type of product).

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Corrugated Plastic Sheets

Just like any other commonly used industrial or commercial products, there are some great advantages and unfortunate disadvantages to using corrugated plastic sheets that you should be aware of.

Advantages:

  • Versatility. Corrugated plastic sheets can be used for a number of commercial, industrial, and household applications. Most commonly, it’s used for lawn signs, signs on constructions sites, real estate signs, constructing plastic containers, as well as reusable packaging. In recent years, corrugated plastic has become the go-to material for homemade cages for guinea pigs, domesticated hedgehogs, and rabbits among other small animals. It’s also gaining popularity in the remote-control aircraft industry for SPAD model aircrafts.
  • Lightweight material. Corrugated plastic is extremely lightweight, making it easy to transport, store, lift, assemble, and setup without any complications.
  • Affordable. Corrugated plastic is extremely cheap to produce and purchase, so even if it does become damaged, replacing it doesn’t cost much and you have the ability to order as much of it as your budget allows.
  • Durable. Designed to withstand a number of environmental conditions, corrugated plastic is extremely durable. Although it’s not meant to last forever, it can certainly last a long time before needing to be replaced.
  • Non-toxic. Made from polypropylene, corrugated plastic is completely non-toxic to humans and animals. Unlike other plastics that contain harmful BPA, corrugated plastic can withstand high and low temperatures without releasing harmful chemicals.
  • Recyclable. Polypropylene is recyclable and can be upcycled, but it’s non-biodegradable.

Disadvantages:

  • It’s not indestructible. Although it’s a fairly durably material, corrugated plastic isn’t meant to last forever and will eventually show some signs of wear and tear. Depending on the elements and conditions it’s exposed to and for how long, you may notice some fading, bending, and even ripping in the corners. In the best possible conditions, where it’s exposed to a limited amount of weather conditions and human handling, Coroplast can last for a number of years, though. For extra protection, you can laminate your Coroplast sign with a matte finish to extend its lifespan and keep it looking like new longer.
  • It’s not entirely eco-friendly or sustainable. Coroplast is made for polypropylene, which is a non-biodegradable material. It’s still recyclable, but not all curbside pickup programs will accept it, so you may need to take it directly to a recycling facility. Luckily, all recycling facilities accept and know how to process polypropylene products. It can also be repurposed or upcycled into other common household materials such as plastic jugs for laundry detergent, soda bottles, shampoo bottles, etc. Recycling your polypropylene household products prevents them from ending up in landfills. It’s also important to note that the production process for corrugated plastics can weigh heavily on the environment due to significant carbon waste.

Common Uses for Coroplast Corrugated Plastic Sheets

As you now know, Coroplast corrugated plastic sheets are most commonly used for temporary outdoor yard signs such as campaign signs during election years, real estate signs, or advertising businesses and services. During the pandemic, more and more people have been displaying Coroplast corrugated plastic signs on their front yards to show their support for frontline and healthcare workers in their communities.

Coroplast signs are ideal for outdoor usage because they have a plastic coating and are strong enough to withstand all kinds of weather conditions including strong winds, rain, and snow. Even though they will eventually sustain some damage and show signs of wear and tear, the great thing is that they’re extremely affordable and cheap to replace if need be.

Adding to its versatility factor, Coroplast is also used for packaging and containers. Considering it’s lightweight and extremely sturdy yet flexible at the same time, Coroplast is the material of choice when postal services across North America need mail carriers.

Coroplast Corrugated Plastic Sheet Suppliers in Ontario

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. specializes in retail and wholesale distribution of plastic sheets, Teflon belts, fabrics, and tapes. Based out of Toronto, we proudly serve companies all across North America. Contact us today to learn more about our products and services or to place an order.

Categories
PVC Strip

Types of PVC Strip Curtains – Applications and Usage

PVC strip curtains clearWhether you work in or operate a warehouse, manufacturing facility, distribution center, or factory, PVC strip curtains in Canada are a high-quality partition that can be used to separate one industrial high-traffic area or environment from another.

What Are PVC Strip Curtains?

PVC vinyl strip curtains and doors are plastic partitions that can be installed to separate various work environments or divisions from one another. Although they go by several different names—doors or curtains—the objective is the same: to create a more structured, organized, and easy-flowing industrial work environment while keeping different divisions separate.

Why are PVC Curtains or Doors a Better Alternative to Installing Metal or Wooden Doors?

The answer is simple and twofold: money and weight capacity. Metal and wood doors are expensive and heavy to maneuver, especially when you’re transporting heavy loads on material handling equipment from one part of a warehouse or facility to another.

Maneuvering PVC strip curtains is a lot easier as the door flaps are lightweight and can be pushed forward or aside simply by walking or moving through them rather than requiring someone to hold a door open for you. Plus, there’s no risk of damaging the building structure, the product, or the machinery if you scrape against a PVC strip curtain like there is with metal or wood doors.

Types of PVC Strip Curtains

Transparent PVC Strip Curtain Door

These are ideal for wide open work environments to keep out dust, noise, and debris. They improve temperature control to reduce loss of hot or cold air depending on the season and in turn, lower your utility bills. As a result, PVC strip curtain doors conserve energy and are sustainable.

Equipped with two-way visibility (total transparency), PVC strip curtains reduce the risk of collisions and workplace injuries between two workers coming from opposite sides. They’re also extremely flexible and keep their shape regardless of age and usage frequency.

PVC Strip Curtain Door Bulk Roll

Buying PVC strip curtains in bulk is a great idea if you have a lot of ground to cover. It provides the same benefits as single PVC strip curtains in that it’s completely transparent on both sides to prevent collisions and workplace injuries. It also provides dustproof and noise cancelling capabilities to reduce noise pollution and help you maintain a clean, organized, safe, easy-flowing, and private work environment.

What Are the Benefits of Using PVC Strip Curtains in Industrial Complexes?

As mentioned, vinyl PVC strip curtains are a cost-effective and more durable alternative to installing metal or wood doors. But there are a lot of other benefits too.

  • Easy cleaning and maintenance
  • Durable
  • Good for indoor and outdoor use
  • Waterproof
  • Pest control capabilities (ideal for food production plants)
  • Energy conservation

PVC Strip Curtain Suppliers in Canada

Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. is one of the leading suppliers of PVC strip curtains and doors in the country. We also specialize in the distribution of industrial products and supplies to the packaging, converting, flexographic, textile, and screen-printing industry. To learn more about our products and services or to place an order, please feel free to contact us directly.