Working with ecoplastic

Our products are made from high-grade recycled plastic.
Previously redundant plastic is converted into a refined, quality environmentally friendly product.

Characteristics:

• extremely durable
• maintenance-free
• rot-proof
• eco-friendly
• non toxic
• colour fast
• Unlike wood it is not necessary to treat plastic materials with protective products which damage the environment.
• Drilling, screwing, sawing, hammering or clamping are perfectly suitable working methods.

DRILLING
Drilling is effortless, when using a wood-steel or stone brace. A low speed is recommended.

SCREWING
Screwing is perfectly suitable, but drilling first is recommended. When screwing by machine the pressure should not be maintained too long.

HAMMERING OR CLAMPING
Hammering is a bit more difficult. It is recommended that the holes are drilled first. Clamping is trouble-free.

SAWING
Preferably with an electrical circular saw, with a large blade if possible. A small blade can heat up, causing the material to melt and to become more difficult to saw. When sawing the tongue and groove boards lengthways the smaller piece can become bowed, due to the asymmetrical design of the board. However if you wish to use this piece it is not a problem, just brace it between the other boards. The use of a hand saw is possible, but more difficult.

SHOOTING
Shooting of staples or nails works perfectly.

EXPANSION/SHRINKAGE
Because of fluctuations of temperature the material expands and contracts. Taking this into account please note the following guidelines:

INTERNAL STRUCTURES
U-frames should be used, leaving a space of + 1cm at the top in order to allow the material to expand. (e.g.: In a 120 cm frame use a 118.5 cm board)
Ensure that the boards are not packed too tightly together.

EXTERNAL STRUCTURES
When using the board with tongue and groove design in external structures, the use of a U-frame is recommended. The boards need to be framed on all 4 sides. Taking this into account you can also use a U-bar sideways or weld or screw a flat bar at the beginning of the first and the last board (fastened to the frame). As with the internal structures, the boards should not be packed too tightly.

A slightly easier way of securing the first and last boards is to screw a long, strong screw horizontally through the side of the frame into the first and last board (Ensure that the screw is inserted at least 7-8 cm into the board).
Alternatively, halfway down the frame's vertical length a small metal plate (at least 5cm x 5cm) can be screwed across the join where the side of the frame meets the first/last board. This will secure the end boards to the frame and prevent movement.

The intermediate boards are held straight due to the tongue and groove system. The maximum length of the U-frame depends on the thickness of the boards i.e. 120 by 120cm for the 28mm board, 130 by 130cm for the 33mm board and 150 by 150cm for thee 39mm board.
For larger walls we strongly recommend the use of supplementary stiffeners. The purpose of the supplementary stiffener is to divide the panel into several frames with maximum size stated above. This fitting also prevents the boards from bowing in the middle in situations where direct sunlight might cause this to happen
The bowing of plastic boards is a normal characteristic of the material and has nothing to do with the recycling process or with the quality of the boards.

Note: for doors and walls of interior stables, which are exposed to direct sunlight (thus are heated on one side) the construction guidelines for external structures should be followed.

DECKING OR GARDEN PATHS
When using the boards as decking or a garden path, the boards should have a maximum span of 30 to 50cm. This span depends on the thickness of the boards (the thicker, the larger the maximum span may be) and whether the tongue and groove system is employed. (Boards with tongue and groove can endure a bigger span than boards without tongue and groove). Please contact the sales team for details of our new, specialised decking profile which both looks great and lasts!

GARDEN SHEDS - SUMMER HOUSES - PLAY HOUSES - HUTCHES - KENNELS etc.
When using our boards in the construction of sheds etc. the boards need to be supported and screwed every 40cm (make sure the screw is inserted approximately 2cm into the board)

CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
Recycling plastic products are basically maintenance-free.
If you wish to clean them proceed as follows:

• clean with sponge and garden hose
• clean with a high pressure cleaner (but only with low pressure and from a distance)
• to feed the plastic you can apply dashboard lacquer after the cleaning.

NOTE
For the boards a tolerance of 2 to 3 cm on a total length of 360cm should be taken into account.