Evergreen Styrene I was wondering how good is and how would it hold up to rain and sun ? my layout is out side under screen in Carport . Thanks In advance.
I would venture to say,any material,subjected to the elements,over time,will cause some issues…Out of curiosity,Post Your question,on the Garden Railroading Forums and see,what they have to say about building materials,after all,their layouts are outside,not under a carport…
Cheers,
Frank
Styrene is more easily attacked by UV radiation than most other plastics. Not a good choice for exterior use.
I guess,I will have to watch,my plastic rain gutters,more closely now…
Cheers,
Frank
From what I can find via Google, most plastics are not suggested for outdoor use unless they are “stabilized”. Here is a link about styrene and a link about ABS (which some Plastruct items are):
Here in sunny Florida, all plastics degrade in the sunlight and the heat. I had those Home Depot type rain gutters on our house when we first built in the early 1990s- they may have been “UV-stabilized” but became dry and started cracking after 5 years. If you want to see how strong the sun is anywhere for the middle of the country south to Florida, just look at your body-contoured headlight covers. That “restoration” process is only good for a year, and then they bake out again. Even stabilized commercial plastic materials degrade- the water meter vault, the covering on your cable connection outside your house, etc. Your styrene plastic may last 6 months, but even with paint covering it, the heat will degrade the plastic quickly. Cedarwoodron
Out here in the Arizona desert, Evergreen styrene wouldn’t last six months before beginning to turn black and brittle. Even PVC water pipe will not withstand exposure to the sun.
Most G-scale trains are made from ABS or the same type of PVC that is used for trash cans, and it is usually much thicker than Evergreen styrene. Even so, sun damage can occur over time.
AS side note;;;The plastic rain gutters was a JOKE!! They are actually,Vinyl ABS,natural white,flat roll that goes into a machine that shapes them into seamless gutters,going on 15 yrs now,I am also very aware of Floridas weather,my parents lived there for thirty years…BYE…
Cheers,
Frank
Thanks everyone . I Have had my layout out under my Screen in carport for about 6 years now , My buildings are holding up and thing else I use . I know the desert sun or just the sun can do damage I live in NM . Just wondering .