Clear Vinyl Questions Answered

How Do I Order Clear Marine Vinyl?

• This item is sold by the linear yard or full roll. Select the product you need in the drop-down menu. Select "By The Yard" if you don't want a full roll. This will come in one continuous piece. It is sold as a linear yard. 1 yard would be 36" inches long by 54" or 72" wide which can also be seen in the product selected. 2 yards would be 72" long by 54" or 72" wide. etc. See the Length Guide for additional examples. If you want a full roll, select that option instead. You usually get a better discount on a full roll. Once you select the product change the "Quantity" to how many yards or rolls you need and add the items to your cart.

What is Clear Vinyl?

• Clear Vinyl is 54" or 72" Wide and is Double Polished For Crystal Clear Viewing. Prices as low as $2.75 Per Yard. It's Easy to Cut and Sew and is Perfect for Windows, Porch Enclosures, Boat/Auto Windows, Barriers, Table Coverings and Much More. Comes in 10, 12, 16, 20, 30, 40, 60 and 80 Gauge thickness. It is a PVC plastic that is extruded out of a machine into different thicknesses or gauges. It is flexible, durable and highly transparent. Not all clear vinyl is created equal. Some clear vinyl can have distortion, waves and air bubbles. Some clear vinyl may be opaque and not be see through like a painter’s tarp commonly found at home depot. We pride ourselves on having some of the highest level of optically clarity clear vinyl in the marketplace. Our product is manufactured with a patent pending water bath technology that cools the product faster creating incredible visibility. It’s not perfect, but it’s really impressive.

What makes Clear Marine Vinyl different from Regular Vinyl?

• Clear Vinyl can also have additional additives added to it to give it different properties. Things like color additives, UV stabilizers, Cold Crack stabilizers and Fire Retardant are only some of the many additives that can be used to make some clear vinyl’s different than regular vinyl’s.

What is Clear Vinyl Made Of?

• There are also different types of plasticizers that can be used to make clear vinyl. These plasticizers are important to consider. Many of the plasticizers can contain lead and phthalates many which can be harmful. We make sure to use a DOTP plasticizer which is the safest in the market which is lead and phthalate free.  
• Another difference that can be found between different clear vinyl’s is the PHR value. This number determines how hard or soft the plastic will come on the roll. Some plastics can be stiff and less flexible than others. We have found a PHR of 44 works best for most people but different companies use different PHR values.

Does Fire Retardant keep clear vinyl from melting?

• No clear vinyl will still melt in high heat environments. The Fire Retardant makes it safer for indoor and outdoor applications preventing fires from spreading quickly. Many commercial building codes require this higher level of fire retardant to keep people safe.

Can double polished clear vinyl come wider than 72 inches?

• We have talked to over 100 manufacturers and they have all told us they simply don't make machines large enough to produce larger vinyl. It took us years to find a factory that could produce the 72" vinyl. The only way to make it larger is to make it incredibly thin like a painters tarp you would find at a Home Depot which is not suitable for windows. The other way to make it wider is to heat seal the panels together which is not seamless and requires a $50,000 machine.

What is the thickest clear vinyl?

• 80 Gauge is the thickest clear vinyl we offer. Clear vinyl and plastic is measured differently than metal. The smaller the gauge for clear vinyl the thinner. The higher the number the thicker.

Will clear vinyl shrink?

• Clear Vinyl will shrink about 1-3%. Overtime the plasticizers inside the vinyl dry out. As that happens it causes the vinyl to slightly shrink and tighten up. High heat environments will usually cause it to dry out a little faster (Example: storing it in a hot attic). The clear vinyl will also shrink a little after it is unrolled for the first time. The manufacturing machines wind the rolls so tightly they need about 24 hours to relax to remove the stress built up in the roll. If the product is stored in a hot area like an attic the product can shrink almost 2"-4" as it dries the product out even faster.

What are the benefits to clear vinyl?

• Extremely Clear, UV Resistant, Water Resistant, Highly Flexible, Durable and Strong and Easy To Clean

How do you clean clear marine vinyl?

• Dish soap and fresh water is the best way to clean marine vinyl. There are also some products like 303 Clear vinyl cleaner/protectant, and our top choice IMAR Cleaners. DO NOT use harsh cleaners like Windex or bleach as those cleaners will harm the vinyl. Start by cleaning with a soft cloth with mild dish detergent to make warm soapy water. If needed you can purchase vinyl cleaner and restorative products from 3M or 303 Marine for additional cleaning needs.

What is the best way to store clear vinyl?

• When storing your vinyl products first make sure the vinyl is clean and dry. For best results roll material back onto the cardboard tube it was shipped to you on. DO NOT put any packaging materials or paper interleaved with the vinyl. Store the rolled up product in a climate controlled environment in a vertical position.

What is clear vinyl used for?

• Marine/Boat Enclosure Windows, Porch/Patio Enclosures, Safety Barriers (office, counters, gym/warehouse dividers, Greenhouses, Restaurant Enclosures, Golf Cart and UTV Enclosures, Tent/yurt windows,  Table Coverings/Pads, School Bulletin Board Covers, Shower Curtains, Furniture Covers, Art Projects, Clear Stadium Bags, Bag Liners and Purses, Pet Doors, Chicken Coops, Cleanrooms and any other window applications.

• View Our Thickness Guide above to identify which thickness is best for different projects.

What is the difference between Mils, MM, Gauge and Inches?

• Mils and Gauges are often times used interchangeably. Technically speaking they are fractionally different. Mils are usually 6-12% thicker than a gauge. Since more people look for clear vinyl by “Gauge” we promote it as gauge, but we always make the vinyl to be the same thickness or slightly more as if it were a Mil. We like to over deliver as much as possible. The truest measurement we use is millimeters. The Thickness Guide above translates our gauges into millimeters for people as it’s the truest most accurate number for our vinyl. Saying that clear vinyl is an expandable product so it’s never exactly the same thickness, but we do check every batch to ensure accuracy and consistency as close as possible.