FAQ

Frequently asked questions on PVC wall cladding, paneling, decorative wall panels, panels for showers, and much more.

WHAT
•	What is PVC?
•	What is PVC cladding?
•	PVC wall panels are a new product to me or my country, so how can we I confident that there are no problems with it?
•	What sizes does the cladding come in? What designs?
•	Do Dumaplast PVC panels have any insulating value?
•	What is the maximum temperature for PVC panels?

WHY
•	What are the advantages of interior PVC wall and ceiling cladding?
•	Why choose Dumaplast products above alternative products, as an end consumer?
•	Why choose Dumaplast above others, as a reliable supplier for your business?
•	How do PVC panels compare price-wise to tiles?
•	What is the advantage of PVC wall cladding over wood paneling? Over tileboard? Over FRP panels?

HOW
•	Is it easy to install Dumaplast products yourself?
•	What surfaces can the cladding be applied to?
•	What kind of glue/sealant should I use?
•	Do you need to put extra sealant in between the panels?
•	How do I cut Dumaplast PVC panels?
•	How do you cope with edges and corners? Are there any accessories?
•	Can I install (halogen) lights into my PVC ceiling?
•	How do I clean and maintain my Dumaplast panels?
•	Can Dumaplast PVC panels be recycled?
•	Can I install PVC panels to the ceiling of my swimming pool?

WHAT

•	What is PVC?
	Polyvinyl chloride (commonly abbreviated PVC) is a widely-used plastic. Globally, over 50% of all PVC manufactured is used in construction. As a building material, PVC is budget-friendly and easy to assemble. In recent years, PVC has been replacing traditional building materials such as wood, concrete and clay in many areas.
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•	What is PVC cladding?
	PVC cladding was developed in Europe in the 1970s as a decorative interior wall finish with unique properties compared to other wall coverings at the time. PVC cladding or paneling is a hollow cored, lightweight panel with a smooth surface for decoration and a tongue-in-groove edge for easy assembly.
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•	PVC wall panels are a new product to me or my country, so how can we I confident that there are no problems with it?
	PVC wall cladding has first been used in Belgium, Holland and France for over 20 years. Since then, it has been gaining popularity in more and more countries. Surely, this simple fact shows that our products have proven their reliability over the years. Many of our products have the necessary building certificates.
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•	What sizes does the cladding come in? What designs?
	PVC cladding is available mainly in popular widths of 10cm and 25cm. We also produce in widths of 16.7cm, 37.5cm and 40.7 cm (16" for US market). The most common length is 2.6m (8ft for US market). Panel styles range from 'seamless' monopanels to V-groove panels (v-shaped joint). Many design patterns are possible including genuine wood grain patterns, marble and stone effects, and alternative fantasy designs. Our standard product range is called Duma-Pan.
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•	Do Dumaplast PVC panels have any insulating value?
	Yes, Dumaplast panels have an insulating value of R 2.25 (0,16 watt/m°K), which is comparable to the insulating value of a normal house brick.
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•	What is the maximum temperature for PVC panels?
	Our panels can withstand a maximum continuous temperature of 60°C. In this way, Dumaplast's PVC panels can be used as a shower wall panel, but they cannot be used in saunas. Ceiling lights can be built in.
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WHY

•	What are the advantages of interior PVC wall and ceiling cladding?
	Easy and fast to install: PVC wall cladding is a very user-friendly product, to begin with. One can easily cut the panels to size and install them, making it the ideal DIY solution: fast and easy. Compared to tiles, they take about half the time to fit (no grout!). Since they are so easy to install, any DIYer can fit them, saving money on a fitter. Water resistant: PVC panels are very popular in the bathroom and kitchen areas as they are water-repellent and mould resistant, but they can be used all over the house (basements, attics, garages and also bed and living rooms). Budget-friendly: When compared to tiling, you save a lot of money on time and work when you are installing PVC panels to the wall. Most of the time, PVC wall panels are also price-wise more interesting if you look at the price per square meter. All-round and all-area product: Our panels are the ideal covering for walls and ceilings of private houses, offices, hotels, laboratories, hospitals, food processing plants, etc. The possibilities are endless: from the use as a decorative wall panel to a shower wall panel. Hygienic: Dumaplast panels provide a very clean and hygienic solution for wall and ceiling decoration. Once installed, there is no grout to go dirty. PVC is mould-repellent and not a suitable material for bacterial growth. Low maintenance: PVC panels require only a low maintenance, and when you want to clean them, it does not take you long. Due to the smooth surface of the panels, dirt does not gather in pores or cracks. A simple cloth will do to clean the surface. Do not use chlorinated or abrasive agents. Safe: PVC panels have a good reaction to fire and are classified as non-flammable products. PVC is self-extinguishable and does not burn by itself, once the "external flame" is withdrawn. Recycable: PVC is 100% recyclable. Our panels can be taken to any plastic recycling centre. Insulating: Dumaplast panels are insulating as well (R-value 2.25), which is an advantage when PVC panels are used in garages, basements or similar locations. No further finishing or care required after installation: no paint, no lack, no varnish,...
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•	Why choose Dumaplast products above alternative products, as an end consumer?
	Our panels are made with the utmost care and professionalism. We give a 5 year guarantee on our range of products. We have a very wide and extensive range of designs; we have unique wood finishes, mosaics, embossed prints,... We have panels in many different widths and sizes, varying from 5mm to 10mm in thickness, and from 10cm to 37.5cm (even 16inch for US market) in width. We have the size you need! We produce 6 kinds of snap-in-place finishing profiles: universal corner, multifunction, start and edge trim, plinth, H-profile and decorative moulding. The main advantage of our profiles is that you can easily disassemble the profiles and put them back together again with our clicking system. This again saves you time and it avoids difficulties while installing the panels.
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•	Why choose Dumaplast above others, as a reliable supplier for your business?
	All the product advantages mentioned above. Over thirty years of expertise and know-how in making high quality products. Dumaplast is at the forefront of the PVC wall panel technology so that we can offer our products at competitive prices without losing eye for our high quality standards. Dumaplast is a dynamic and flexible company. We have a dynamic team that has a no-nonsense approach to the market, and can make quick decisions if required. We are very international-minded and market-oriented. If there is a certain demand in a particular country, we will look at the possibility of fulfilling these demands by producing new products or making alterations to existing products. It is for instance possible to develop some new custom-made designs in case of high demand. We have a quick delivery time. Orders usually can be dealt within a fast delivery time from our factory, depending on the specifications of the order. Some designs are kept in stock, so that we can make immediate deliveries. We have an excellent in-house quality management. We have various fire certificates and positive hygiene tests, and all necessary technical information to provide an excellent back-up to your sales. Dumaplast is willing to invest into your market. We are not afraid of product innovation and investing in new technologies. We even patented some of our products because of their success (cf. Duma-Clip). We innovate while others imitate!
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•	How do PVC panels compare price-wise to tiles?
	Obviously, tiles come in all sizes and prices, but due to the fact that PVC panels take only about half the time to fit as tiles, you will save on installation costs. Whether you are employing a fitter, or doing it yourself, you will save money! One of the main advantages of PVC wall cladding is that once installed, there is no grout to go dirty and maintenance is a thing of the past.
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•	What is the advantage of PVC wall cladding over wood paneling? Over tileboard? Over FRP panels?
	PVC paneling is highly resistant to moisture and water. When compared to wood, Dumaplast PVC panels will not warp, delaminate or swell. PVC paneling is superior to wood paneling, tileboard or FRP panels because of the lower flammability. Dumaplast panels have a Class 1 fire rate as tested according to US STANDARD ASTM E84, Class 1 according to BRITISH STANDARD BS476-PART7-1997 and Class M1 according to FRENCH STANDARD NFP 92-501/504. Click here for all food and fire certification. Dumaplast PVC panels are available in many designs ranging from marble and stone motifs to wood grain and fantasy patterns.
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HOW

•	Is it easy to install Dumaplast products yourself?
	Dumaplast panels are easy to install by the average DIYer. Panels can be cut by using a saw (manual or electric) or a sharp knife. Panels can be glued to smooth surfaces or can be attached to a framework of battens (40cm or 16inch apart) using nails, staples, screws or glue. Click for installation of Duma-Pan / Artelam / Duma-Clip / Duma-Board / Duma-Frame
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•	What surfaces can the cladding be applied to?
	Rough, uneven walls: Attach the panels to a built framework by nails, staples, screws or glue. Smooth, even walls: simply glue the panels to the plaster or plaster board, or even to existing tiles!
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•	What kind of glue/sealant should I use?
	Fixing to plaster, brickwork or studs: use general purpose, solvent based adhesives or neutral cure low modulus silicones. Fixing to tiling: use a moisture cure, solvent-free adhesive or silicone. Generally, use MS (silyl modified) polymers or 2-component polyurethane foam Each material you glue the panel on reacts differently. You should consider both factors: the PVC panel AND the surface it's glued upon.
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•	Do you need to put extra sealant in between the panels?
	Basically, our PVC panels can be combined simply and effectively by using the tongue and groove system. Each piece perfectly fits into the previous panel and our panels are designed to be water resistant. If the panels are exposed to water all the time (e.g. in shower cubicles, tub surrounds,...), it is best to run a bead of silicon in the connection joints.
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•	How do I cut Dumaplast PVC panels?
	Dumaplast PCV panels can be easily cut or trimmed using a hand saw, table saw, portable circular saw, sabre saw or sharp utility knife. Caution - take appropriate precautions when using any cutting tools.
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•	How do you cope with edges and corners? Are there any accessories?
	There are many trims to finish edges and inside/outside corners. Also floor and ceiling trims are provided for that extra finishing touch. Alternatively, many of the panels can be scored at the back-end with a Stanley knife and folded neatly round an inside or outside corner.
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•	Can I install (halogen) lights into my PVC ceiling?
	Yes. When fitting halogen ceiling lights, holes can be drilled in the panel. There should be a 10mm gap between the halogen bulb and the Dumaplast panels.
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•	How do I clean and maintain my Dumaplast panels?
	A mild non-abrasive detergent solution will clean your PVC panels to a "like-new" condition; normally, all that is required is a thorough cleaning with a damp cloth. Do not use abrasive or chlorinated agents.
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•	Can Dumaplast PVC panels be recycled?
	Yes, Dumaplast panels can be recycled and can usually be taken to any facility where plastic recycling is done.
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•	Can I install PVC panels to the ceiling of my swimming pool?
	Our PVC panels will have enough chemical resistance for an indoor swimming pool. The maximum allowed concentration level of chlorine around swimming pools lies around a couple of milligram per cubic meter of air, and this would not have an effect on the PVC panels. The successful use of PVC for drainage of waste water and for floor covering also shows that PVC has a high chemical resistance.
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