Frequently Asked Questions
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General Questions:
What type of finishes available?
1. Smooth Gelcoat - engineered to provide a smooth look and excellent weathering performances.
2. Embossed (pebbled) - A textured look designed with a very hard finish to provide the most ruffed performance in the field
What basic raw materials go into making a Filon frp panel?
Frp panels are made primarily of polyester resin and chopped fiberglass reinforcement. Other additives provide excellent weathering performance. Most of the smooth panels have an additional gelcoat finish.
What is gelcoat?
Gelcoat is a surface layer of specially formulated resin. Kemlite’s gelcoat is Filonplated® . It provides long-term weathering performance.
How are Filon panels made?
Filon panels are produced by a continuous process that combines polyester resin with glass fiber reinforcement. This “composite” material cures to form the Filon panel.
How long has Filon frp been used as a sidewall finish on RV units?
Filon products are still performing well on units over 25 years old. With normal wear and regular care, the Filon sidewall will last the life of the unit.
What level of gloss does a Filon frp smooth panel have?
Most customers purchase a standard gloss level with an 80-90 gloss meter reading. However, a low gloss level in the 65-70 range is available. With each, the gloss level will be uniform across the entire panel surface.
Will the color be consistent from one RV unit to the next?
Kemlite has very tight controls over color variation in all of its products. Once a standard is established, any variation should be limited.
Are special tools needed to cut or rout through Filon frp panel products?
No, but Kemlite does recommend carbide-tipped tools because of the somewhat abrasive nature of glass fiber. Change bits often for a clean cut. See Kemlite’s technical data 6279 for more details.
What type of paint system should be used with the Filon frp panels?
All types of paint systems have been used, including lacquers, enamels, and urethanes. Currently, paint standards have been established through Sherwin Williams for the most common Filon colors (see tech data 65003 ).
Can I resurface my RV sidewall panels?
Kemlite does not recommend resurfacing existing sidewalls of any unit in the filed. Our suggestion: Contact the manufacturer of the unit and have them recommend a repair facility who has experience in stripping the exterior skins from sidewalls and applying new Filon material. An alternative to resurfacing the sidewall is to use a rubbing compound to restore the gloss and then apply a coat of wax to the finish. Refer to the Care and Maintenance Guide found in the Maintenance section of the web site.
Is there anything environmentally friendly about Kemlite?
Kemlite’s Mission Statement includes a statement about operating an “environmentally responsible workplace in our community.” To do this we:
1. Meet or exceed all Federal, State or local environmental requirements. In fact, all of our plants significantly outperform these requirements.
2. Because some of our raw materials are non-renewable, we focus on waste reduction in our manufacturing process. This both conserves raw materials and reduces landfill requirements.
3. We regularly conduct regular ongoing environmental testing for compliance at all production locations.
Phone: (800) 435-0080 or (815) 467-8600
Email: sales@cranecomposites.com |
