Shelter-Rite Architectural Fabrics Blog

Shelter-Rite® Architectural Fabrics provide exceptional strength and longevity to any building project. Because it's offered in an array of top finishes, we’re often asked which one is best. The answer really depends on the unique factors of your job requirements, aesthetic goals, environment, maintenance costs, return on investment and budget.

Top finishes have been extending the useful life and improving the aesthetics of PVC-coated structural fabrics for decades. These top finish technologies make fabric structures more durable, cleanable, UV resistant and attractive—and they continue to improve.

Top finish systems can be divided into two groups: 

1. Liquid-applied top finishes (i.e., solvent- or water-based coatings), such as acrylics or PVDF

2. Film-applied systems, such as Tedlar® or some PVDF films

However, not all top finishes deliver on the self-cleaning feature, which is critical for long-term performance and appearance. Architectural fabrics with Tedlar film top coats are the only products that truly deliver on the ability to self-clean over the long term. Tedlar’s UV performance cannot be overlooked either. Excellent resistance to UV and moisture-barrier properties preserve the appearance and longevity of the architectural structure.

When Legacy Building Solutions, a leading manufacturer of fabric buildings, needed the best exterior possible for The Oklahoma City Tennis Center at Will Rogers Park, the company  relied on Shelter-Rite’s 8028 architectural fabric. The end result was a facility that earned an award of excellence from the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

Project Details:

Client: DHL Express
Fabric: Shelter-Rite® High-Performance Architectural Fabric (FRLTC) 8520, acrylic-coated PVC
Fabrication and Installation: Legacy Building Solutions

Project Story:

When DHL Express needed a durable, attractive fabric covering for its expanding operations at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Shelter-Rite Architectural Fabrics was the clear choice when choosing a supplier.