1. WHAT EXACTLY IS SATURAMAX™ YARN?

SaturaMax™ is Unifi’s family of solution dyed yarns, produced in a wide array of saturated colors.

Perfect for a variety of end-uses, SaturaMax™ has superior color consistency, light fastness characteristics and is bleach cleanable. The color process used to create SaturaMax™ saves several gallons of water per pound of yarn produced, making it environmentally friendly.
 
  1. WHAT IS AN OTTOMAN WEAVE AND HOW DOES IT IMPROVE THE FABRIC DURABILITY?
An Ottoman weave is a combination of Plain weave and Basket weave, allowing WeatherMax™ to offer the best combination of strength, durability, and stability. It gives WeatherMax™ its firm feel and a very subtle ribbed texture, refined to the eye and luxurious to the hand.
 
  1. WHY DO YOU HAVE A WEATHERMAX 80™ AND A WEATHERMAX LT™?
The 80 or LT following WeatherMax™ are indications of its weight.  For example 80 is 8.0 oz/sqyd and LT is 6.5 oz/sqyd.
The reason for both weights is to provide our customers with the best product for their application.  Typically, WeatherMax 80™ is recommended for applications where strength and durability are the main concern (Marine, Awning), while WeatherMax LT™ is used where protection from the environment is the main concern (Covers, cushions, Umbrellas).
 
  1. WHY DOES WEATHERMAX LT™ HAVE A DIFFERENT WEAVE?
WeatherMax LT™ has a different weave to make it lighter for applications where protection from the environment is the main concern.
 
  1. WHAT DOES SOLUTION DYED YARN MEAN AND HOW DOES IT MAKE AN OUTDOOR FABRIC BETTER?
A solution dyed yarn is a yarn where the color has been added into the polymer before it is extruded into a yarn form.

Because the color is part of the polymer, the fade resistance of a solution dyed yarn is superior to the fade resistance of package dyed yarn and piece dyed fabric.  The solution dyed polymers in WeatherMax™ have been especially chosen for their ability to resist fading and retain fabric strength.

 
  1. WHAT IS THE HYDROMAX™ FINISH?
The HydroMax™ finish is a highly water repellent finish that gives WeatherMax™ the ability to protect against heavy rain while keeping its breatheability and dimensional stability.

An anti-microbial component is added to the finish to prevent mildew growth on the fabric.  The HydroMax™ finish is extremely durable, providing many positive benefits, such as breatheability, resistance to mildew and dirt, and its ability to maintain a cooler temperature.

 

    7.  WHY DOESN'T WEATHERMAX™ HAVE A BACK COATING?

WeatherMax™ does not have a coating to allow the fabric to breathe, so heat and water vapor can evacuate, which is essential in preventing mildew growth.
 
  1. WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT IS GUARANTEED TO 1500 HOURS UV?  HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST?
WeatherMax 80™ comes with a limited warranty of 5 years (1500 hours).
WeatherMax LT™ comes with a limited warranty of 3 years (1000 hours).
 
  1. HOW DO YOU TEST TO 1500 HOURS?
The fabric is exposed to UV rays for 1500 hours and the resulting color is compared to the initial color and rated.
 
  1. WHAT IS THE COLOR RATING AFTER 1500 HOURS AND HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO ACRYLIC FABRICS?

After 1500 hours, on a scale from 1 to 5, the color rating is 4.5, the same as Acrylic fabrics.

 
  1. IS WEATHERMAX™ AVAILABLE IN A FIRE RETARDANT STATE?
WeatherMax FR™ provides the superior color retention and strength of WeatherMax™ combined with the most advanced technology in flame retardancy.  WeatherMax FR™ is California State Fire Marshal-Title 19 approved, passes CPAI-84 Class I or Class 1, ASTM E-84, NPFA 701 Test Method 1 & 2, and the Horizontal Flame Test FMVSS 302 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 302).
 
  1. HOW DOES THE STRENGTH OF WEATHERMAX™ COMPARE TO ACRYLIC OVER TIME?
WeatherMax™ has been tested in the South Florida Everglades with a year round constant exposure with maximum UV exposure, and the color has resisted as well as acrylic fabrics on color retention and strength retention.
 
  1. CAN YOU DO SPECIAL COLORS AND WHAT IS THE MINIMUM YARDAGE REQUIRED?

Special colors can be developed upon request.  Please inquire with your distributor.  Due to the difficulty involved in developing solution dyed yarns with excellent UV resistance, there will be specific ordering requirements involved. 

 
  1. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DEVELOP A SPECIAL COLOR?
Typically, it takes several months to develop a new color, because of the solution dyed yarn development process and our thorough UV testing.
 
  1. IS WEATHERMAX™ AVAILABLE IN STRIPES?
Not at the present time, but stripes, color combinations and textured weaves will be available next year.
 
  1. CAN YOU DO A SPECIAL WIDTH AND WHAT WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM SLIT WIDTH AVAILABLE?  HOW ABOUT WITH THE SELVAGES STILL INTACT?
Because of our finish process, we have to slit the edges to offer a clean, defect free fabric.  Special width can be accommodated (from 30” to 85”).
 
  1. CAN YOU CLEAN WEATHERMAX™ WITH BLEACH OR WILL IT HURT THE COLOR OR DWR TREATMENT?

You can clean WeatherMax™ with a solution of 50% Bleach and 50% Water and it will not damage the color or the DWR finish.

 

  1. IS MARINE BINDING TAPE AVAILABLE OUT OF WEATHERMAX™?
WeatherMax™ marine binding is available.  Please contact your distributor for further information.
 
  1. WHY IS FABRIC BREATHEABILITY IMPORTANT?  DO ANY COATED FABRICS, INCLUDING SURLAST, BREATHE?

Fabric breatheability is important because it allows water vapor to go through, preventing mildew growth and heat build up. By definition, coated fabrics do not breathe because of the coated layer put on the fabric.

 

  1. WHY DOESN'T WEATHERMAX™ SAG LIKE ACRYLIC?  
WeatherMax™ is made with filament yarns, it is elastic and recovers completely after stress to the fabric is removed. On the other hand, fabrics made of spun yarns such as acrylics, have little elasticity and will stretch under stress but will not recover completely, therefore producing the unsightly effect of sagging.
 
  1. WHY DOESN'T WEATHERMAX™ CRACK LIKE COATED FABRICS?  HOW DO YOU CHECK FOR CRACK RESISTANCE?
We measure WeatherMax™ cracking resistance by folding the fabric on itself and putting it in a deep freezer at  -45°F for 5 days. It is then removed, unfolded and inspected for any cracks or breakdown at the fold.  After this difficult test, some coated fabrics will show cracks and discoloration of the coating, whereas WeatherMax™, remains unchanged.  Some coated materials are degraded by saltwater as well.
 
  1. ARE SHORT, CUT ROLLS AVAILABLE FOR SALE?
Because of our well controlled process, we do not offer rolls less than 75 yards.  Contact your WeatherMax™ distributor if you are interesed in cut yardage.
 
  1. HAVE YOU TESTED AGAINST WEATHERMAX™ IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT FOR COLOR FADE COMPARISON?  WHERE? HOW LONG?
WeatherMax™ has been tested in the South Florida Everglades with year round constant exposure to the elements and the color has resisted as well as acrylic fabrics.
 
  1. CAN YOU PRINT ON WEATHERMAX™?

WeatherMax™ lends itself to most printing techniques, such as screen printing, dye sublimation, and digital printing.

 
  1. HOW MANY COLORS ARE OFFERED ?  WIDTH?  ROLL SIZE?  PRICING? MINIMUM QUANTITY?

At the present time, we offer 16 solid colors, but we crrently developing new colors as we expand the WeatherMax™ line of products.  WeatherMax 80™ is now available in 4 tweeds as well; Forest Tweed, Dubonet Tweed, Charcoal Tweed, and Saphire Tweed.  WeatherMax 80™ is available in 75 yard rolls with a 60 Inch usable width with fused edges.  WeatherMax LT™ is availalbe in 100 yard rolls with a 60 Inch usable width with fused edges.

 

  1. WHAT TYPE OF EDGE / SELVAGE?
WeatherMax™ comes in 60 Inch with a fused selvage, allowing fabricators to use it right off the roll.  Because it is made with filament yarns, the fused edge of WeatherMax will not unravel like the trimmed edge of acrylic fabrics.
 
  1. DOES IT CUT WELL WITH A HOT KNIFE?
WeatherMax™ cuts well with many different tools. Hot knives and laser cutting systems are the most efficient.  WeatherMax™ can be heat sealed ,using hot air or a wedge welder.  It can be welded by itself or using a heat sensitive tape if needed.
 
  1. WHAT IS DWR?  HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent.  The exclusive HydroMax™ finish applied to the fabric is very durable, even after 5 laundry cycles and sun exposure.
 
  1. WHAT IS THE HYDROSTAT TEST?
The Hydrostat test measures the maximum water pressure a fabric can hold before it starts leaking.  For example, a fabric with a 39 Hydrostat, like most acrylics, will hold 39 cm (15 Inches) of water.  WeatherMax™, with a Hydrostat of 65,  will hold 65 cm (25 Inches) of water.