PVC wall and ceiling panels are a popular building material for agricultural barns. They offer numerous advantages for animal containment buildings.

Whether you’re planning a new barn build or a renovation project, there are a few things that you should know about PVC paneling.

What Are PVC Wall Panels?

Polyvinyl chloride, also called polyvinyl, is commonly abbreviated to PVC. This material is the third most common synthetic plastic polymer. PVC has a large range of uses, particularly in construction and building materials.

For decades PVC has been used outdoors as “vinyl” siding for houses, however, more recently, PVC has become a popular material for indoor wall and ceiling panels in farming facilities.

Benefits of PVC Wall & Ceiling Panels

From biosecurity to maintenance, PVC offers many advantages for farm buildings. We’ve highlighted some of the most important benefits of PVC below.

1. Easier Installation

Traditional walling material, like drywall, can be difficult and time consuming to properly install. By comparison, PVC panels are lightweight, flexible, and relatively simple to install.

Many manufacturers of PVC paneling, like Trusscore™, utilize pre-punched nailing flanges or tongue-and-groove systems which makes the panels simpler to install.

2. Improved Durability & Longevity

Livestock facilities are highly demanding environments. Animals can easily damage walls, resulting in potential harm to themselves.

Plywood and drywall lack flexibility and are prone to cavitation damage from impacts. These materials also expand in high moisture or heated environments such as livestock barns. By comparison, the chemical structure of PVC makes it rigid enough to withstand considerable impacts. Yet it maintains enough flexibility to not easily break or snap when under load.

This high level of durability makes PVC paneling an excellent choice in livestock sheds for animals both large and small.

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3. Lower Maintenance Costs

PVC is a very easy to maintain material. It’s moisture resistant, non-degrading, and non-corrosive. Meanwhile, other materials like fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) panels are prone to expansion and contraction. If these panels buckle, they will require frequent repairs as a result.

By comparison, PVC has heat stabilizing compounds added during its manufacturing process. This improves its heat stability, allowing it to maintain shape and form in both high and low temperatures. It’s chemical composition is also noncombustible, making it a safer building material.

4. Increased Animal Safety & Biosecurity

One of the top reasons why PVC is so popular in the agricultural sector is due to its biosecurity benefits.

PVC is a non-porous material. This means bacteria and viruses cannot travel below its surface and multiply. As mentioned, PVC is also moisture-resistant, which helps prevent growth of mold and mildew. As a result, PVC can improve livestock disease prevention measures.

PVC panels are also easy to clean. Because they are waterproof, power washing equipment can be used to quickly remove dirt, debris, and other materials from its surface. They’re capable of holding up against repeated washings, meaning you can more frequently sanitize surfaces. There is also less concern of cleaning products leaching into walls.

Lastly, PVC is highly resistant to chemicals and gases like ammonia, a common byproduct of livestock facilities.

Shop For PVC Panels For Your Next Barn Build

The benefits of PVC are clear: they’re durable, efficient, and safe. If you need PVC wall and ceiling panels for your next barn build, Farmer Boy stocks high-quality PVC paneling from trusted manufacturers. We also carry a range of paneling hardware and accessories so you’ll have everything that you need for your construction or renovation project.

Our sales team is here to help with large custom building supply orders or to answer any product questions. Give them a call at 1-800-845-3374!