PVCu is the the most popular choice of material for conservatories today. It's a low maintenance product, and it's a good insulator.
It is readily available, well tested and is usually the lowest cost option. It is mainly seen in white but also available in mahogany and oak wood grain styles.
Most PVCu systems are internally reinforced with steel or aluminium. The are usually no problems with colour fading or frame discolouration. White PVCu has been the more common choice of colour, although woodgrain is available for a more traditional look.
The letters 'PVC' stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride, which is a chemical compound of chlorine, carbon and hydrogen.
PVC is derived from petroleum, or natural gas and common salt. The 'u' stands for 'unplasticised', (or sometimes 'unmodified'). It means that the material has not had chemicals called plasticisers added to it to soften it.
As for any environmental issues, PVCu is 100% recyclable.
The terms PVCu, uPVC, PVC-U, and PVCU all essentially refer to the same product.
PVCu can lack authenticity when it comes to the more traditional designs. It is not acceptable to planning authorities for use on listed buildings, and is not popular with them in conservation areas.
