How do I smarten this up?

[AyBee]

Around the top of my garden room I have a grey border. It’s faded over the years (was built about 12 years ago) and I wondered if there were any products that might bring back the grey? I tried a bit of polish on it earlier and it made a difference (as per the photo) but before I do the whole lot, I’m sure there must be something designed for this that will do a much better job?

[JoshSm]

Looks like the coating has oxidised, so I'd assume the only options are polishing/cutting it - maybe with some mechanical help - or putting some new cladding paint over it.

[TT86]

Id personally paint it. Bedec barn paint is super, I've used both white and black. Not sure if they do tints or you could mix it

[normalbloke]

A high quality wrap?

[21TonyK]

I've used it on plastic and paint and for 20 quid its worth a go.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OWATROL-850-Polytrol/dp/B...wUQGKJREw-BLltdKwMMWN-YjSjwws_E67-ud1lET4CTLr1hyAfzBPFaW-8TLBJjhOOtB-ZCT1L0u0wY-ev8VbskAqM6kGzBHzY5Rdd5WA5HNAaIikHxkRtUt7q3ry9LVwW12oqWcd_Nn0skTdVtRNmUZA0TLQHSTv0quu4nhAxg50IKPADHAPVGWfCOBipTZi8Q.ciimsTADBXt1Vod4y-tWLqh2rciPJUbdGuH3mG_6H0M&dib_tag=se&keywords=plastic%2Brestorer&qid=1753682933&sprefix=plastic%2Brestorer%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-6&th=1

[JoshSm]

normalbloke said:

A high quality wrap?

That's not a bad idea if you bought a roll of the right grade of vinyl, doesn't need to be car stuff, just the outdoor sign stuff. Pretty easy job, just make sure the base was clean and work along taking out/refitting the screws as you go.

Two person job though as you'd want someone holding the roll as you did other tasks.

[Chumley.mouse]

Another vote for the owatrol………

https://www.owatroldirect.co.uk/product/polytrol/c...

[hidetheelephants]

Owatrol is probably the least likely to look st by this time next year.

[AyBee]

Thanks all. Will give the Owatrol a go and if it still looks crap, look at wrapping it.

[Little Lofty]

Try some wd40, if it works use Owatrol as it lasts a bit longer, if it has no effect I dont think Owatrol will either, it works best on strong pigments.

[Demelitia]

AyBee said:

Thanks all. Will give the Owatrol a go and if it still looks crap, look at wrapping it.

For what it’s worth, the owatrol will make the prep for wrapping a nightmare.

[21TonyK]

AyBee said:

Thanks all. Will give the Owatrol a go and if it still looks crap, look at wrapping it.

Very thin coats applied with a cloth, half an hour between. Three coats should be more than enough.

[SJfW]

Demelitia said:

AyBee said:

Thanks all. Will give the Owatrol a go and if it still looks crap, look at wrapping it.

For what it s worth, the owatrol will make the prep for wrapping a nightmare.

Very much this. Wrapping over a surface thats been treated will be very challenging I would have said.

[AyBee]

Wouldn't do wrapping immediately. It's been in its current state for a while so it's more a case of smartening it up if it's relatively easy to do, but happy to live with it if not. Assume if the Owatrol doesn't look great, wrapping it next year will be fine?

[SJfW]

Doing a bit more reading, I'm actually curious myself. They describe it as a deep penetrating oil but delivered via alkyd resin so in theory it does actually dry rather than retaining the typically greasy surface things like WD40 or back to black achieve.

If it does cure, wrapping should be easy enough, just need to test the adhesion of the wrap to the resin, but its gloss levels would suggest a decent finish for wrapping.

[Panamax]

Wrapping will IMO be tricky and look rubbish. Needs painting. Just make absolutely certain you use a primer that will key properly to the existing surface. The primer is likely to be surprisingly expensive.

[Aluminati]

That s a coated single ply trim, so the coating will be as your roof membrane. Clean accordingly with a good pvc cleaner. You can also very carefully wave a blow lamp over it, which will return the shine.

Edited by Aluminati on Tuesday 29th July 18:28