Best Materials for Outdoor Flags

The best materials for outdoor flags usually gets overlooked when purchasing outdoor decorative flags. We should consider many factors before purchasing an outdoor flags. Yet, we get sucked into a flag’s aesthetics – image, color, wording.  Therefore, we overlook quality until we experience fading or weathering on our flag.  By then it’s too late.  The right decorative flag has deeper qualities than it’s beautiful image.  It also has the best suited flag material & best printing processes.  Therefore, providing the beauty and durability of your decorative flag.  You don’t’ have to sacrifice beauty to have durability.  You can have a beautiful flag printed on the best material with the printing processes.

Garden House Flags has done that research for our customers. We have set a higher standard for the quality that goes into the manufacturing of our flags. Therefore, we have determined the level of quality material best suited for our outdoor garden flags. After researching flag materials & printing processes, we determined criteria for offering higher quality flags to our customers.

So, when you purchase a decorative flag from Garden House Flags, you never have to worry about the quality of material, or the printing processes involved in achieving our high standard for decorative flags. Therefore, you can enjoy the process of shopping for that perfect flag that suits your personality and sense of style.

The following information helped us to make an informed & educated buying decision on the quality of flag material & printing processes we would look for when manufacturing flags.

Best Outdoor Flag Material

When thinking of purchasing a flag, there are many things to consider. Flag material became top priority.  Flag fabric plays the major factor in deciding the flag’s aesthetic value and durability. When it comes to popular flag material, the most used fabrics are nylon and 2-ply polyester. In terms of resilience, stretch resistance, wrinkle resistance, shrink resistance, and easy care, both materials have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of each material to determine which possesses traits suited for outdoor flags. Nylon and polyester hold similar properties.  But polyester, especially 2-ply polyester, holds as the better material for outdoor decorative garden flags.

Here are the facts when it comes to Nylon Vs. Polyester Material:

• Nylon qualifies as a lighter-weight material than 2-ply polyester. Means it flies easily in the lightest of winds.
• Polyester is a heavier fabric than nylon, requiring a considerably stronger breeze to fly properly.
• Nylon is more cost-effect than 2-ply polyester. Proving financially better for the manufacturing costs.  But does not equate to a better quality flag for consumers looking for a quality outdoor garden flag.
• Polyester, especially 2-ply polyester, proves more suitable for outdoor usage since it is more durable and robust than nylon. Providing a longer outdoor life span.
• Both nylon and polyester material resists water.  But Polyester material has better water wicking capability than nylon. Polyester’s water-resistant properties increase as the thread count rises. Meaning polyester dries fast.
  Please note that neither material is fully waterproof unless coated with special material.
• Polyester has better wind resistance. Providing less fraying when flying in extremely windy weather conditions.
• Nylon and Polyester both hold up equally well to mildew.
• Polyester retains its color & luster for a longer time. It also resists UV much more effectively than nylon, which quickly fades when exposed to sunlight. Meaning the beautiful image stays vivid longer.
• 2-ply polyester flags are more durable.  But may not be as bright and shiny in appearance as nylon flags.
• Polyester flags are more durable flags and the best option if intending to fly a flag 24/7.
• A Polyester flag resists UV much more effectively than nylon.  Meaning the beautiful image on the flag will last longer in the sun.

In synopsis:

Polyester has many qualities that are great for flags. It can also be blended with natural fibers to get the benefits of both. One common application is 2-ply poly in an open weave, allowing air to pass through.  Therefore, reducing friction and lowering fabric stress. This Increases the material durability and longevity of the flag. Polyester is the most durable flag material.  It provides an excellent outdoor life span, making it best suited for the outdoor elements. Polyester possesses excellent wind resistance. It is the best material for flags being flown in extreme weather conditions. A polyester material dries quicker with better wicking ability. It also retains its color for a longer time. Polyester is a preferable choice for 24-hour display of outdoor flags.

So, poly flags take the lead as the most durable outdoor flags in most conditions. But durability comes at a cost. Poly flags are also the most expensive flags to manufacture.

Denier of a Flag Fabric

Many factors contribute to a flags overall look, feel, performance, durability, and price. Construction of the flag material plays a vital role in the overall flag quality. A key component in the construction of flag material is its denier.
A denier is a unit of measurement.  It that expresses fiber thickness of individual threads or filaments in fabric or textiles. A single strand of silk references for one denier where 9000m of the strand would equal one gram. Standard fabrics are typically between 40d and 80d.

Polyester comes in many different thicknesses, including 300 denier and 600 denier. 300 denier polyester is a lightweight fabric.  Whereas 600 denier polyester is more heavy duty. Each fabric has its own merits and can be used in different situations.

A 200 denier polyester is more flexible and ideal for a flag waving in the wind.  A 400 denier is stiffer, tending to be more useful as a banner material. 400 will feel thicker in your hands due to the weave.

So, we asked ourselves if a higher or lower denier holds better for outdoor decorative flags? The higher the denier count, the more durable the material will be due to the thicker threads in the material. The highest denier material appears to be the best flag material for outdoor durability.

300 denier polyester is a thinner fabric than 600D. This fabric is more lightweight and smoother in appearance. Typically, it will be less expensive than the more heavy-duty fabric.

600D polyester fabric was originally (and remains) an imported fabric.  Woven to compete with or undercut the higher cost of high-denier nylons.

Dye Sublimation Printing

What is dye sublimation printing and how does it work?

Sublimation printing, also known as dye sublimation printing, leads the field in the printing industry.  It uses a printing technique which involves applying a heat press to a sheet of transfer paper.  The transfer paper has been printed with special solidified inks. Once heated, these solidified inks become vaporized into a gas.

Full dye sublimation is a process by which specialty dyes are transferred to 100% high quality polyester fabrics using heat and pressure. During the application process, the dyes become a gas and absorbed into the fabric and become part of the fabric.

How Does the Process Work?

When heated, the polymers in the polyester encourage the inks to bond, which creates permanent graphics that are fully embedded into the material.  Former printing methods laid the image on top of the fabric.  Over time the image quickly peeled off the surface of the material.

Why Should I Use This Method?

Dye sublimation is “THE” process for printing on all things polyester. The gaseous state of the ink results in a completely washable, smooth image fully embedded into the material. Plus, the quality is high resolution consisting of vivid, vibrant colors.

The alternative process of UV printing is not effective on polyester fabric items. On polyester coated hard goods, UV prints can feel more textured and look like a label or sticker. With dye sublimation, the texture is not rigid or crusty.  Therefore, removing the threat of scraping or scratching a print.

In synopsis:

Dye-sublimation printing yields beautiful and permanent colors embedded in the substrate or fabric. And is not printed on the surface. Images on fabric will not fade or crack even after multiple washings. Images on hard substrates will not chip, peel, or scratch.

Shop Quality Decorative Flags

So, now you know some of the factors we considered to ensure our customers a quality outdoor flag. Yes, a quality flag may cost more.  But the benefits provide piece of mind, longer use, and a better looking that everyone enjoys.

Add to your home’s curb appeal while welcoming guests with quality outdoor flags. Check out the vast selection of decorative outdoor flags at GardenHouseFlags.com. Start your search, assured that quality has already been accounted for. Click here to shop:
https://www.gardenhouseflags.com/

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