But for decorative, nautical look applications, how does our premium UNMANILA rope stack up versus the competition? It depends on what you’re doing and where you’re located.
The short version – natural Manila holds up well to sunlight but not to water or most chemicals. Synthetic Manila holds up well to water and most chemicals, but, over time, exposure to sunlight can cause surface damage.
Polyester holds up well to both, but it’s costly and, being white in color tends to get dirty quickly (it can be dyed, but only in large quantities and at a high cost).
There are some tropical or near-tropical locations where the choices are obvious. If you’re in southern Florida or somewhere with a similarly moist climate, or if you have a sprinkler system or you spray lawn chemicals that hit the rope as well as the grass, Manila is going to have a pretty short life. On the other hand, if you’re in Arizona and you have heavy sunlight and little moisture, natural fiber Manila may well outlast the synthetic.
* Decorative uses do not include those where a piece of rope is all that’s protecting you from falling into a moat filled with alligators, or from falling off a cliff. There are times you just have to invest in cable, heavy netting, or other physical, versus visual barriers.
All of our products are shipped within 1-2 business days.
To order by phone, call 1-800-875-8719, or order online below. Should a product be out of stock, we’ll notify you of the delay immediately. If that happens (not likely), we will ask if you prefer to cancel your order.