A bank wall is a long-term cost. You want the system to last for many years without fuss. In this article we set out what you can expect from Prolock Sigma on life, care and how long the plastic lasts. We also match it with hardwood and concrete.
Life: 50 to 60 years
Prolock Sigma panels are made of recycled plastic, a plastic mix. It has been made for lasting contact with soil and water. The set life is 50 to 60 years under normal weather.
Why so long?
The plastic stands up to the four biggest foes of bank walls:
- Rot and mould: wood decays in 15 to 25 years for spruce, or 25 to 40 years for hardwood. Plastic does not rot.
- Rodents and insects: longhorn beetles, ants and rats damage wood. They leave Prolock alone.
- Sun light: wood ages and turns brittle. Prolock has UV blocks, so the effect is small.
- Frost and heat swings: wood cracks with freeze and thaw. Prolock stands from −30°C to +60°C.
Match life
- Prolock Sigma plastic: 50 to 60 years. No care needed.
- Azobe or Okan hardwood: 25 to 40 years. Yes, oil now and then.
- Treated spruce: 15 to 20 years. Yes, stain or paint.
- Concrete sheet piling: 50 to 80 years. Little care, check the joints.
- Steel sheet piling: 30 to 50 years. Yes, rust treatment.
Care: what is needed?
In short: nothing. Prolock Sigma is fully care-free. No oil, stain, paint or soak is needed.
What you can do if you want
No care is needed. A few small jobs still keep the wall looking neat.
1. Remove algae
In damp spots a thin green film may appear on the plastic. That is only the look. It does not harm the plastic.
Fix: Spray once a year with a garden hose or a high-pressure sprayer on a low setting. A brush with soapy water, such as green soap, also works well.
2. Check ground level
Every few years, check that the ground on both sides of the sheeting is still in order. Strong water flow can slowly wash soil away.
Fix: Top up soil where needed, especially behind the panels.
3. Check the cover flap
The plastic cover can sit a bit looser after many years, due to heat movement.
Fix: Check the cover once every 5 years and retighten any loose parts.
How green is it?
Made from reused plastic
Prolock Sigma panels are made from 100 percent recycled plastic. These are leftover flows from the plastics industry that get a second life as a building material.
You can reuse it fully
At the end of their 50-plus year life, the panels can be handed in for reuse. The plastic is ground and made into new plastic products.
No chemical leaching
Unlike treated wood, which can release copper and chromium into the water, Prolock Sigma leaks no harmful substances into soil or water. That also makes it right near drinking-water areas and nature spots.
Carbon match
- Prolock Sigma: low making carbon because of reuse. Made in Europe. Strong life-cycle score.
- Hardwood Azobe: mid making carbon. Tropical transport from Africa or South America. Mid life-cycle score.
- Concrete: high making carbon from cement. Heavy transport. Lower life-cycle score.
- Steel: high making carbon. Mid transport. Lower life-cycle score.
What could go wrong in 50 years?
Prolock Sigma is robust, but no plastic is unbreakable. These rare cases can cause harm:
Mechanical damage
A heavy hit, such as a boat or moving kit, can break a panel. That is not a plastic fault. It is an outside impact.
Fix: Single panels can be replaced without taking the rest of the wall apart. Slide the damaged panel up and fit a new one.
Post rot
The wooden posts in the hybrid system have a shorter life than the plastic panels. Spruce posts last 15 to 20 years. Hardwood posts last 25 to 40 years.
Fix: When you choose, pick preserved spruce or hardwood such as Azobe or Okan for the posts. When you replace posts, you can reuse the existing panels.
Wash-under
If the bottom of the panels is not deep enough, water can wash soil out underneath.
Fix: When fitting, make sure the panels go at least 20 to 30cm below the water line. Check the ground level now and then.
Warranty
The maker gives a standard product warranty on the Prolock Sigma mats. The exact terms hang on the area of use. Contact Houthandel Jan Sok for the current warranty terms for your project.
Care costs over 50 years
A fair match of the total care costs over the full life:
- Prolock Sigma: 0 euro in years 1 to 10, 10 to 20, 20 to 30 and 30 to 50. Total care: 0 euro.
- Hardwood, oiled every 3 years: 45 euro per metre in each of the first three blocks, then 60 euro per metre. Total care: 195 euro per metre.
- Treated spruce: 30 euro per metre in years 1 to 10, then a swap. Total care: 30 euro per metre plus a full swap.
On a 25 metre wall you save with Prolock Sigma, over 50 years, up to 4875 euro in care versus hardwood. That does not yet include replacing the hardwood after 30 to 40 years.
Conclusion
Prolock Sigma is the set-and-forget option for bank walls. With a life of 50 to 60 years, zero care and full reuse, it is the low-worry pick for anyone who wants to finish a water side for many years.
Questions about the life or the plastic of Prolock Sigma? Houthandel Jan Sok in Meppel is happy to advise. We have about 5000 square metres in stock and years of experience with the system.
Call 0522-851551 or email info@houthandeljansok.nl. Shop: houthandeljansok.nl.
Also read: