coastal
Sunbrella vs Crypton vs Standard Performance Fabric
All 3 get called performance fabric and they solve different problems. Here is how each is built and where each one earns its price.
For a coastal home, solution-dyed acrylic such as Sunbrella is the better choice anywhere sun, moisture or mildew are the problem, because the colour is locked into the fibre. Barrier-backed fabrics such as Crypton are better indoors where spills, pets and odour are the problem, because the protection runs through the construction. Standard treated fabrics are the cheapest and the protection wears off.
All 3 get sold as "performance fabric", which is why people end up with the wrong one.
How each is actually made
Solution-dyed acrylic. The colour is added to the fibre while it is still liquid, before the yarn is spun. The pigment is part of the fibre rather than printed or dyed onto the surface. That is the entire reason it holds up to UV. There is nothing on the surface to fade off. Sunbrella is the best known name here, and there are other solution-dyed acrylics on the market.
Barrier-backed performance fabric. The fabric is engineered with a moisture barrier integrated into the construction, plus stain and odour resistance built into the fibre rather than sprayed on. Liquid cannot pass through into the cushion, which is what makes it strong for pets, children and healthcare settings. Crypton is the best known name.
Treated or finished fabric. A conventional fabric with a repellent finish applied at the mill. It works well when new. The finish wears with use and cleaning, and once it has gone the fabric underneath is a conventional fabric.
The comparison
| Solution-dyed acrylic | Barrier-backed | Treated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where the protection lives | In the fibre | In the construction | On the surface |
| UV and fade resistance | Excellent | Moderate | Limited |
| Mildew resistance | Excellent | Good | Limited |
| Liquid reaching the cushion | Repels, not sealed | Blocked by the barrier | Repels until the finish wears |
| Odour resistance | Good | Excellent | Limited |
| Cleaning tolerance | Very high, many are bleach-cleanable | High, most clean with water and mild soap | Moderate |
| Hand and feel | Improved a lot, still a textured hand | Soft, closest to conventional fabric | Conventional |
| Typical price per yard | Mid to high | Mid to high | Low to mid |
| Best for | Porches, sun rooms, boats, second homes, bright rooms | Family rooms, pets, children, healthcare | Low-use rooms, budget projects |
Which one for which room
A bright living room with water views. Solution-dyed acrylic. UV load is the thing that will kill the fabric, and nothing else handles it as well.
A family room with a dog and 2 children. Barrier-backed. The problem here is liquid and odour reaching the cushion, not sunlight.
A screened porch or sun room. Solution-dyed acrylic, without hesitation. Treat it as outdoor.
A second home that sits closed for months. Solution-dyed acrylic, paired with the right foam. Mildew resistance matters more than stain resistance in a house nobody is drying out.
A formal room used twice a year. None of them, necessarily. Buy the fabric you love and put the performance budget where the wear is.
A rental property. Barrier-backed indoors, solution-dyed acrylic on anything exposed. Turnover cleaning is aggressive and repeated, and treated finishes do not survive it.
Cleanability, which is where most people get it wrong
Check the cleaning code on the spec sheet before you buy anything.
- W means clean with water-based agents
- S means solvent only, no water
- WS means either
- X means vacuum only, no liquid at all
Many solution-dyed acrylics tolerate a dilute bleach solution, which is unusual and genuinely useful for mildew. Most barrier-backed fabrics clean with water and mild soap and should not be scrubbed with anything aggressive, because the surface is not where the protection lives.
The mistake we see most is people buying a fabric on the promise of "performance" and then cleaning it with something that strips the finish inside a year.
What the premium actually buys
Performance fabrics generally cost more per yard than conventional goods. On a 16 yard sofa the difference between a conventional fabric and a mid-range performance fabric is real money.
Look at it per year rather than per yard. A conventional fabric in a bright coastal room can fade noticeably within a few seasons. A solution-dyed acrylic in the same position holds colour for many years. Recovering a sofa is not a small job, so a fabric that doubles the interval before you do it again has paid for itself twice over.
The exception is low-use furniture. There is no return on a contract-grade performance fabric on a chair nobody sits in.
What we specify on this coast
For most coastal homes the split we recommend is straightforward. Solution-dyed acrylic on anything that sees direct light, porch air, salt or a closed-up season. Barrier-backed indoors where pets and spills are the daily reality. Conventional fabric on low-use pieces where look matters more than wear.
Pair any of them with the right foam. Performance fabric over foam that holds water still grows mildew from the inside.
Bring a sample in or send us a photo of the spec tag and we will tell you honestly whether it suits the piece and the room. We work with customer's own material from any book, and designers can open an account through our trade upholstery workroom page.
Request an estimate or call 843 785 4002. Fabric selection is part of every furniture reupholstery quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Sunbrella and Crypton?
Sunbrella is a solution-dyed acrylic, meaning the colour is locked into the fibre, which makes it excellent against UV fade and mildew. Crypton is a barrier-backed performance fabric with a moisture barrier in the construction, which makes it excellent against spills, pets and odour indoors.
Which performance fabric is best for a coastal home?
Solution-dyed acrylic for anywhere exposed to sun, salt air or long closed-up periods, because UV and mildew are the main threats. Barrier-backed fabric indoors where pets and spills matter more than sunlight.
Is performance fabric worth the extra cost?
On furniture that gets daily use or direct light, yes, because it meaningfully extends the interval before the piece needs recovering again. On low-use formal furniture it is usually not worth it.
Does performance fabric feel scratchy?
Not any more. Early solution-dyed acrylics had a coarse hand, and current ranges are much softer. Barrier-backed fabrics feel closest to conventional upholstery fabric.
Can I use bleach on performance fabric?
Many solution-dyed acrylics tolerate a dilute bleach solution, which is useful for mildew. Most other performance fabrics do not. Always check the cleaning code on the spec sheet, W, S, WS or X, before using anything on it.
Does performance fabric stop mildew completely?
No. It resists mildew far better than conventional fabric, but mildew can still grow in the foam underneath if moisture gets trapped. In a coastal home the foam choice matters as much as the fabric.
David Quintanilla is co-owner of Palmetto Upholstery & Fabric, with workrooms in Hilton Head Island, North Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
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