Sunbrella Vs. Recacril

If you know us, you know we’re not afraid to ask tough questions. We like to dig into the “why,” “what,” and “how” of everything we do—and our vendors will tell you, we ask questions they’ve never heard before!

Last year at the National Marine Fabricator Association Conference, our good friend and talented fabricator Darren Arthur of Nautilux Custom Canvas suggested we try Recacril instead of Sunbrella. Naturally, our curiosity got the best of us, and we gave it a shot.

The first noticeable difference is in the weave—Recacril has a tighter weave than Sunbrella, giving it a stiffer feel. Hold both up to the sunlight, and you’ll see more daylight coming through the Sunbrella fabric. When we started working with Recacril, we noticed the stiffness affected how it cut. Using a hot knife, it was smoother and easier to cut, but Sharps Tarps, who helped with larger production cuts on their automated table, found it trickier to work with. Interestingly, Darren, who also uses an automated table, loves how Recacril cuts.

Sewing it is another story. The stiffness makes top stitching a workout for our team—let’s just say “Popeye arms” are becoming a thing, and Amanda isn’t thrilled about it! That said, the seams come out looking crisper and less puckered, which could be the fabric or just our team honing their skills.

We’ve used Recacril on Folding Canopy Tops and a few Snap Covers, and the results have been impressive. The finished products look sharp and tight without feeling overly rigid. Time will tell if the tighter weave reduces sagging, which can be an issue with Sunbrella covers. So far, the more we use Recacril, the more we’re leaning toward incorporating it into our lineup.

Here’s how the two stack up:

• Warranty: Both offer 10 years.
• Marketing: Sunbrella has stronger name recognition—customers ask for it by name.
• Distribution: Sunbrella is easier to source.
• Origin: Sunbrella is made in the USA; Recacril is made in Spain.
• Material: Both are solution-dyed acrylics.
• Application: Fully interchangeable.

While both fabrics have their strengths, Recacril’s tighter weave and crisp finish give us a lot to love. It’s another reminder that asking “why” often leads to exciting new possibilities!