All of our buildings and accessories are injection molded from high impact polystyrene(styrene). Styrene has excellent properties for this application, but certain precautions should be taken to assure long life both indoors and out. The styrene raw material has some basic UV protection and the pigment that we add in the molding process gives it more UV protection, but long term exposure to UV rays will deteriorate the styrene. To get the most out of you kit we recommend the following:
It is recommended that some type of solvent based adhesive be used so that a mechanical bond is formed between the pieces being joined(Testor's and other manufacturers styrene adhesives are good choices). Super glue is not recommended as it sometimes dries too quickly to form a good mechanical bond. Other "hi-tech" adhesives have the same problem. If in doubt, join two of the "runner" pieces that hold the doors and windows as a set with your adhesive, let dry completely, and then pull apart. If the parts do not separate cleanly, then it is probably a good adhesive. If they separate cleanly, then there is no mechanical bond and the adhesive is probably not a good choice. Some of our customers are supporting the inside corners of the buildings with plastic or wood strips and reporting no problems after more than 3 years outside in the heat of Florida and the California desert sun as well as the cold of the New England winters.
We spray paint all of our show buildings with Krylon Fusion Paints. It is an excellent outdoor enamel that will help protect the building from the elements. If you wish to keep your buildings outside, we recommend that the buildings be painted with some similar type of outdoor enamel that has UV inhibitors. Whether it is brushed or sprayed make no difference as long as coverage is complete.
Whether the buildings are kept indoors or out, they should be periodically inspected for damage and deterioration. At periodic intervals, the joints should be inspected to make sure they are still joined. If some joints are loose, they should be reglued. At the same time, all painted surfaces should be inspected for peeling and other signs of deterioration. Any surface that show peeling, crazing, or other signs of wear should be sanded and repainted. Special attention should be payed to the inside of the building to make sure that sunlight coming through a window or door opening is not damaging an unpainted interior area.
Finally, the heat distortion temperature of styrene is between 140 and 160 degress fahrenheit. If you are getting unusual wear or you suspect a hot spot in your outdoor area, place a thermometer at that location. If you are getting to within 90% of the heat distortion temperature, consider shading or relocating your building
.