Polycarbonate cover
Cottage construction is so popular that more and more people leave apartments in noisy cities and move to fresh air. Here you can relax and restore strength, escape from the hustle and bustle of the beauty of nature. But the more fans there are at the suburban dwelling, the more diverse the buildings are erected in their places of residence, and this is wonderful, because often the news in the construction industry simply amazes with its functionality and decorative properties.
These are the characteristics of polycarbonate roofs for homes and house auxiliary structures. They are installed over the porch or pool, built in the form of a canopy in the parking lot and over the barbecue area. So why is this material of modern developers quite new for our country so attractive?
Material Specifications
Polycarbonate is characterized by excellent strength. This polymer is durable and has an attractive appearance, although it is a form of plastic that has long been familiar to us. Its transparent structure allows the transmission of sunlight, and also provides a panoramic view, which only increases its decorative value. Such material is used to build terraces near the house, verandas and bright spacious greenhouses.
The operational life of a polycarbonate roof is directly affected by the quality of the material and the correct installation. The polymer can be divided into several categories, each of which has its own service life:
- Premium - withstands at least 20 years of operation.
- Elite - serves at least 12 years.
- Optimal - on average 10 years.
- Economy - up to 8 years.
Before choosing such material for your home, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with its advantages and disadvantages, which will make it possible to better understand the properties and features of the new generation roof.
Advantages
The advantages of a cellular polymer coating include:
- excellent light transmission. About 80% of the sunlight passes through the transparent coating;
- good flexibility parameters, which makes it possible to make structures of a curved shape without risk of deforming the structure and violating the integrity of the material;
- worthy general characteristics, thanks to which it can be successfully combined with building materials of different textures;
- high thermal stability, allowing to operate polycarbonate in the temperature range from -40 to +120 C;
- strength against mechanical stress, withstands a layer of snow of more than one meter;
- excellent thermal insulation properties. The canopy keeps warm in the cold season and keeps you cool on hot summer days;
- light weight, only 2.5 kg / 1m2;
- resistance to fire;
- full compliance with safety requirements, in case of damage it does not break into small or especially sharp fragments;
- has good soundproofing parameters;
- easy to install, it does not require special skills to install;
- affordable cost in comparison with the same glass;
- makes it possible to build a design of any, even the most bizarre forms, which will become a decoration of the house;
- wide color gamut, so there will be no problems with choosing the desired option.
Disadvantages
Polycarbonate does not have many shortcomings and they are rather conditional. For example, the material will not be able to shelter you from the bright sun, but this same property can also be considered a virtue, because you do not need to resort to using additional lighting devices in the daytime, thereby saving electricity costs.
Well, and, of course, the really minus of the polymer is fragility, which can occur with improper installation, which can lead to cracks on the treated surface.
Types of Polycarbonate
In construction, two types of polycarbonate are used:
- Solid, produced in the form of sheets, the thickness of which can be from 2 mm to 1 cm. Most often it is installed where heavy precipitation is observed and gusty winds blow. On visual inspection, you are unlikely to distinguish it from glass. This type of material is the most expensive.
- Structured, with sheet thicknesses up to 3 cm, and an impressive weight, which sometimes exceeds that of a monolithic product. This type of polymer has increased strength due to its cellular structure. They can cover arched ceilings and round roofs of the house. Before purchasing such building material, ask the seller about which option is best suited to your conditions, otherwise you may encounter an unplanned replacement of the material because it does not meet your requirements.
Installation example for a polycarbonate roof
Using the installation of a cover for an arbor as an example, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the step-by-step instructions that will help you make a quality construction yourself. Here we will use cellular polycarbonate, whose thickness is 8 mm. The shape of the canopy can be anything - tent, with several slopes, domed or any other, we will talk about a direct configuration of the roof.
As in any construction process, the beginning of work here lies in drawing up a project with drawings that must be prepared in advance.
Rafter system
Wooden elements for the rafter system before installation must be treated with antiseptics that will not allow the natural material to rot, thereby increasing its operational period. Also, if you wish, you can make tinting wood with special varnish. Dry boards must be installed vertically in steps equal to the width of the polycarbonate sheet. From the bars, a crate is stuffed, which is mounted across the rafter elements.
Sheet fixing
To fix the sheets of reinforced plastic on the crate, it is necessary to use self-tapping screws equipped with washers-seals as fasteners. You can avoid deformation of the casing by first marking the places for screws, and then drill holes in their place with a diameter exceeding the same parameter of fasteners.
Between themselves, the sheets of material are connected using special profiles, which can be either solid or detachable. Self-tapping screws is not recommended to be tightened as far as they will go, otherwise by linear temperature change the linear expansion will remain in a static position and the roof may burst due to stress in the plastic structure.
Sealing
In order for the roof of the gazebo at the house to serve its owners for many years, it is necessary to properly seal the honeycomb sheets, for which a tape is glued on the ends of the polycarbonate elements or a profile is installed, thereby eliminating the appearance of condensation. It is also recommended to coat an additional layer of sealant at the joints of the plates, then you will get guaranteed impermeability.
Useful Tips
To make work easier, and the installation result is positive, use the advice of professionals:
- Do not mount a completely transparent roof, as you will not be able to hide under it from the scorching sun;
- do not remove the protective film from the material, because it protects it from damage;
- do not forget to equip the ventilation system in the event that the roof of a house made of polycarbonate is mounted above the living room;
- Avoid building a completely flat roof, as snow and water will constantly accumulate on its surface, corroding the structure at the joints of elements;
- during operation and operation, do not step on polycarbonate sheets, because they are fragile and may not support your weight.
If you strictly follow the instructions and listen to our tips, then you will get an excellent polycarbonate roof with your own hands.