Polycarbonate roof for terrace: installation instructions

Polycarbonate is today widely used in the construction industry. The material is made by melting the plastic granules and passing the resulting mass through a special shape - the die. As a result of this technology, sheets having a cellular structure are obtained in which several polycarbonate sheets are joined by longitudinal stiffeners. Polycarbonate is credited with universal qualities, it is an optimal substitute for glass in the modern construction sector. Consider the features of application and installation in this article.

Application of polycarbonate

One of the directions of this material is the installation of roofs. The material is suitable for installation of roofing structures of various shapes. This can be a double-skinned, single-pitched roof made of polycarbonate or a hipped roof.

Polycarbonate can cover not only the roof of the living room, t.this is an appropriate option for the terrace. It will make it more comfortable and cozy. Terrace area increases the useful area of ​​the house and at the same time allows you to enjoy a complete rest in nature. The terrace roof should be a continuation of the architectural ensemble of the main building. Mostly she builds without an attic. The main function of the terrace roof is to protect the site from the bright sun and precipitation. Polycarbonate will be successful in this task.

Polycarbonate roofs. Photo:

Polycarbonate varieties

The polycarbonate roof can be made of two types:

1. The monolithic material is used for the arrangement of curved and flat roofs. This polycarbonate has significant advantages, the number of which is not inferior to glass. But at the same time it has a disadvantage that hampers its wide application - it is a high cost.
2. Polycarbonate of a structured type, also called cellular, is more affordable financially and is therefore very popular. This material is also called light-transmitting plastic. The roof, made on its basis, will allow you to stay on a terraced area in hot weather and not feel discomfort from the sun.

Advantages of polycarbonate material:

• high thermal insulation performance;
• light weight, which simplifies the installation process;
• elasticity, due to which it is possible to mount arched ceilings independently without the help of specialists;
• resistance to various chemical influences;
• long service life - up to 20 years;
• low combustibility - the material is able to contain the spread of fire in case of fire;
• ability to maintain performance at temperatures from -40 ° C to + 120 ° C.

Which polycarbonate for the roof to choose?

High-quality polycarbonate is produced on the basis of primary granulate. But there are technical conditions that allow the manufacturer to add to the production and secondary raw materials. The content of the last component can reach 70% of the total weight of polycarbonate sheets. Such material can be distinguished at a low cost, but at the same time it has low operational qualities. Identify quality products will help visual inspection:

1. The quality sheet has an absolutely smooth surface.
2. If bubbles are observed on the surface of the material, inclusions or other defects, such polycarbonate is not recommended.
3. Also in the selection process should be guided and the weight of the sheets. Polycarbonate for a roof, whose thickness is 0.4 cm, should weigh 0.8 kg. The weight of sheets 1 cm thick equals 1.7 kg.
4. For sale, you can find products marked "light", which indicates that the weight of the material is 15% less than the standard. When working with these sheets, standard methods for determining atmospheric loads can not be used. The situation is complicated by the fact that not all manufacturers put this marking. You can distinguish such material at its low cost.
5. When purchasing, you must pay attention to the presence of a protective film. Its function is to protect the sheets from the negative influence of ultraviolet rays. If polycarbonate does not have this coating, it will lose its performance characteristics, not serving for one year.
6. The thickness of the film should be taken into account. If this figure does not exceed 35 microns, the material will last no more than 5 years. At a thickness of 60 microns, the sheets will retain their properties for 10 years.
7. You can determine the thickness of the protective coating by reading the certificate that comes with the product. Visually, this can not be done.

In general, the quality of material is divided into 4 categories:

• "premium", which can last for 20 years;
• "elites" - the service period is about 12 years;
• "optimal" - maintains performance for 10 years;
• "economical" - will last for 5-8 years.

Installation of polycarbonate on the roof: general recommendations

1. Polycarbonate requires special storage conditions. It should only be in a dry room.
2. Before installing the cell, it is recommended to glue with an adhesive aluminum tape or sealing compound. This will help avoid accumulation of dust and moisture.
3. If condensate is found inside the material, it can be removed by blowing the sheets with compressed air.
4. Before installation, you do not need to remove the protective coating from the surface.
5. Polycarbonate can not be covered with polyester or metallized film, as the result of contact of these materials will be the formation of condensate. As a result, the film and sheets will lose their performance.
6. Do not step onto polycarbonate during installation. Failure to comply with this requirement will lead to the formation of cracks on the surface of the material. For movement, ladders or rafters should be equipped with special ladders.
7. The polycarbonate roof can not be absolutely flat. The minimum allowable slope should be 5%.
8. If the material is inserted into the frames, when designing their size, the coefficient of linear expansion must be taken into account. This indicator is determined based on the thickness of the sheet.
9. When working with material, you may encounter the need to use not entire sheets, but individual fragments. This problem is easily solved. Polycarbonate sheets are well suited for cutting, welding, gluing, drilling. For cutting use a jigsaw, a hand saw or a hacksaw, and for forming holes - an automatic or manual drill equipped with a drill for metal.
10. Polycarbonate makes it possible to install roofs of non-standard shapes. For this purpose, cold, vacuum and thermal molding methods are used. When transporting and storing the material, mechanical stress should be avoided.

The polycarbonate roof with its own hands should be designed so that it is possible to freely remove the snow cover from its surface. Also, the structure must have sufficient strength. The roof can be given a wide variety of shapes. Initially, the skeleton is mounted on which the sheets are mounted. For frame construction, profile elements made of steel, aluminum or polycarbonate are used.

The latter option has several advantages over the first two materials. Profiled polycarbonate for the roof allows you to mount the roof without visible connection zones. Also, this material has a tightness, low weight, high strength. This creates a visual effect hovering above the building roof.

Profiles of polycarbonate are divided into two types: separable and one-piece. There are cavities inside the polycarbonate material. The sheets should be placed so that the location of the cavities is parallel to the direction of the structure. If this condition is ignored, the material may become deformed during use.

How to cover the roof with polycarbonate with your own hands

For assembly you will need:

• boards;
• beams with a cross-section of 40-60 mm;
• hammer;
• ax;
• nails, screws, screws;
• saw;
• building level;
• screwdriver;
• adhesive tape;
• polycarbonate sheets;
• mastic.

The assembly process is carried out in the following sequence:

1. The work begins with the installation of the frame structure. For this purpose, one of the three types of profiles described above can be used.
2. The sheets have a standard width of 2, 10 m. The space between the beams should not be greater than this distance. In order to be able to join several sheets, the gap between the rafters should be calculated in such a way that the joints of the sheets are in the central part of the bar.
3. The next step after the installation of the rafters is the installation of the frame. In the case of using metal profiles, the ends of the cut sheets should be sealed with adhesive tape. This will avoid getting into the grooves of debris and moisture.
4. When using a polycarbonate profile in this measure is not necessary, since these profile elements are initially equipped with a special film. It prevents penetration into the cells of the sheet, which were opened due to pruning, various contaminants.
5. If the profile is collapsible, the installation is carried out in the following order:

• the original profile parts are attached to the bars by the bottom part;
• and then the polycarbonate is mounted on which the upper part of the frame structure is mounted.

1. The profile of the non-separable type is immediately fastened to the rafters using self-tapping screws. These fastening elements are located 20-30 cm away from the thermo-washers, to which polycarbonate sheets will be mounted.
2. You can cover polycarbonate roofs in two ways. The first provides a point method, in which fixation is carried out after 30 cm.
3. The second uses fixing profiles. The area of ​​the seams should be treated with mastic. On the sheets there is an inscription. Place them on the frame so that the side with this inscription points upwards. A compensation space of 5 mm is left between the sheets. Then, the profile caps are fixed and the plugs are fixed.
4. From the edges of the profile elements, the restraints are fixed, which are fixed by means of rivets.
5. At the last stage, the side parts, and the surface of the sheets are pasted with adhesive tape. This will help protect the material from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation. For this purpose, an ordinary scotch is suitable. The lower part also needs a protective coating. In this case, you need a perforated tape, which will prevent the penetration of insects into the cavities.

Rules for cutting and drilling

Cutting sheets into fragments must be done as carefully as possible, avoiding damage to the upper protective layer. This procedure is carried out by means of a circular saw or electric jigsaw. It is important to choose the optimum speed. If cutting is performed too slowly, it will cause chipping. Excessively high speed will cause overheating and melting of the polymer. Sheets must not vibrate during slicing, this will lead to the appearance of microcracks.

If fastening is done by means of self-tapping screws, it is necessary to prepare holes in the sheets, the diameter of which should be 1-2 mm larger than the size of the fastening elements. For this, a non-ferrous metal drill is used. Self-tapping screws can not be twisted to the maximum. Sheets in the conditions of temperature differences will move. The polycarbonate roof for the terrace should be installed taking this condition into account.

Conclusion

Polycarbonate belongs to innovative materials and is used in the construction field relatively recently. But it is already actively used. Apply this material for various purposes, one of which is the installation of roofs. It has all the properties necessary for roofing material. Installation of polycarbonate sheets does not require qualified knowledge. You can do it yourself, having previously read the instructions.

Polycarbonate roof. Video: