What is Polycarbonate Roofing?

We here at Roofing Megastore often get asked “what is Polycarbonate Roofing?” when people are looking at alternatives to glass panes for their conservatory, or replace old, tired, damaged existing polycarbonate sheeting, and with so many different options and tints it can be confusing to somebody who’s never hear of polycarbonate roofing before. So, we’ve come up with a handy system to help guide you through picking the right polycarbonate sheeting for your roof, whether it’s a conservatory, plant houses, car port, or greenhouse.

But first let’s explain what polycarbonate roofing is. polycarbonate is made from strong plastic materials that’s lightweight and able to withstand high temperatures easily, all while keeping the heat in at low temperatures, making polycarbonate perfect for conservatories, patios, and decking areas.

Look at the images below, taken from our Corotherm range, for an idea of what polycarbonate roofing looks like.

Why Use Polycarbonate Roofing?

There are many advantages to using polycarbonate roofing over traditional glass panes so I’m only going to go over the main ones here with you. The first one being that polycarbonate panels can withstand a large amount of force and are virtually unbreakable, making them perfect for roofing and construction.

Another huge benefit is the UV blockage, our Corotherm range will block 100% of harmful UV rays and allow 90% of all natural light to come through, which when compared to glass panes only blocking 25% of UV rays, Corotherm comes out on top for protection against the sun.

See the image to the below to see just how it works.

Furthermore, polycarbonate sheeting is extremely lightweight making installation easier, transport cheaper, and a great alternative for any roof that has weight restrictions such as lightweight timber-framed carports.

The Corotherm range has a fire rating of ‘Class 1’ meaning it’s highly resistant to fire and reduces the spread of the flame. This makes Corotherm perfect for use on almost any roof that may be at risk of fires or for anybody just wanting to build a safe living space.

And if you look at the table below, showing the energy efficiency of Corotherm polycarbonate sheeting, you can see just how much money you’ll save on heating in the colder months.

Energy Efficiency - Relative U-Values*

Sheet Thickness(mm)	Corotherm	Single Glass	Double Glass	Argon Filled Cavity
6mm (Twinwall)	3.7	5.7	2.65	1.6
10mm (Twinwall)	3.2	5.6	2.65	1.6
16mm (Triplewall)	2.4	5.4	2.65	1.6
25mm (7Xwall)	1.6	-	2.65	1.6

*A lower U-value indicates increased energy efficiency and thermal insulation

Polycarbonate sheeting is a great roofing product that comes with very little drawbacks, the only real drawback is that you wouldn’t want to use it to roof your whole house! Many people still decide to go for traditional glass panes due to price, but we here at Roofing Megastore believe in innovation and have cut down the price of all our polycarbonate sheeting to pass on all the savings to you, the customer. In addition, there are lots of hidden costs when it comes to glass panes like the installation fees and transport, all of which is either avoided with polycarbonate sheeting or is much more cost effective.

Choosing the Right Sheet for You

With a variety of sizes and tints you probably have a hard time finding the right fit for you if you’re new to polycarbonate roofing, however we’re here to help. The first thing you’ll need to know is the right thickness sheet for your roof. Below we will explain the difference in the thickness of sheets available and where each polycarbonate sheet can be used.

• 4mm Polycarbonate sheets are used for cloches, plant houses and small DIY projects
• 6mm Polycarbonate sheets are used for green houses, sunscreens, swimming pool covers, vertical panels, plant houses, and small DIY projects
• 10mm Polycarbonate sheets are the same as 6mm Polycarbonate sheets, the only difference being the colour choices
• 16mm Polycarbonate sheets are used for porches, conservatories, canopies, car ports, lean to roofs, and sheds
• 25mm Polycarbonate sheets are used for porches, conservatories, canopies, car ports, lean to roofs, and sheds

Now you know what thickness is right for you it’s time to choose your colour. Below we will explain the difference in colour and show you some examples of each colour.

• Clear: Maximises light transmission at 77%
• Bronze: Limits the amount of light transmission at 18%
• Opal: Limits the amount of light transmission at 40%

Below are photos of polycarbonate sheets in use to illustrate the difference in colour.

And finally, we move onto size of the sheet. Most of the time you’re going to want to get the largest possible sheet available to fit your roof just to save time on installation and money on materials. However, there are many variables that can influence the size of the sheet, for instance the size of the windows. If you look at the images above you’ll see the size of the sheet stays consistent with the width of the window, this is to maintain aesthetics throughout the building. If at any time, you’re unsure about what’s the best sheet size for you, contact us here or give us a call on 01295 565565 for expert advice.

Installation

We also get a lot of questions on installation of polycarbonate sheeting and whether it’s something an amateur DIYer can do, and the answer is always “Yes!”. Installation is extremely easy and only requires a bit of time and effort, there’s no need for any professional tools as polycarbonate sheeting can easily be cut with a handsaw, and if you don’t want to do the cutting we offer a cut to size service just for you.

For a step-by-step guide on how to install polycarbonate sheeting watch the video below and be amazed at just how easy it is!

Final Thoughts

If you’re still unsure about polycarbonate roofing pick up the phone and give us call on 01295 565565, email [email protected] or use the handy live chat below.