What is polycarbonate roofing?
Polycarbonate is an ideal roofing material for a wide range of applications. It is surprisingly durable, resistant to heat and provides ample protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Polycarbonate is a very strong and resilient thermoplastic material. Polycarbonate is also very lightweight and capable of withstanding extreme temperatures, either hot or cold. Due to these qualities it makes for an effective roofing material for many applications.

Is it popular?

Yes. Polycarbonate can withstand extreme amounts of force and are nearly unbreakable. They're popular for deck roofing options, pergola roofing options, outdoor roofing options, clear roofing options and verandah roof options. There are even bullet resistant varieties of polycarbonate which are used in things such as police shields. These sheets are also very lightweight, making it easy to transport and install them anywhere. With the UV blocking capabilities of polycarbonate, whether it be perspex, clear perspex, plastic roofing sheets, PVC, or acrylic sheet, it is a perfect material for constructing awnings for a patio or deck, or sunroom roofing. These properties of polycarbonate also make it the ideal material for the construction of greenhouses. Polycarbonate panels are resistant to extreme temperature either hot or cold, sunlight, snow, rain, and impact. This enables the panels to last for many many years without fading or discoloring while also remaining damage free from any various impacts over the years. And its affordable.

How is it made?

A polycarbonate roofing system is a dynamic roofing system that is made out of polycarbonate sheets, may it be of any type. These innovative sheets are available in a variety of colours, textures, and types – each having uses in different kinds of applications to serve different kinds of purposes.

What types are available?

There are a a wide variety of polycarbonates. Some selections include clear polycarbonate sheets, white polycarbonate, colored polycarbonate, laserlight and more. You can find them at Bunnings and a range of building materials retailers.

How durable is it?

It can last up to 20 years, depending on the profile of polycarbonate roofing you choose.

How much maintenance is required?

Little to none. Polycarbonate roofing is incredibly durable.

How much does it cost?

Polycarbonate sheets prices vary from approximately $50-$60.

DIY or get a professional?

Either. But if you DIY, follow these tips:

Here are a few tips to follow when installing polycarbonate roofing.

• Read the manufacturer’s instructions and specifications. Then follow these to the letter. If you do not, your warranty will be voided by the manufacturer.

• Install the polycarbonate sheets at a minimum pitch of 5 degrees (that is, This allows rainwater to run off toward the gutter and prevents moisture from collecting on your roof)

• Temperature changes throughout the day will cause the roofing sheets to expand and contract, so you need to make allowances for this thermal movement. Otherwise, the resistance to these temperature adjustments will cause your roofing sheets to buckle.

• When installing polycarbonate roofing, it is considered good practice to pre-drill the screw holes before fixing the sheets. It is also recommended that you slightly oversize these holes to make room for the thermal adjustments described above.

• Caps and flashings should likewise be pre-drilled so that when installed, the roofing sheets underneath can also shift as the temperature changes.

• You can use One Shot fixings, each of which comes with its own hole cutter. This can speed up your installation work because they eliminate the need for pre-drilling.

• You must install the sheets with the UV-protected side facing the sun. Look for a sticker that tells which side is UV-protected. Also take care not to scratch the sheets during installation as this will damage the UV protection layer.

• Also pay attention to the prevailing wind direction and make sure you lay down the sheets in the correct orientation. The last thing you want is for the wind to tear away your polycarbonate sheets.

• Use purlin tape on all the surfaces that come in contact with the timber.

• Don’t use sheets with purlin spacing wider than recommended. If you do, the sheets may sag and let water collect and pool in the sagging areas.

• We do not recommend using silicone to cure polycarbonate roofing because polycarbonate sheets expand and contract much more widely than silicone. But if you have to use it, use only neutral cure silicone.

• The polycarbonate sheets come with a list of the manufacturer’s recommended infills and back channels. Do not use bitumen-impregnated foam infills. These will damage the polycarbonate sheets!

• If some sheets will end up overlapping a gutter, drill a 5mm hole into the pan 10mm from the edge of the sheet. This will provide a drip-off point.

1. Suntuf

The Suntuf Polycarbonate range is available in three styles – Standard, SolarSmart and SolarSmart Selective. Use the Standard range for the most cost effective solutions or SolarSmart if you are wanting to reduce heat. SolarSmart sheets reflects more radiation across the entire ultraviolet light spectrum, not just the portion that provides visible light – this means that there is more HEAT reflected, making this range COOLER.

All Suntuf Polycarbonate sheets have a Limited Lifetime Warranty and provide 99.9% UV protection under the harsh Australian sun, so you and your family can enjoy your outdoor areas without getting burnt.

2. Laserlite Polycarbonate

The Laserlite Polycarbonate range is available in 2 styles, Laserlite 2000+ for performance and reliability and Laserlite 3000 for ultimate comfort. All Laserlite products are designed to ensure ultimate comfort and safety for outdoor living by minimising glare and protecting from 99.9% of harmful UV rays. Laserlite 3000 can reduce the sun’s warming effect by up to 69%, making it perfect for hot Australian conditions. Laserlite offers a limited lifetime Gold or Platinum Warranty. Choose from the range of colours to find a balance of light and heat transmissions to suit your needs.

3. SunSky

Profiled polycarbonate sheet is an outstanding roofing material that offers superior physical properties. SunSky is favoured by professionals for noncorrosive industrial structural roofing and siding, and by home owners for a multitude of DIY applications, due to its high impact strength and wide service temperature range. SunSky’s high light transmission and unlimited range of profiles allow it to integrate as a high quality roof light into any roofing profile. SunSky is also available in a wide variety of colours.

Sarah Buckley

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