Polycarbonate roofing is a lightweight roofing material that was originally used mainly in conservatories and outbuildings such as garden sheds. It's now being used for both commercial and residential homes as well, thanks to its durable nature and reasonable cost. The main options in polycarbonate roofing include clear polycarbonate sheets and foam-backed polycarbonate sheets. Here's what you need to know about each if you're considering polycarbonate for your next roofing job.
The Clear Choice For Indoor/Outdoor Living: Clear Polycarbonate Sheets
Clear polycarbonate sheets are most commonly used for conservatory roofing. These sheets are transparent, allowing plenty of natural light to enter the conservatory. In fact, clear polycarbonate sheets are so effective at drawing the light in that you might want to choose a light tint to provide a filter for the UV rays.
Whilst you'll mainly see this type of roofing in conservatories, it's also used in other indoor/outdoor living situations and in situations where natural light is particularly desirable. This can include:
- Greenhouses
- Sunrooms
- Patio rooms
- Garden sheds
- Other protected outdoor living spaces
Clear polycarbonate sheets can be ideal for the types of rooms listed above because they look and function much like glass, but they aren't prone to cracking or breaking like glass is. Clear polycarbonate is also less costly than glass, giving you the benefits of glass without the drawbacks.
Firm Protection For Your Home: Foam-Backed Polycarbonate Sheets
Whilst clear polycarbonate sheets are ideal for indoor/outdoor living, they're not quite right for the rest of the home. Fortunately, there's still a polycarbonate option for residential roofing: foam-backed polycarbonate sheets.
Foam-backed polycarbonate sheets are made of the same material as clear polycarbonate, but they have a tough foam backing and are corrugated. The foam provides the insulation needed to maintain temperature within the home, and the clear polycarbonate is treated with a protective coating to prevent UV light from passing through.
Visually, they look very much like a metal roof. However, these sheets are considerably cheaper than their metal counterparts. Polycarbonate also puts less stress on the building because it's so lightweight. Foam-backed polycarbonate sheets can be customised in several ways. You can choose from various thicknesses based on your home insulation needs, and you can even select from a wide variety of colour tints.
If you need roofing and you're ready to try something new, consider how polycarbonate can meet your needs. Talk to your local roofing contractor about the advantages and applications of polycarbonate roofing sheets today!
