Polycarbonate Sheets
Over the past 20 years, multiwall and solid polycarbonate glazing has been developed for installation into an array of situations as an alternative building material. The popularity of polycarbonate roofing sheets comes down to the clear advantages it can give during construction and the quality it can add to the final structure.
From the strength of the material to its versatility, polycarbonate sheets are desirable for use in DIY projects as well as commercial building projects. Whether it will end up as part of a carport, play area, greenhouse, or other form of outdoor structure, you can count on poly roof sheets to provide dependable shelter whatever the weather.
Burton Roofing stocks a wide variety of polycarbonate roof sheets to choose from, available at reasonable prices with outstanding service so you can construct the exact structure you want. With a number of different polycarbonate sheet sizes in stock, you can find the ones that fit your exact requirements.
If you need more information or advice on choosing the right polycarbonate sheets, contact our friendly sales team on 0800 124 4431 or email Burton Roofing Merchants at enquiries@burtonroofing.co.uk.
Advantages of using polycarbonate roofing systems
Whether you’re considering using multiwall polycarbonate sheets or polycarbonate glazing sheets for your roofing needs, there are multiple reasons you might find them to be an effective roofing solution.
Their composition and design will afford you several benefits during the construction process and give your finished product some extra features when used properly.
High impact strength and durability
Polycarbonate is frequently chosen as a building material due to its immense strength, impact resistance, and shatter-proof qualities. This makes it a great replacement for glass, offering similar attributes with a greater level of safety and security as polycarbonate is around 200 times stronger.
Good light transmission for visibility
Another reason polycarbonate sheets are seen as an alternative to glass is because of their excellent light transmission. If visibility and natural light are considerations for your structure, polycarbonate roofing sheets offer everything you need.
The added UV coating acts as a protective layer against weathering, helping prevent discolouration or yellowing due to direct sunlight, which could reduce the level of light transmission.
Flexible and easy to work with
Multiwall or solid polycarbonate panels come in a range of stock dimensions that can be chosen to match specific purposes, with standard sizes and between 4mm and 35mm thickness. They are easy to cut and manipulate using professional roofing tools, giving you a highly versatile material to use.
All you need to do is order the polycarbonate sheet, cut to size on site and install it wherever it’s needed. You can even use clear polycarbonate roofing sheets to create dome-shaped structures by creating a stressed curve within acceptable limits. Make sure you use compatible adhesives and sealants when installing polycarbonate sheets for a quality finish.
Lightweight construction
There’s no need to worry about handling heavy roofing materials when you opt to use polycarbonate roofing. It comes in at roughly half the weight of the equivalent in glass without sacrificing on strength.
Manoeuvring it into place and finding safe storage space for polycarbonate is much easier than for other roofing materials too, making proper material handling simpler.
Thermal insulation
Although it might not be your primary reason for picking polycarbonate, both solid and multiwall polycarbonate panels can provide an element of insulation to a closed structure. If this does happen to be one of your priorities, multiwall polycarbonate is the better option due to its layered internal structure.
This can be useful if you’re planning on building a treehouse or shed structure where someone will be spending an extended period. The extra warmth that using polycarbonate multiwall sheets can afford might make a space that bit more comfortable. However, using more traditional roofing materials with roof insulation might be the better option if staying warm is a major priority over lightness and ease of handling. If you’re unsure what roofing solution would provide the right attributes for your plans drop us an email with your query.
Types of polycarbonate roofing sheets
Picking the right type of polycarbonate roofing comes down to what it will need to provide in terms of attributes. Some forms of polycarbonate are more suitable for specific applications, so comparing them and choosing the best option will create a better finished structure that does what you need it to.
Multiwall polycarbonate sheets
By taking multiple layers of polycarbonate and adding an internal structure, multiwall polycarbonate sheets offer both strength and rigidity while remaining a lightweight roofing material.
The Axiome range from Clear Amber gives you a wide variety of multiwall sheets to choose from, with multiple colour options available including clear, opal and bronze to suit your installation. There are a few variations of this type of sheet that come under different names:
- Twinwall sheeting has two individual sheets of polycarbonate joined by an interior structure to form one cohesive layer, with variable thickness between 4mm and 10mm.
- Triplewall polycarbonate sheets take this a step further, adding an extra sheet to bring the count up to three with an additional internal structure bringing the thickness to 16mm.
- Multiwall panels include both the four-layered to six-layered iterations of this structure. The more layers these polycarbonate roofing sheets have, the thicker the overall material will be.
Suitable applications for multiwall polycarbonate sheets include decking covers, barbecue shelters, carports and walkways. These also feature a protective UV layer on the outside to help avoid long-term sun damage which could affect longevity.
Solid polycarbonate sheeting
Comprised of a single, thick layer of material, solid polycarbonate panels are an alternative to using glass panels when constructing certain structures. Clear Amber’s AXGARD range is the answer for modern perspex roof sheets, providing a building material with almost unparalleled clarity and strength. These provide a close match to glass in terms of light transmission, while offering a higher level of impact resistance and having UV protection on both sides.
This is what makes solid polycarbonate sheeting a fantastic option when looking for safe glazing solutions. It can be applied as shed windows, secondary glazing and vision panels within structures to add visibility. They can also be easily manipulated by bending to create curved roofs for greenhouses.
Uses for polycarbonate roof sheets
Although we’ve touched on a few of the applications for polycarbonate in structure, here are a few common ways for using polycarbonate roofing in a little more detail to serve as inspiration for your future building plans:
- You can use solid polycarbonate panels as conservatory roof sheets when constructing an extension to your property or replacing a glass pane roof with a stronger alternative.
- Cutting polycarbonate sheets down to size for narrow patio areas or pathways can provide a weatherproof lean-to shelter for when you arrive home and need to get your keys out.
- By creating a greenhouse using polycarbonate clear roofing sheets, UK gardeners can overcome the unpredictable British weather and allow their precious plants to flourish. It’s easy to learn how to cut polycarbonate sheets if you are unsure how to do so and are thinking about using them for the first time.
Get polycarbonate roofing systems from Burton Roofing
Burton Roofing has over 35 years’ experience in the trade and an ‘excellent’ rating on Trustpilot thanks to hundreds of positive reviews from our customers. We stock polycarbonate roof sheets in an array of widths and lengths, meaning there is bound to be a suitable option for your project. Contact our friendly sales team on 0800 124 4431 if you have any questions. Alternatively, send an email to enquiries@burtonroofing.co.uk and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
