Do-it-yourself polycarbonate veranda, attach the veranda to
A veranda is an unheated extension to a dwelling house, used as a resting place for eating or summer accommodation. This functional structure adds useful square meters that can be used at your discretion, as well as enrich the architectural design of the building. Polycarbonate verandas are a practical option for those who want to save money and time by doing their own hands. In this article we will talk about the features of working with polycarbonate, the assembly of the frame and the sequence of work in the construction of an extension to the house.
Types of verandahs
A veranda is an unheated extension to a residential or garden house, which is used seasonally for relaxing on hot summer days or eating. Such an architectural form in Russia appeared in Russia relatively recently, but it became widely used in civil engineering. A special feature of this building is its extensive glazing, so the polycarbonate verandahs attached to the house with their own hands are very popular. There are 2 types of extensions:
- Встроенные. Встроенными называют веранды, которые возводятся одновременно с основным домом на общем фундаменте и под одной крышей. Для таких конструкций редко используют поликарбонат, предпочитают более капитальные строительные материалы. Built-in veranda в монтаже гораздо сложней, чем пристроенная, поэтому своими руками ее делают, только обладая строительным опытом.
- Attached. Attached is called a veranda, which is erected after the completion of the main residential building. They are built on a separate foundation, covered with its own roof. Polycarbonate verandas are often attached, as they are lightweight, and therefore do not require massive support structures.
Important! If the project of your house does not provide a glazed extension in which you can hide from the scorching summer sun or rain in bad weather, do not worry, because there is always the possibility to attach a polycarbonate plastic veranda filled with light and fresh air with your hands.
Material properties
Polycarbonate is a modern polymeric material that is polyether carbonic acid acetone. Inside the structure of this polymer consists of a set of rectangular cells formed by internal stiffeners. It has the following advantages:
- Mechanical strength and high bearing capacity. Polycarbonate is 100–200 times stronger than ordinary silicate glass. Its strength properties are 1.5 times as high as plexiglass.
- A light weight. The low mass of the material allows to facilitate the construction of the support frame of the veranda and the foundation, as well as to carry out the installation of the structure with your own hands.
- Flexibility. Unlike glass or other translucent materials, polycarbonate plastic has increased flexibility, so it is suitable for making arched structures with your own hands.
- Translucency. It transmits 80-92% of the sun's rays, thanks to which the polycarbonate veranda is filled with light and fresh air.
- Low thermal conductivity. Despite its small thickness, polycarbonate plastic effectively retains heat, so a comfortable temperature is maintained in the veranda sheathed with this material.
Note! The weak point of polycarbonate plastic - low resistance to ultraviolet and potent chemicals. To make a handmade veranda last longer, you need to use a material covered with a film that blocks ultraviolet rays.
Types of frame
To give the veranda of polycarbonate the necessary shape and strength, construct a support frame. Since this material has a light weight and high bearing capacity, a lightweight bearing structure with a pillar spacing of 80-100 cm is sufficient. The frame is made of the following materials:
- Metal. Metal profile or corner - a practical material for the manufacture of polycarbonate veranda frame. It is characterized by high strength and light weight. The disadvantage of metal supports is considered low corrosion resistance, which is increased with the help of alkyd enamel. The framework from this material is distinguished by higher price and the long term of operation.
- Tree. Also the frame for the polycarbonate veranda is made from wooden bars with a section of 100x100 mm. Wood is a light, inexpensive, but rather durable material, to which polycarbonate is convenient to attach. To support, made of this material, not rotted from contact with water, you need to handle antiseptic composition.
Note that polycarbonate has a high degree of thermal expansion, therefore, its attachment to the frame should not be tight or hard. So that the material does not deform in the process of temperature change, when tightening the fasteners leave a small gap.
Mounting technology
A polycarbonate veranda, attached to the house, is a construction that is simple enough for a do-it-yourself installation, and even a beginner can handle the construction. The light weight and flexibility of polycarbonate plastic allows you to create from it aesthetic, complex structures without weighting the frame and foundation. The construction of a veranda of this material is carried out in the following order:
- Foundation laying. First of all, you need to lay the foundation on which the walls of the structure will be supported. Since polycarbonate is lightweight, experienced builders are limited to the lightweight form of the foundation - tape or columnar.
- Creating a frame. After solidification of the foundation, the lower frame of the frame is assembled from a bar 100x100 or 150x150 mm thick. Then expose the vertical drains of the supporting structure, fixing the metal corners to the harness. Top set top trim.
- Processing frame antiseptic. To increase the service life of the frame, the wood is treated with an antiseptic of deep penetration.
- Sheathing frame. The frame is sheathed with polycarbonate plastic sheets. To cut the material using a jigsaw or hacksaw. Fixation is carried out using screws with washers and a rubber gasket.
- Roof decking. The veranda is covered with an arched or single-ply polycarbonate construction.
Skilled craftsmen note that when assembling polycarbonate structures, it is necessary to take into account the thermal expansion of this material. Otherwise, as the temperature rises, the plastic deforms.
