How to make a glass roof yourself

The glass roof is an interesting interior solution, which may be considered unjustified sophistication. It was possible to see such a variant of the roof only in greenhouses, elite skyscrapers or museums. Improvement of construction technologies allowed the installation of a glass roof in private homes, winter gardens and greenhouses. This design reduces electricity consumption for lighting, creates a special atmosphere in the house, with proper device it becomes a reliable and hermetic protection of the building.

Note! The glass roof is a rather complex structure, but if you wish, you can install it yourself.

There are several forms of transparent roof: a dome, a horizontal plane, a gable or single-pitch roof, and an arched structure. Choosing how to make a glass roof with your own hands, it is better to stay at the simplest design, because the device of a transparent roof requires building skills and complex calculations.

Profiles

For the manufacture of construction will need a profile and glass. The used frames are designed for high loads, so the material for them is:

Steel profile - its strength allows you to glaze the roof of any area. Considerable weight of the construction will require thorough foundation and rafters. Insufficient corrosion resistance requires regular steel processing.

Aluminum profile - creates a light and durable roof that does not create undue stress. This metal is characterized by high thermal conductivity, which adversely affects the temperature in the house.

Frame on the basis of wood and aluminum - combines the positive qualities of the two materials, giving a light and insulating construction. The disadvantage of the profile will be sensitivity to moisture.

The metal-plastic profile used for the production of windows, due to its low strength, cannot be used when constructing the roof.

Double glazing

Ordinary glass is a delicate material and is not installed in such an important area as the roof, therefore, double-glazed windows are installed. For the inner part of such a glass unit, triplex is used, and for the outer part - tempered glass. The laminated triplex system does not allow the glass particles to disintegrate when broken, so it does not threaten human security. The special treatment of tempered glass is aimed at increasing its durability and safety; it withstands heating, temperature differences and average mechanical loads.

One of the options is a structural glazing, in which the installation of glass packs is performed without visible clamping strips. The resulting smooth surface, without gaps and protrusions, has an attractive appearance and allows the sediments to flow freely along it. The outer tempered glass is made longer than the inner one; for its fixing, a frost-resistant silicone sealant is used.

The large weight of the glass roof construction increases the risk of collapse, so two-chamber packages are not installed, single-chamber ones are selected. The roof is regularly subjected to wind load, and in the winter it weighs on a lot of snow. The glass used for the construction should not be thinner than 5 mm.

Features of the operation of the glass roof

The use of glass has its drawbacks; in the summer, a transparent roof transmits the sun's rays in an amount leading to overheating of the room. To avoid such a situation, double-glazed windows are installed with special protection or a reflective film is glued. The transparency of the material is selected individually, you can order tinted or colored glass.

At the beginning of the design, it is necessary to decide how to clean the roof of snow from the roof, which increases the load on the structure and covers the lighting. One option would be to install a heated glass, the other - to increase the angle of the slope. Both methods require financial expenses, but in the second case they are lower. We must not forget about creating the possibility of regular cleaning windows. A layer of dust and dirt for a short time will reduce the transparency of the roof.

Stages of the glass roof

It is necessary to conduct a competent technical calculation and make a design project of a transparent roof. For the construction of a glass roof requires a strong metal frame with frames and glass. The crossbars and racks of the metal profile serve as bearing elements of the roof. The basis for the metal frame will be wooden rafters or walls of the house. The design is securely fastened, and the joints are covered with waterproofing. To do this, use stekloizol, resistant waterproofing material, which when welding gives a tight connection. Decorative elements covering the junction will give the roof an aesthetic look. To protect the seams of the glass roof, use silicone sealant, which, if properly applied, will last a long time.

Independently to make a glass roof is quite difficult, but the result is worthy of the labor involved.

You may also consider the option of manufacturing a polycarbonate roof.

Video

This video describes the issue of modeling a glass piece of roof using the standard tools of the archicad program:

This video shows the sliding glass roof in action: