Polycarbonate roof yourself

Polycarbonate roofing has taken a strong place in modern construction. It is significantly different from other floors, it is easy to install and does not block daylight. This roof is widely used in homes, garages, verandas, greenhouses, gazebos and other structures. In the article we will tell you how to make a polycarbonate roof with your own hands.

Installation of rafters and profile

First you need to choose polycarbonate, which is divided into a class of premium, elite, optimal and economical. Take into account that polycarbonate sheets are produced with a width of 2.1 m. This must be considered before the intention to install a polycarbonate roof and rafters for it. Due to this size, the sheets for installation can not be cut, while you need to count on a comprehensive gap of 5 mm, taking into account the temperature drop. You need to know that the quality of the rafters determines how to fix the polycarbonate on the roof.

Note! The rafters are made of bars or metal profiles with a section size of 6 × 4 cm. Beams are mounted so that the edges of the sheet products go into the rafters in the middle.

• Rafters must first be laid so that the distance between the center lines of the rafters is 1.01 m, and the width from edge to edge is greater than the one given by 3 mm.
• Then you can begin the installation of the frame structure of metal profiles for polycarbonate.
• To strengthen the roof structure, as a rule, they install auxiliary strips between the beams. Hardening is possible both in the longitudinal and in the transverse direction.

The metal profile can be made of aluminum. In this case, the edges of the sheets are glued with tape to prevent dust from collecting in these places, which eventually turns into dirt. A special tape is provided that packs grooves along the edge of the polycarbonate sheet.

When installing fasteners, as well as one-piece and detachable joints, the thickness of the metal profile should correspond to the dimensions of the sheet section. Fixed profile is fixed to the slats without auxiliary work, immediately applying the mount with screws and washers, which compensate for thermal expansion. The mounting pitch with self-tapping screws is taken 30 cm.

The profile folding is fixed in several steps.

• First, the profile is attached below, after inserting polycarbonate sheets, the top of the profile is screwed. It is possible to use self-tapping screws, which, due to their configuration, can themselves pass through plastic. It is also possible to pre-punch holes in the sheet.
• Polycarbonate sheets are laid along the contour of the prepared frame.
• Fixing of sheet products is carried out by fastening profiles or by the method of point setting every 30 cm.

It should be borne in mind that the connecting profiles are produced in different versions: external angular, internal angular, ridged and end. Therefore, you need to select the appropriate modification.

Work with polycarbonate sheets

Polycarbonate sheets have a protective layer on top, so as not to damage it, with the coating you need to work carefully. Since the sheets have hollow channels, you need to work with them according to certain rules. If the structure has a vertical plane, the grooves, respectively, should be in the same direction or positioned parallel to the bend or roofing slope. Under these conditions, the material will not be deformed.

Note! The cutting of profiles and polycarbonate sheets is carried out with an electric jigsaw or a circular saw with sharp and shallow cutting edges. Cutting speed must be selected on the basis of certain factors: low revolutions cut the material, and large ones melted polycarbonate. When cutting, the material should be statically fixed, since microcracks appear during vibration.

Если крыша устанавливается при помощи саморезов, то предварительно перед ввинчиванием необходимо проделать отверстие в листе диаметром на 2 мм больше чем размер шурупа. При сверлении применяется сверло, которое используется при проделывании отверстий в листах из цветного металла. Polycarbonate расширяется и сжимается в следствие температурного перепада, поэтому листы должны иметь возможность двигаться — саморезы до упора не закручиваются.

Before drilling the polycarbonate sheet should be laid on a flat plane, the cutting tool should be sharpened, sharp. Before cutting, there is no need to remove the protective film from the polymer product, as plastic dust will be poured into the voids, which will have to be periodically blown out, which is extremely inconvenient.

Before mounting a polycarbonate sheet, the edges are sealed. An aluminum adhesive tape with waterproof characteristics is applied on the upper end, and a vapor-permeable perforated tape preventing dust ingress is applied on the lower end. Polymer sheets must not be completely sealed.

Note! When imparting a bend to a polycarbonate sheet, it must be borne in mind that the bend radius must meet certain standards for a specific thickness of the sheet product.

Installation Tips

1. Polycarbonate installation is carried out strictly in accordance with stiffening ribs, directed vertically.
2. Polycarbonate sheets are fixed using profiles with fastening elements or a point method with the condition that the width of the sheet goes beyond 1 meter. The point fixation method, as a rule, is implemented on all roof beams with a distance of about 30 cm between fixing points.
3. Do not forget that the screws can not be tightened to the stop, as this will limit the mobility of polycarbonate sheets, which change in size with temperature drops.

You need to know that a polycarbonate roof has both advantages and disadvantages, but in some cases it looks and operates much better than other types of roofing.

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