table of contents
- What is polycarbonate
- Impact resistance
- to shape
- Benefits
- Potential drawbacks
- Alternatives
- experience
- frequently asked Questions
Polycarbonate patio covers have both advantages and disadvantages. You can find out here how the material is designed in use.
In a nutshell
- easy installation and processing
- light weight
- high impact resistance also compared to glass
- can be translucent or opaque
- low cost of acquisition
What is polycarbonate
This building material is plastics. They are made from carbonic acid polyesters. As a rule, they are discs. Due to the good formability, however, corrugated formats or double-walled sheets can also be manufactured.
Impact resistance
In contrast to glass, polycarbonate is significantly more impact-resistant. Depending on the material in question, it can be up to 200 times as impact-resistant and can therefore withstand rain, hail and other influences much better.
So it should be preferred in regions with a very high rainfall rate. This substance can also be used when a particularly long service life is required.
to shape
The shapes of the patio cover made of polycarbonate are basically divided into three variants. It refers to:
- Double wall sheets
- Discs
- Wave profiles
Double wall sheets have the advantage that they have cavities due to the profile of the material. This ensures that the air in it warms up. So this shape acts as a kind of insulation. During the day it keeps the heat out. At night, however, it gives off the heat. Panes are easy to attach and they look particularly modern. But the joints in between and keeping the individual elements clean can be cumbersome. Visually, the roof is above all practical. Due to the wave shape, water flows off without any problems and other precipitation can slide off it. This is particularly useful if there is a rain gutter and the water is to be collected.
Benefits
The plastic patio cover has several advantages. For example:
- easy installation and processing
- low price
- light weight
- wide range of designs in terms of shape and color
- high impact resistance
- simple cropping
Compared to glass or plexiglass, it is the much more practical basis.
Tip: In addition to the material, the shape should also be reconsidered. Because this often determines the benefit.
Potential drawbacks
Over time, the plastic can become dull due to UV radiation or expansion and contraction as well as precipitation. The incidence of light is then no longer ideal. In addition, the plastic can become brittle, cracked and therefore permeable. this applies to cold air as well as rain and other precipitation. If you want to sit on the terrace for a long time in the evening, you may be better advised to use other coverings. Because the plastic does not store heat for long. The cooling down takes place inevitably.
Alternatives
Alternatives to this plastic are mainly glass and acrylic. However, roofing felt and tiles are also valid options. A pavilion is also suitable as a temporary patio roof.
experience
Benefit from the experiences that others have already made with a patio cover made of polycarbonate. We have researched for you.
Note: For reasons of better readability, small spelling errors (spaces, inverted letters, etc.) have been corrected in the quotations. The exact sources are linked under the specification of the respective forum.
[...] Polycarbonate is much more resistant to aging than Plexiglas, does not scratch so easily, does not yellow and is more resistant to hail. I have had double-skin sheets made of polycarbonate (Makrolon from BASF) on my conservatory for 8 years now, and they still look like they did on the first day. […]
Source: www.haustechnikdialog.de; User: Georg 10; Date: 05/04/2007
For a few weeks now we have had such a roof on one of our terraces. We have chosen polycarbonate sheets as the material. It has the same dimensions and shapes as acrylic glass, but is much stronger for the same weight. Polycarbonate is currently the most expensive but most stable material for this type of roofing (there will be car windows are also made from this material, which are mainly used by the police) […]. Hail or snow cannot cause any damage. Due to the gradient of 7%, the polycarbonate is self-cleaning when it rains.
Source: www.hausgarten.net; User: irubis; Date: 07/15/2008
Double-walled sheets have something to do with arbor garden. Romanticism has nothing to do with aesthetics. Safety glass, whether with wire or clear glass, 2 panes glued with foil. There are worlds of difference in the view and also in the increase in value of a house (or decrease)
Source: www.haustechnikdialog.de; User: meierle; Date: 05/06/2007
frequently asked Questions
Because it's lighter and more consistent. The plastic is also easier to process.
Preferably on a base or scaffolding. The individual elements can be screwed on here.
No. However, it is best to check the elements. It is best to do this regularly. Because small damage can be compensated more easily than large cracks.
