Choosing between 10mm and 16mm polycarbonate sheeting depends on the specific requirements of your roofing project. Both thicknesses offer excellent value for money and durability, but they have distinct differences that make them suitable for different applications.
10mm polycarbonate sheeting v 16mm polycarbonate sheets, in this blog we will take a look at them in turn.
Reasons to choose 10mm Polycarbonate sheeting over 16mm:
Better light transmission: Clear 10mm polycarbonate sheets allow more light to pass through than 16mm sheets, making them ideal for applications where maximum natural light is desired.
Lower Cost: 10mm sheets cost less per square metre than 16mm sheets making them perfect for jobs where the budget is the major concern, and where other conditions are met.
Lighter Weight: 10mm polycarbonate sheets are lighter than 16mm sheets making them easier to handle, transport, and install.
Greater Flexibility: 10mm polycarbonate is more flexible and easier to cut and shape compared to 16mm polycarbonate sheets. This flexibility makes them suitable for projects with
Adequate when Insulation is not a priority: While 16mm polycarbonate provides better thermal insulation, 10mm polycarbonate sheets offer adequate insulation where thermal performance is not the primary concern. This is suitable for greenhouses or open structures like car ports, canopies or gazebo roofs.
Structures with smaller centres between supports: If you have plenty of supports for your roof e.g spaces no more than 600mm between rafters, 10mm polycarbonate will be a sensible choice. As they are more flexible than 16mm, you would be advised to have distances between supports that are less than this.
When 16mm Polycarbonate sheets will be a better choice than 10mm:
Higher Insulation: If you need slightly higher levels of thermal insulation than you would get with 10mm e.g. in heated greenhouses, or small unheated conservatories 16mm sheets are more effective. For conservatories that you spend more time in year-round you would need higher levels still, 25mm or 35mm sheets are designed for these areas.
Higher centres between supports: For roofs where supports are slightly further apart (up to 900mm centres) 16mm polycarbonate is the choice over 10mm. It is thicker and is triple wall as opposed to 10mm which is twin wall. This makes it less flexible and more suited to these wider spaces.
To sum up
Both 10mm and 16mm polycarbonate sheets have many benefits for roofing projects. If your priorities are maximum light transmission, lower costs, and insulation isn’t so much of an issue 10mm polycarbonate sheet is a great choice. However, for better insulation when you have slightly bigger rafter centres, 16mm polycarbonate sheets can be a great alternative.