Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer that is strong and tough and can be easily moulded and thermoformed, in other words shaped by heating. Polycarbonate sheet can be made clear or can be tinted to different shades and moulded into sheets with a variety of thicknesses.
Once you have chosen the rafter bars for your timber roof you need a number of trims to complete the project. These will finish off your roof and give it that “professional” look.
PVC Sheet end closures protect the bottom open edge of the polycarbonate sheet and prevent moisture getting up into the chambers. The sheet must be taped first to keep dust and insects out and then the sheet closures push on top. They are pushed onto the sheet between the Glazing Bars. If your roof is free standing rather than a Lean To, the top end of the sheet will also be open and will need sheet closures too. These sheet closures are vital as if you get moisture into your sheets it can create mould and turn the flutes black. These are available in white or brown or
Glazing Bars are used when you want to glaze a roof with Polycarbonate Sheets or Glass. You can have Rafter Glazing Bars or Self Supporting Glazing Bars and which one you choose will be determined by what type of roof you are looking to build.
The term Rafter Bar means that the glazing Bar will be fixed down onto an existing timber or steel rafter. These are the beams that come from the wall to the front of your roof or eaves beam. Rafter bars are fixed down onto the rafter and the polycarbonate sheets or glass are held in place with either a PVC or Aluminium Cap. If you are creating, replacing or refurbishing a timber framed roof then you should use Rafter Bars.
PVC Capped Rafter Bars are a lightweight, effective and easy to install method of glazing a roof. They are suitable for polycarbonate roofs but not for glass.
This type of Rafter Glazing Bar has a PVC Cap that is available in White, Brown or Anthracite Grey. This cap snaps down into an aluminium base which is fixed directly onto the existing rafter. Because of how the top cap is fitted, it is often referred to as a 'snap down bar' or a 'snap tight bar.' The bar comes complete with rubber gaskets and an end cap. The Gasket is fitted into existing grooves on each side of the aluminium base so that when the polycarbonate or glass is fitted it provides a snug waterproof fit.
There is a PVC Capped rafter bar that will glaze 10mm, 16mm and 25mm Polycarbonate Sheets and another Glazing Bar that accommodates 25mm and 35mm sheets, both of which are available in a range of different lengths.
PVC Capped Glazing Bars are simple to install. Begin by fitting the gasket into the grooves on the outside edges of the aluminum base. Screw the aluminium base into the roof rafter at approximately 300mm centres. Once the Aluminium base is fixed in place, locate a sheet of polycarbonate onto the gasket ensuring there is around 2.5mm gap between each edge of the polycarbonate sheet and the aluminium base’s central upstand. This allows for the sheet to expand and contract as the weather changes. Once your polycarbonate sheets are in place simply push the cap down to the required sheet thickness. You will hear a click or snap as the cap locks into place, hence this bar being known as a ‘snap down bar.’ The end of the bar can then be finished off by pushing the end cap into the grooves on the Aluminum base.
Self Supporting Glazing Bars are so called because they are able to support both themselves and the weight of the glazing material used on a roof. This means that they only generally need to be fixed at the top and bottom ends and not along their length which is the case for Rafter Bars. Self Supporting bars are taller than rafter supported bars, the vertical walls giving strength to the bar. Self Supporting bars are often used in conservatories, canopies, carports, walkways and other glazing applications. When using self support glazing bars you must check the bar snow loading table which shows the spanning capabilities of the bars, to ensure you place them at a safe distance apart. There are different maximum centres based on the projection of your roof and the glazing material you are using.
Summer is over and Autumn is on its way, it’s getting colder (you’ve probably already turned the central heating on) and the days are getting shorter. Autumn brings with it falling leaves, fruit and debris from trees and this can cause problems if it is not addressed. Leaves can clog gutters and drainpipes leading to blockages, leaks and potentially water damage to your property.
Now is the time to prepare for the coming of Winter and one of the most important things that you need to look at is the management of rainwater on your property, in other words, gutters, drainpipes and outlets.
Gutters need to be cleaned of falling leaves or they will block the movement of rainwater, overflow and potentially cause water to seep into your property. Faulty items are easy to replace but first you need to identify what type of gutter
Multiwall Polycarbonate comes in a range of sheet thicknesses, internal wall profiles and colours or tints. Different sheet thicknesses have different levels of light transmission, insulation properties and acoustic levels. So which one do I need for my own project?
Luckily the answer is not that complicated, some multiwall polycarbonate sheets lend themselves to certain applications while being totally unsuitable for others. For example nobody would consider putting 35mm Polycarbonate in a greenhouse or cloche just as using 4mm twinwall polycarbonate in a conservatory roof would be impractical.
Different polycarbonate sheet thicknesses lend themselves to different applications:
Wow its cold this morning. Frost on the grass and a bitter chill in the air. Living in a Victorian house means that I have beautiful windows. Lovely details on the wood which wouold be totally lost were I to get double glazing. There is a solution though. I can have warmer rooms AND beautifully crafted windows with Ecoease Secondary Glazing.
We often get calls in the winter time from gardeners who have come across damaged glass panes or acrylic panels on their greenhouses. They ask me ‘is polycarbonate suitable to replace broken greenhouse panels?’
Driving home from work today in the wind and rain, feeling really fed up that it is dark so early and the weather keeps you stuck indoors. Came home and imagined the conservatory I will hopefully have before this time next year.
I have wanted a conservatory for a long time and with the right approach I can insulate the roof with 35mm Heatguard polycarbonate to keep the heat in. So nights like tonight can be spent sitting comfortably in there relaxing with a book listening to the wind and rain ouside.
Lets face it.... that's a great feeling, listening to the rain beating on the roof and the wind howling around, when you are nice and snug inside.
The weather this week may not be so cold but in January and February a cold snap could come at any time. Fish in ponds become vulnerable as temperatures drop and ponds freeze over. You can insulate your pond quickly, easily and economically using polycarbonate sheets.
25mm multiwall polycarbonate and 35mm multiwall polycarbonate offer an ideal solution. The fluted structure of the sheets give excellent insulation, helping you to keep your fish safe through the coldest months. Enter your sizes on our website for an instant quote, or give us a call om 01536 446395 to discuss the benefits of each thickness.
