If you will be equipping a polycarbonate roof for a terrace, it is necessary to provide for the design features of the system. As the materials for the profiles, as a rule, PVC, aluminum or steel is used. The first option is used for small spans, the second is suitable for medium and small spans, while the third option is excellent for large spans.
Positive traits
If you decide to prefer polycarbonate as a material, then you can count on a small specific gravity, which will vary from 0.7 to 4.8 kilograms per square meter. This feature allows you to equip fairly lightweight constructions, realize all kinds of ideas of designers, without spending significant funds. Such systems have high bearing capacity, as well as flexibility. The latter characteristic allows the formation of arched structures. After the work, you can count on the roof to last 12 years or more, the period of the system’s life will depend on the correctness of the technology, as well as operational features. Such roofs have excellent resistance to chemical influences, and are also characterized by low flammability.
Features of polycarbonate roof
If you will be equipping a polycarbonate roof for a terrace, then when laying the material you need to take care of the supporting structures. By mounting a strong and rigid frame, you provide the roof with reliability and durability. Use thick support beams is not worth it, it will be enough blanks, the cross section of which is 60 x 80 or 60 x 40 millimeters. Rafters should be fixed in increments of 1.01 meters. This indicator corresponds to the size of a polycarbonate web. 5 degrees are the minimum angle of inclination, 10 degrees or more are the most suitable slope, which provides water drainage.
Preparation of materials and tools
If you will be equipping a polycarbonate roof for a terrace, then you should prepare o-rings, a drill, screws, and also a felt-tip pen. When taking measurements, you can’t do without roulette. You can not do without a screwdriver in the process of installation, this tool will complete the manipulation in a shorter time. Stock up on sealant and profiled foam.
Features of polycarbonate installation
The polycarbonate roof for the terrace must be mounted according to a certain technology. First, measurements should be made, and after marking the covering material so that it was possible to overlap the canvases. The width of the approach of one sheet to another should be equal to 1.5 cm. The cut line should be marked with a felt-tip pen. At the next stage, it is necessary to drill holes in polycarbonate into which screws will be installed. Their diameter should be greater than the diameter inherent in screws by 4 millimeters. Next, the master must install the screws, fixing the plastic on the roof. To eliminate material damage will allow an approach in which it is necessary to limit the mechanical impact on its surface. During installation, plastic caps and sealing rings must be installed between the wall and the roof. For additional sealing it is necessary to apply profiled foam. With a slight slope of the roof, the space under the overlap must be filled with sealant.
The method of fixing polycarbonate through profiles
If you will be installing a polycarbonate roof terrace for your terrace with your own hands, it is necessary to fix the connecting and end profiles on the rafters, the dimensions of which should correspond to polycarbonate sheets. Plate stops should be installed with a slight deviation from the edge of the profile by 20 millimeters. Cloths should be laid in grooves of profiles. The gap between the sheet and the profile should be equivalent to 5 millimeters or more. This is required in order to provide the compensation distance that will be required during thermal expansion of the material. The plates should be fixed with the help of a profile fastening, then the protective film should be removed, replacing the plugs. If installed correctly, it is necessary to apply sealant exclusively at the joints of the supporting structures and the roof.
The choice of material for the canopy
If you will form a polycarbonate roof for the terrace, it is recommended to consider the photo before starting work. However, it is important not only to comply with the technology, but also to choose the right material. This is due to the fact that when purchasing excessively thin canvases, there will be a need to install a more frequent crate. While the most durable sheets will also entail additional costs. When visiting a building materials store, you should consider that it is paramount to pay attention to the thickness of the material. Thus, if the canvases have a thickness equal to 4 millimeters, then they are intended for the arrangement of greenhouses and greenhouses. A polycarbonate roof for a terrace, the thickness of which varies from 6 to 8 millimeters, will be an excellent canopy. If there is a need to erect noise barriers, then a 10 mm sheet should be used. It is used in the construction of vertical surfaces. The thickest sheets are those that have a thickness equivalent to 16 millimeters. Such sheets have increased strength. They are used for roofing large areas. The shade of the paintings is also important, it should correspond to the exterior of the main building. Blue and green panels, which have medium transparency, are used as canopies for pools. While the cherry and brown shades of the canopy are excellent for picturesque areas, where there are many green spaces.
Canopy Design
If you will be equipping a roof made of cellular polycarbonate for a terrace, then, first of all, it is necessary to carry out the design. It is necessary at this stage to take into account the climatic features of the area and the expected loads that will be created by external factors. For the installation of sheets whose thickness does not exceed 8 millimeters, it is necessary to pre-equip the frame, between the elements of which a distance must be maintained in the range from 600 to 700 millimeters. When using heavier canvases, the longitudinal steps should be maintained at a distance of 700 millimeters, with regard to the location of the transverse components, the distance between them should not exceed 1 meter. It is important to properly prepare the site for the roof, for this, along the perimeter in increments of 1.5 meters, it is necessary to dig holes, using a garden drill for this . This is necessary for the installation of support racks, in the role of which wooden bars or steel supports are most often used.
Features of mounting support posts
Roof made of monolithic polycarbonate for the terrace requires support pillars. It is necessary to bury them in the soil by 50-150 cm. It is necessary to level the position of the elements with the help of the building level, only then can concreting be performed. If you decide to use wooden beams as a support, then their lower part needs to be treated with bitumen or a special protective compound that will prevent rotting. If you will be equipping a polycarbonate roof for a terrace, read the reviews. Thus, home craftsmen wait 2 days until the columns fall, and the solution gains strength. After that, you can get rid of the top layer of soil, the thickness of which is 20 cm. The bottom of the pit should be covered with a pillow, which can be made of sand or gravel.