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Clear sheet roofing

terryb | Posted in General Discussion on August 10, 2005 06:15am

What type of sheet roofing will hold up forever to sunlight? Polycarbonate? Are regular neoprene-grommeted screws OK to use to fasten it down? I’ve only ever used steel sheet roofing before – except for once when I tried fibreglass – no good. Thanks for your help

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  1. DavidxDoud | Aug 10, 2005 06:33am | #1

    ...hold up forever...

    there is no such item...

    tempered glass is pretty good - -

     

    "there's enough for everyone"
  2. joeh | Aug 10, 2005 07:22am | #2

    I'm thinking glass with wire in it is the only forever and legal answer.

    Joe H

    1. VaTom | Aug 10, 2005 07:42pm | #3

      Invisible wire?

      I know, I know.  My tempered glass sliding door lites aren't code.  But they also haven't broken for the last 8 yrs they've been up there.  And no, I don't stand under it looking up during a storm.  Conservatively, I used 17" oc, rather than 34", and placed EPDM weatherstripping under the glass.

      Going with the same plan for the solar kiln.  No permit required there either.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

      1. ~~JoeH | Aug 10, 2005 10:45pm | #4

        Yer right, that wire is visible, but I think it's also legal.

        Probably a local glass shop might know, Building Dept might have an opinion.

        Who knows, old sliders seem like the answer for my greenhouse.

        Joe H

        1. VaTom | Aug 11, 2005 02:13am | #9

          old sliders seem like the answer for my greenhouse

          And the price is right.  Strong recommendation to get Resource Conservation Technology EPDM weatherstripping, rather than butyl, for whatever you use to attach them.

          Of course you could also go whole hog.  RCT has a nice extruded aluminum system for only around $15/lin ft.  Second mortgage, what?

          I've had a number of large branches bounce off my glass. PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

          1. ~~JoeH | Aug 11, 2005 07:45am | #10

            Not sure this idea is going to fly with the door.

            They're double pane, slight tint and some are low E too.

            Whatcha think? I was planning to use them as they are, in the vinyl frames. Just stick them up with urethane or something.

            Joe H

          2. VaTom | Aug 11, 2005 04:01pm | #11

            Oh.  All mine are fogged.  I've been separating the panes and using only the glass, single.  On nice oak rafters we've been cutting.

            There's one here in a vinyl frame, unfogged last time I looked.  Hadn't figured out what to do with it.  Want it?  Probably glue will work.  You sure vinyl isn't carcinogenic?  Better you than me.

            As I understand it, transmittance is more important than insulation.  Why those translucent panels I picked up wouldn't work for a greenhouse.  They sure are nice for a roof.  Glows, even on an overcast day.  PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

      2. seeyou | Aug 11, 2005 01:00am | #6

        Invisible wire?

        I had a full roll of that, but i put it down somewhere and I can't find it now.......................Birth, school, work, death.....................

        1. VaTom | Aug 11, 2005 02:07am | #8

          "seeyou"?

          Boo, hiss.....<G>PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

  3. Pete | Aug 11, 2005 12:43am | #5

    seems to me the tempered glass by itself isn't legal.  It also has to be laminated. (a thin underside membrane to actually catch the fragments.)



    Edited 8/10/2005 5:44 pm ET by Pete

  4. User avater
    draftguy | Aug 11, 2005 01:57am | #7

    "What type of sheet roofing will hold up forever to sunlight? Polycarbonate? Are regular neoprene-grommeted screws OK to use to fasten it down?"

    Is this for a porch/greenhouse/awning (i.e., outdoor space)? If you're using the vinyl building panels from Lowe's/Home Depot (the cheap corrugated stuff), I've used them for a small overhead canopy over the garage entrance (put them in with nails w/integral washers). Did it a couple of years ago, seems to be holding up o.k.. Just slope it enough that the rain washes all the gunk off (also used the translucent panels at work as partition walls nailed over irregularly spaced studs . . . very cool, but another topic).

    If it's over an interior space, there are various panel types you can order. We spec them out often in our drawings, but they're almost always used for outdoor spaces. And polycarbonate supposedly is better than acrylic, but if you call the acrylic rep they'll say that they're just as good as polycarbonate. Both are used on greenhouses, skylights, etc., so I don't know which is better. They're multiwall panels (i.e., have channels in between the face sheets), and come in different thicknesses. And they attach with the screws/neoprene gaskets, like you mentioned. Costs range, but I was recently quoted a 4' x 12' sheet of 5/8" Polygal at $221.16 each, and a similar sized sheet of 5/16" at $119.56 each. Some manufacturers we've considered are Polygal, Co-Ex (1-800-888-5364, formerly Ex-Cel) and DeGlas (1-800-268-4743, #3917). The last one mentioned (DeGlas) is acrylic and bootiful, but European and $$$ (but, then again, aren't most things European bootiful and $$$?).

    The spec information should give structural characteristics if necessary, so check on those. Don't know what your local code situation is. And both materials will yellow over enough time, but they're used in big expanses with some impressive-looking skylights, so somebody must have faith in them. And finally, if this isn't enough, there's always the fiberglass composite panels (i.e., Kalwall). They have integral aluminum frames, are insulated and can span large areas without additional support. Unfortunately, the cost approaches glass and they're only translucent, not transparent. Hope this helps.



    Edited 8/10/2005 7:00 pm ET by draftguy

  5. JonE | Aug 11, 2005 08:00pm | #12

    I dunno about forever, but I have lexan (polycarbonate) corrugated panels on the roof of my shed, and they seem to be holding up fine after four years and four New England winters.   I built the shed without windows to maximize wall space, had trusses designed for 4' centers, and put 2x4 purlins down every 24" o.c. horizontally.  The lexan is held on by screws with neoprene washers. 

    If you do use the stuff, make sure you put the screws through the ridges and not the valleys (like I did).  It WILL leak.  I replaced a couple of panels already, due to poor installation, and so far since then, it's been watertight. 

    I'm going to build another shed for my new house, and will probably do the same thing.

     

  6. davidmeiland | Aug 12, 2005 03:37am | #13

    There are some specific codes having to do with overhead glazing. If you use glass, check them out. I just installed a skylight that had tempered and laminated glass due to the fact that it was 12'+ above the floor.

  7. arrowshooter | Aug 12, 2005 04:43am | #14

    I have had a Lexan corrugated roof system on a shed roof for 10 years with absolutely no problems.

    Mine is on 4/12 pitch as I recall it cost about double the cost of fiberglass panels but is almost impossible to break .

    I buy flat sheets of Lexan 1/8 inch X 4x8 for about $70.00 each and use it to replace broken window glass in some mobile homes I own.

    Saws real easy with the skillsaw and installs with silicone. The tenants are real surprised when the beer bottles bounce back at them.

    I have thought of using the flat sheets as part of a shingle roof for a form of skylighting but I have not done this

    (Yet)

     

     

    1. UncleDunc | Aug 12, 2005 04:50am | #15

      >> The tenants are real surprised when the beer bottles bounce back at them.And I suppose you don't have any problems with scratching or cloudiness, either, since the tenants never wash the windows.

      1. arrowshooter | Aug 12, 2005 04:53am | #17

        Wash ? 

         

    2. arrowshooter | Aug 12, 2005 04:50am | #16

      By the way, Don't even think about buying the plastic stuff sold by Home Depot and others for glazing. It scratches easily, turns yellow and breaks almost as easy as glass. 

       

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