What mounting errors will spoil even the best polycarbonate

Lightweight, transparent, easy to install all about polycarbonate. Material came to the construction market and for a long time won a place among the most popular building materials. But even polycarbonate can be ruined if mounted without following the rules.

Main mistakes

Polycarbonate is used for the construction of peaks, canopies. The material provides access to sunlight, while protecting against UV rays. The structures are light and transparent. However, there are a number of rules, violation of which will lead to the fact that the construction will become unusable in a short time. Therefore, before construction, you need to take into account the mistakes that most often make during installation.

All possible errors can be divided into three groups:

1. Invalid sheet layout.
2. Improper storage of material.
3. Incorrect preparation and installation of panels.

Next, we dwell on each item in more detail.

Layout Errors

Polycarbonate is installed, with the inner side facing out - polycarbonate has two sides, the outer and the inner. On the outside, a layer is applied that protects the sheet from ultraviolet rays. A film is glued to the front side, on which the material parameters are indicated. If you put the sheet incorrectly, it will quickly fade and begin to crack.

The panels are mounted by honeycombs across the ramp - polycarbonate is laid so that the honeycombs are located along the slope. If put across, moisture will accumulate in the cells, and in the cold it will freeze and tear the sheet. Therefore, polycarbonate is placed in cells along the ramp, the ends are sealed with a perforated tape. It protects cells from debris and removes excess moisture from cells. Also, if improperly installed, water can enter the castle between the sheets and break the connection.

Wrong bending radius selected - polycarbonate is produced with a thickness of 4 to 32 mm. In private construction, 10-16 mm products are used for a canopy or visor, 6-10 mm are sufficient for wall partitions. The thickness of the sheet affects the radius of bending, the thicker the polycarbonate, the less it bends. Strong bending of the honeycomb panel interferes with a tight connection at the joints. Locks are badly bent and gaps turn out. Before laying the canopy check the permissible radius.

Improper storage - store products under a canopy or indoors. Avoid direct sunlight. The protective film is heated and soldered to the surface of the panel. Then it is difficult to remove the protective layer. To avoid a long cleaning of the film from the surface, polycarbonate is stored indoors.

Installation Errors

Improper material cutting - it is not recommended to cut the material with a grinder, dust will form during the thread, which gets into the honeycomb. The material becomes clogged. To clean the sheet from dust, use a vacuum cleaner. For cutting polycarbonate, an electric jigsaw or a metal saw is used. The cut place is clean.

Incorrect fastening - self-tapping screws choose intended for fastening polycarbonate. The fasteners are equipped with a rubber or plastic washer that does not allow moisture to pass through. You need to tighten the self-tapping screw carefully so as not to overtighten, in this case you will get a dent. If the fasteners are tightened slightly, water enters through the mounting hole. The self-tapping screw is installed at right angles to the crate. Only in this case there is a dense bed of fasteners with a sheet.

Components are not installed - the edges of the sheet are covered with an end plate. It protects the sheet from debris entering the honeycomb. The canopy always looks clean and transparent. It is important to purchase a lock of the appropriate size. Sheets must be installed with a gap of 3 - 5 mm, so that when heated, the material does not undermine up. Buying accessories is a mandatory part of the installation, otherwise it is impossible to do the job with high quality.

If you take into account all the errors during installation, the result is a transparent and reliable structure, which will be a good alternative to glass.