Polycarbonate: The Ideal Material for Sustainable Construction

Polycarbonate, a material commonly used in greenhouse and roof construction, has become a contemporary material with several advantages. Apart from enhancing the visual appeal of projects, polycarbonate possesses various characteristics that account for its growing popularity among architects. Here are five advantages of using polycarbonate in your building and construction projects.

1. Lightweight: Polycarbonate is less than half the weight of glass, making it an excellent option for structural design. Additionally, its lightweight property makes handling easier and safer during transportation, lifting, and installation.

2. Impact and Damage Resistance: Polycarbonate roofing sheets offer higher resistance to impact than glass, making them suitable for transportation, handling, and installation. Furthermore, polycarbonate is more resistant to hail, falling objects, and other such elements, which can help reduce maintenance and repair costs over the lifespan of your roof.

3. Good Insulator: Polycarbonate's thermal insulation properties make it a popular choice for cladding and roofing. Multiwall polycarbonate sheets create additional air pockets around the building, improving its thermal performance. Additionally, it is an excellent noise insulator, often used as an acoustic barrier on busy roads, construction sites, or railway lines.

4. Diffused Light Transmission: Polycarbonate can transmit similar amounts of light as glass and can even be as transparent as glass, while fibreglass roofing only offers translucence and does not provide a clear view. Polycarbonate's diffused light transmission properties offer a more uniform distribution of light, which reduces glare and shadows.

5. Vast Colour Range: Polycarbonate roofing is available in various colours, from clear to Cream or Diffused Ice. Each colour holds different performance characteristics, so when selecting colours for your project's palette, ensure that the polycarbonate roof sheet's performance meets your needs.

Polycarbonate roofing provides 99.9% UV protection, prolonging its lifespan, and recent advancements include special coatings and tints that reflect infrared radiation outward to reduce solar heat gain while allowing natural light to pass through.