What should be a crate for polycarbonate

For polycarbonate roofing to be stable and long-lasting during installation, the crate or frame that serves as its foundation is essential. Polycarbonate sheets, in contrast to conventional roofing materials, are strong and lightweight, which makes them perfect for a variety of structures, including patio covers and greenhouses. The crate acts as the framework, supporting and guaranteeing that the polycarbonate sheets stay in place in a variety of weather scenarios.

Materials that are resistant to wind, rain, and UV radiation should be used to build the polycarbonate crate. Aluminum and treated wood are usually well-liked options because of their toughness and ability to withstand moisture and corrosion. The distance between the rafters in the crate is also very important because it affects the roof’s ability to support heavy loads like snowfall in the winter and determines the stability of the polycarbonate sheets.

Careful measurement and alignment are necessary for the crate to be installed correctly. For even weight distribution and to avoid sagging, rafters should be spaced 16 to 24 inches apart, as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. Furthermore, cross-bracing between rafters can improve structural integrity, particularly in regions that frequently experience strong winds or a lot of snowfall.

It’s crucial for contractors and do-it-yourselfers to comprehend the crate’s measurements and arrangement. This includes taking into account the roof’s pitch or slope, which influences water runoff and discourages water pooling, a frequent problem that over time can deteriorate polycarbonate sheets. Sufficient ventilation in the crate design also aids in controlling humidity and temperature, which can extend the life of the polycarbonate sheets and the supporting framework.

"Choosing the right support structure, or crate, for polycarbonate roofing is crucial for its durability and performance" could be the main thesis statement for an article on "What should be a crate for polycarbonate" on a website like "All about the roof." Adequate support between the panels is essential for preventing sagging and guaranteeing proper water drainage in a well-designed crate. It should also be appropriate for the particular installation environment, taking into account elements such as snow accumulation and wind loads. By keeping these ideas in mind, builders and homeowners can design a strong structure that extends the useful life of polycarbonate roofing."

What to make a frame for polycarbonate from

The polycarbonate rafter system is typically composed of 20 × 20 mm, 30 × 30 mm, or mounted on an end of 40 × 20 mm profile steel pipes. There are four reasons why this material is the best:

• High strength and bearing capacity – even relatively thin steel pipes can withstand hundreds of kilograms of loads;
• affordable price Compared to other metals;
• Flexibility and versatility – steel is easily bending, and from it you can make a design of any shape;
• Colelite of the roof for polycarbonate It takes up little space Compared to the total area of ​​the design.

More information is provided on the final point. Depending on the type, polycarbonate is a transparent material that lets in between 88 and 90 percent of sunlight. As a result, it’s frequently used to create greenhouse glazing, anti-aircraft lights, canopies with transparent roofs, and arched and domed structures. Additionally, the entire structure will pass more light the thinner its constituent parts are. Furthermore, a thin metal polycarbonate crate simply has a more refined and lovely appearance.

An aluminum frame is occasionally used for the installation of polycarbonate. In terms of qualities, aluminum has even improved: it is simpler to work with and resistant to corrosion, keeping its shine for many years without needing maintenance. Monolithic polycarbonate is particularly well suited for the aluminum frame because it is frequently mounted similarly to glass.

However, polycarbonate rafters made of aluminum are 2.5–3 times more expensive than steel, so frames like this are still uncommon. Furthermore, steel is stronger than aluminum; for a given load, the aluminum profile’s cross-section should be 1.5–1.7 times that of the steel profile.

Wooden crate primarily at the canopies and verandas that are attached to the house, under polycarbonate. Furthermore, these wood-framed structures nearly invariably overlap with profiled polycarbonate. The wooden base is not a good fit for polycarbonate that is cellular or monolithic because of the fastening characteristics.

The tree’s primary benefits are widely recognized: it is a beautiful, long-lasting, environmentally friendly, and, with proper maintenance, durable material. However, thick wooden beams don’t always look good when combined with aesthetically pleasing "light" polycarbonate. Furthermore, creating a wooden frame is more challenging, and if you require an arched roof, it is unfeasible for an amateur.

Calculation of the crate for polycarbonate

There are three kinds of polycarbonate:

• monolithic;
• profiled;
• Cellular.

Depending on the type of material we are discussing, the polycarbonate crate’s step and the frame’s overall design change. Furthermore, the distinctions are unmistakable, and this is linked to various factors such as material bearing capacity and structure.

Colelite for cellular polycarbonate

The material with the lowest bearing capacity among all polycarbonates is cellular polycarbonate. Only sheets that are 10 mm or thicker can support a load of more than 200 kg/m 2. And that’s when installing on a 25–30° sloping pitched roof.

This indicates that cellular polycarbonate is not appropriate for areas with heavy snowfall. aside from really cool roofs. Second, the polycarbonate crate step needs to be precisely calculated to prevent the roof of the greenhouses or canopy from collapsing under the weight of the snowdrift during that specific snowy winter.

There are two methods for mounting cellular polycarbonate:

1. Without a crate. In this case, the stepal of the rafters under the polycarbonate should be less than the width of the material so that the sheets rest on at least two rafter legs.
2. With a crate. With this installation, polycarbonate sheets are attached not to the rafter legs, but to the crate. Therefore, the rafters under polycarbonate can be placed at a greater distance from each other.

The following table shows the approximate spacing between the polycarbonate lags when the material is installed without a crate:

You can see from the table how much cellular polycarbonate’s bearing capacity increases as its thickness increases. To ensure that the roof can support 200 kg/m 2 of weight, for instance, a 700 mm wide, 10 mm polycarbonate capture should be installed with a 1300 mm step. This distance increases by 3.8 times, or up to 5000 mm, for every 1.6 times increase in thickness.

Another table is used to calculate the polycarbonate roof crate in the event that the design is arched.

Here, we can already see another dependence: the step of the crate increases as the radius of the structure’s rounding approaches the minimum. In other words, the cellular polycarbonate’s bearing capacity is increased by the bending process alone.

The primary application of this property is in the building of extremely affordable greenhouses. Although 4 mm polycarbonate crates are common, their supporting capacity is still very low, even at 300–400 mm steps. As a result, it is frequently fastened with the smallest rounding radius feasible, enabling such structures to endure winter in peace and to last for up to ten years.

Crate for profiled polycarbonate

Compared to cellular polycarbonate, profiled polycarbonate has a substantially higher bearing capacity. It can withstand up to 350 kg/m2, and some manufacturers claim that reinforced sheets 2 mm thick can withstand up to 500 kg/m 2.

The installation of profiled sheets on arched structures with a bend across the corrugation simultaneously boosts the bearing capacity of those structures, just like in the case of cellular polycarbonate. As a result, the northern areas as well as the central and southern ones can use this material.

The following table shows the approximate dimensions of the crate used to install profiled polycarbonate on pitched roofs:

A metal crate must be painted white or have bars or pipes wrapped in foil before installation. This is required to prevent overheating of the polycarbonate at the mounting points. You cannot paint a light-wood crate.

Crate for monolithic polycarbonate

In terms of durability and difficulty, monolithic polycarbonate is the hardest material in the group. As opposed to cellular or profiled polycarbonate, which has all the characteristics of roofing materials but is installed in a manner that puts the sheets closer to the glass. Use specific frames and profiles for their fastening rather than just a crate.

As a result, experts are needed for both the installation and calculation of the polycarbonate roof made of continuous sheets. It is challenging to properly design even relatively simple structures out of monolithic polycarbonate without the necessary experience. The table below can be used to estimate the approximate distance, but it should only be used as a starting point; a professional should perform the primary calculation.

The symbol "ughter" in the table indicates that a given load can be supported by monolithic polycarbonate with the chosen thickness in the absence of any transverse supports. In this instance, the polycarbonate roof will only be supported by the rafters, but it is important to remember that there should be a standard 1.2–1.5 m gap between each lag.

For polycarbonate roofing to be functional and long-lasting, a suitable frame must be built. The polycarbonate sheets are kept stable and safe from the elements by the structural support provided by the frame. The main parts of it are the supporting beams, purlins, and rafters. The main structural element consists of rafts, which extend from the ridge to the eaves and bear the weight of the polycarbonate sheets along with any other loads like snow or debris.

The horizontal beams known as purlins, which join the rafters, provide extra support and stop the polycarbonate sheets from drooping with time. In order to account for snow loads and wind uplift, they are usually spaced farther apart toward the center and closer together at the edges in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. In order to further strengthen the structure and evenly distribute weight, supporting beams are frequently positioned at regular intervals along the length of the rafters.

It is crucial to use weather-resistant and long-lasting materials when building a polycarbonate frame. Depending on the environmental factors and structural requirements, treated wood, aluminum, or steel are common options. Well-treated wood is resistant to moisture and insects, and steel and aluminum have good strength-to-weight ratios and are corrosion-resistant.

Additionally, to extend the life of the polycarbonate roofing, correct installation is essential. This entails using the proper screws and polycarbonate washers to firmly fasten the sheets to the frame. It’s also crucial to use specific fastening systems that can handle the sheets’ natural expansion and contraction due to heat.

Video on the topic

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Installation of cellular polycarbonate on a wooden structure.

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