Clear Polycarbonate Roof?

[RedMoxie]

We live in the mid-atlantic and get a lot of heat, but our yard is pretty well shaded and our coop does have several hours of shade each day from near tall trees. We are finally getting rid of our tarp/plywood roof and my husband is putting on a beautiful clear polycarbonate roof, but I started worrying if that would concentrate or amplify the sun in any dangerous way. Is there anything to worry about? Should we drape shade cloth over it?

 

[Steven Bussell]

If it was me and the plywood is in good shape I would install asphalt shingles.
The roofing materials your thinking about using will become brittle in a short period of time

 

[Soy Milano]

No I think it will be fine, but It would also be a good idea to put some sort of shade cloth over top part of it too in at least part of the area just to help provide shade from the sun.

 

[RedMoxie]

If it was me and the plywood is in good shape I would install asphalt shingles.
The roofing materials your thinking about using will become brittle in a short period of time

Yeah, I should have noted my husband went and bought the poly sheeting already and has it mostly installed. It wasn't until this morning that I noticed so now I'm just wondering if I'll need to mitigate the heat/sun or if it should be okay with natural shade

 

[Steven Bussell]

I did forget to ask about the pitch of the roof. If it's less than a 3/12 pitch shingles don't really work all that well.
If you have it on hand and already started using it I would either test what's already up to see if you believe it going to be to hot. Or install everything and if need be install shade cloth underneath it.

 

[HopeSprings]

And make sure that nearby trees can't drop a branch through it!

 

[aart]

We live in the mid-atlantic and get a lot of heat, but our yard is pretty well shaded and our coop does have several hours of shade each day from near tall trees. We are finally getting rid of our tarp/plywood roof and my husband is putting on a beautiful clear polycarbonate roof, but I started worrying if that would concentrate or amplify the sun in any dangerous way. Is there anything to worry about? Should we drape shade cloth over it?

Only time will tell...good chance it will increase solar gain.
How big of an issue it might be may depend on other ventilation in the coop.
A shade cloth might be good to have on hand, in case it does become an issue....
...or you could just toss that tarp back up there.