SunTuf Polycarbonate Roof Panels?

[CapricornFarm]

I am using a metal roof with old shower doors for my skylight. I read some reviews online about clear panels that get holes in them from hail or acorns dropping on them. I paid $15 each for 10 foot metal panels and $10 each for 2 shower doors. Should be interesting.

 

[nomirawr1]

I see one thing no one has mentioned about suntuf - is that the area under it becomes like a little oven if the area does not have sufficient air flow.
I'm about to put suntuf on a greenhouse here, and we have very mild temps (26c was our top temp last summer), and even then, anything under suntuf and similar products, gets cooked pretty fast.
So again, if you have good airflow in that area (i.e. a bit of a breeze that can get through), I'd go for it, but otherwise, I'd use something solid like metal. Even though the metal will heat up, and it will heat the area underneath, it is less likely to keep heating to the same point of the clear plastic, as long as the roof is high enough.

 

[aart]

I read some reviews online about clear panels that get holes in them from hail or acorns dropping on them. I paid $15 each for 10 foot metal panels and $10 each for 2 shower doors. Should be interesting.

Your shower doors could break too, probably not as easily and they are probably safety glass so will shatter into tiny pieces not likely to cut anything.......bit still

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I am using a metal roof with old shower doors for my skylight. I read some reviews online about clear panels that get holes in them from hail or acorns dropping on them. I paid $15 each for 10 foot metal panels and $10 each for 2 shower doors. Should be interesting.

Thanks.
We rarely get hail here but the SunTuf panels have a ten year warranty against hail damage. Like any warranty, probably not worth much, but it's nice to see it there anyway.
I like the metal roof idea but I was outvoted.
Have fun with your project.
Be REAL careful with the shower doors---we were replacing one once and the safety glass shattered. Sounded like a billion marbles hitting the floor.
The swearing was louder, though.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Your shower doors could break too, probably not as easily and they are probably safety glass so will shatter into tiny pieces not likely to cut anything.......bit still

Oh wow...just thought of what could happen with chickens running after that stuff.
The pieces are not shards but those small pieces do have sharp edges.

 

[aart]

Oh wow...just thought of what could happen with chickens running after that stuff.
The pieces are not shards but those small pieces do have sharp edges.

They sure do, bite sized for chickens.

 

[User395221]

read some reviews online about clear panels that get holes in them from hail

We had a big hail storm a few years back. I had a couple of polycarbonate sheets on the back patio and they did get broken. The colorbond sections over the rest just got dented.

As for cutting roofing sheets, I believe you can get a smooth edge with a nibbler tool (you attach to a drill).

The polycarbonate roofing comes in different "grades" of UV resistance. The clear stuff will/can be very hot underneath, but the "good stuff" won't/won't as much (it's also heaps more expensive). You do need to consider where you want to put it and what for.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I see one thing no one has mentioned about suntuf - is that the area under it becomes like a little oven if the area does not have sufficient air flow.
I'm about to put suntuf on a greenhouse here, and we have very mild temps (26c was our top temp last summer), and even then, anything under suntuf and similar products, gets cooked pretty fast.
So again, if you have good airflow in that area (i.e. a bit of a breeze that can get through), I'd go for it, but otherwise, I'd use something solid like metal. Even though the metal will heat up, and it will heat the area underneath, it is less likely to keep heating to the same point of the clear plastic, as long as the roof is high enough.

The area will have huge airflow. It will be a partial covering for a run that is entirely enclosed in hardware cloth---all sides open and the area beneath the roofing will be open too.
Probably a 6:12 pitch, with hardware cloth on the open gable ends to keep wild birds from setting up housekeeping.
We're not using the clear SunTuf---we'll use the Solar Gray which has a light transmission of 35%. Some shade but not sure how that would translate as far as heat goes. I would think air movement might be more important, as you said.
More joists will be added to the structure to space them 24" and purlins will be every 24." Rated for a load of 40 pounds per square foot. Here's hoping that will be enough.
I don't dare suggest roofing the whole thing.This is turning into the $64 tomato as it is and I am thinking this is the last big chicken-related project we'll be doing.
These girls better come up with some damn tasty eggs.
Here is a pic of our run so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about. The covering will go over half of it (left side of the pic).

 

[CapricornFarm]

Your shower doors could break too, probably not as easily and they are probably safety glass so will shatter into tiny pieces not likely to cut anything.......bit still

I doubt an acorn will break it. I am going to make a wooden frame to support it and cover it with wire just in case. Still, a lot of light will come in. We don't have big oak trees any way.

 

[aart]

I doubt an acorn will break it. I am going to make a wooden frame to support it and cover it with wire just in case. Still, a lot of light will come in. We don't have big oak trees any way.

No, but you mentioned hail...and I thought about what would happen if a shower door was struck hard enough to fracture, that it would shatter into tiny pieces rather than just get a hole or crack in it like the plastic panels. Most shower doors are pretty tough, but some mesh over it might be a good idea.