How to fix polycarbonate to plastic pipes. How to properly fix polycarbonate on a metal frame. Connection with detachable profiles

When talking about polycarbonate in everyday life, they usually mean sheet thermoplastic polymer material, widely used in modern construction, various industries industry, advertising and everyday life. There are two types of polycarbonate sheets on the market - monolithic and cellular. Monolithic polycarbonate is a solid translucent sheet, according to appearance reminiscent of glass, only much stronger and lighter. It has high impact resistance with good flexibility. Cellular polycarbonate is a hollow sheet, the internal structure of which is a multilayer structure with longitudinal stiffeners.

Polycarbonate sheets have high impact resistance as well as excellent flexibility.

Monolithic polycarbonate is most often used instead of glass in educational and medical institutions, gyms, swimming pools. Showcases are equipped with it in shopping centers. Cellular polycarbonate is mainly used in utility and household buildings. In the field of individual construction and summer cottages, this material is used as a coating for greenhouses, greenhouses, greenhouses, translucent canopies and other similar structures. The solution to the question of how to fix polycarbonate depends on the design in which it will be used and the operating conditions.

Methods of fastening monolithic polycarbonate

One of the ways to fasten polycarbonate is fastening with thermal washers.

The use of this material instead of glass for translucent barriers, partitions, shop windows also implies its fixing using structures used for ordinary glass. These are either frame structures into which the sheets are inserted and then fastened, or holders of various designs, with which the sheets are fixed in the desired position. There are "wet" and "dry" methods of installation and fastening of monolithic polycarbonate.

With the “wet” method, a compatible polymer putty is applied around the entire perimeter of the frame and the edge of the material, the sheet is installed in the frame. Then the joints are additionally treated with a silicone-based sealant. It is also possible to use rubber strips or special profile gaskets for complete sealing.

In the "dry" method, only mechanical means of fastening are used, which are various profiles and other elements in combination with rubber gaskets, profiled seals. In order to fix the sheets with the help of these means, threaded connections (bolts, nuts), self-tapping screws and other similar elements are used. This method of fixing sheets is cleaner, neater. In order to properly fix the sheets with both methods of fastening, it is necessary to provide gaps for possible thermal expansion of polycarbonate in order to avoid its deformation or destruction.

Before starting installation, it is necessary to drill holes in the polycarbonate sheets for fastening to the frame.

The use of monolithic polycarbonate as translucent coatings in frame structures(in greenhouses, greenhouses, verandas) both vertically and on the roof, allows you to attach sheets to the frame using conventional fasteners (bolts, screws, self-tapping screws) using rubber sealing washers. The fastening step along the frame should be approximately 500 mm.

In the sheets, it is necessary to pre-drill holes with such a step. From the edge of the sheet, the hole must be at least 20 mm and 2-3 mm larger than the diameter of the fastener to compensate for thermal changes in sheet dimensions. It is convenient to drill holes in polycarbonate with wood drills at low speed, controlling the heating of the drilling zone. Fastening according to the rules ensures a snug fit of the sheets to the frame, but without excessive tightening of the fasteners. The pressing force of the sheet and the size of the hole for fasteners should not prevent the “temperature” displacement of the sheet.

Ways of fastening cellular polycarbonate

The easiest way to mount this type of polycarbonate is point mount. For it, self-tapping screws with special thermal washers are used. At the same time, reliable fastening of sheets, sealing of the place of fastening, elimination of the "cold bridge" and prevention of sheet crushing are achieved. All this is ensured by the use of a thermal washer, consisting of a plastic washer with a leg, a sealing washer and a cover that closes the hole for the self-tapping screw.

The leg of the plastic washer should be equal to the thickness of the sheet, and the hole in it under the leg should be 2-3 mm larger than its diameter. In sheets of great length, the holes for the legs are made oval along the stiffeners. The step of fastening the sheet is about 400 mm. It is unacceptable to tighten the self-tapping screws very tightly until the sheet is crushed. From the edge of the sheet, self-tapping screws are installed no closer than 40 mm.

Panels stacked in several rows with a large coverage area are joined together by special joint profiles.

With their help, the edges of the panels are also fastened. Profiles are one-piece and detachable. One-piece profiles are fastened to the frame using self-tapping screws with thermal washers, similar to the point fastening of sheets. The edges of the panels are clamped with profiles, and, if necessary, they are attached to the intermediate elements of the panel frame by a point method.

The detachable profile for fixing polycarbonate has two parts - a “base” and a “cover”. The “base” is attached to the frame with self-tapping screws with a pitch of approximately 300 mm. The panels are stacked so that each goes into the “base” by about 20 mm. The “lid” of the profile is installed on the base and snaps into place when pressed or with light blows of a wooden (plastic) mallet. Detachable profiles are made of both polycarbonate and aluminum.

In addition to docking profiles, there are also special profiles for fastening panels in places where the frame configuration changes. To attach the panel to the wall, a wall profile is used. In order to connect and fix the panels at an angle to each other, corner profiles are used. And for the design of the ridge on the roof, a ridge profile is used. Unlike wall and corner, it can be mounted at different angles in accordance with the slope of the roof.

What must be firmly remembered

In all cases of joining panels to each other, with connecting profiles and other structural elements, one should remember to change linear dimensions polycarbonate under the influence of ambient temperature. In order to properly fix the panels and prevent their deformation and breakage, it is enough to provide thermal gaps in all, without exception, places of possible contact of polycarbonate with neighboring elements. Practice has established a minimum gap of 3.5 mm per meter of panel length in any direction. And it is unacceptable to clamp the panels with fasteners, leading to thermal stresses.

Holes for fasteners in cellular polycarbonate should be drilled in the middle between the partitions, but in no case in the partition itself. For cellular polycarbonate with a thickness of 4-10 mm, the use of thermal washers for point fastening is mandatory. Panels with a thickness of 16 mm or more are recommended to be fixed in ways that exclude the use of thermal washers, for example, using special profiles. Special components allow you to properly mount the structure, give it beautiful view and ensure durability.

How to fix polycarbonate correctly

The question of how to fix polycarbonate is inextricably linked with the design in which it is used. Mounting options for monolithic and cellular polycarbonate are discussed in detail in the proposed article.

How to fix polycarbonate to a wooden frame?

Polycarbonate is an inexpensive, but practical and durable polymeric translucent material, which has recently been widely used in construction. It is used to create roofs of gazebos, sheds, construction of greenhouses and greenhouses, decorative glazing, as well as advertising structures and elements of urban infrastructure. Polycarbonate with ultra-light weight has a high bearing capacity, so it can be mounted on a base made of inexpensive wood or a more durable metal profile. In this article, we will tell you how to properly attach polycarbonate sheets to a wooden frame in order to avoid damage to the material.

Material Features

Polycarbonate is a modern building material, it belongs to the group of polymeric thermoplastics, which includes carbonic acid and bisphenol A. It has high light transmission up to 92%, which is not inferior to that of silicate glass, flexibility, high load-bearing capacity and strength, as well as low thermal conductivity . The following types of polycarbonate are produced:

• Monolithic. Polycarbonate plastic monolithic type appearance resembles ordinary silicate glass. It has a smooth surface, high transparency (up to 92%). The technical and operational characteristics of this material are far superior to those of glass, as it retains heat better, is much stronger and more durable. Monolithic polycarbonate is fixed to the frame only in one plane, since it bends worse than a cellular one.
• Cellular. Honeycomb-type polycarbonate plastic differs from monolithic cellular structure with internal stiffening ribs filled with air. It has lower thermal conductivity, is lighter in weight, bends better, but is considered less durable. Cellular polycarbonate can be attached to a metal or wooden frame, as it is suitable for creating figured, curvilinear structures.

Important! Experienced craftsmen note the high strength, wear resistance and durability of polycarbonate plastic in combination with affordable price and light weight. To maximize the potential of this practical material, it is necessary to strictly observe the technology of mounting the coating to the base.

Fastening rules

To create a roof, canopy or other structure made of polycarbonate, you need to create a reliable frame. Material belonging to the group of thermoplastics, at high bearing capacity It is light weight, so you can mount it on wood or metal. The use of wooden support elements reduces construction costs while reducing the life of the structure. When installing polycarbonate on a frame made of natural wood experienced craftsmen recommend following these recommendations:

1. When creating a design project and cutting the material, it must be taken into account that the condensate must drain through the cells of the cellular polycarbonate and then evaporate.
2. When attaching polycarbonate plastic to a pitched structure, the stiffeners should be located along the slope, with vertical glazing - vertically.

Note! The service life of polycarbonate plastic, depending on the quality and type of material, is 10-25 years, and a wooden frame without special treatment will last no more than 5-10 years. To prevent rotting and deformation of wood, the frame is impregnated with antiseptic agents.

Required Tools

Mounting polycarbonate among professional builders is considered an easy task that even an inexperienced craftsman can handle. The advantage of this material is that it does not require expensive equipment or special tools to work with it. To fix polycarbonate sheets on a wooden frame, you will need:

• Polycarbonate. Standard Width a sheet of this material is 2100 mm, and the length is 3, 6 or 12 m.
• Drill with a set of drills. For outdoor installation, it is easier to use electric models with a powerful battery.
• Screwdriver or screwdriver to tighten the fasteners.
• Galvanized self-tapping screws with washer and rubber seal. A rubber seal seals the hole made in the material, and the washer protects the polycarbonate from cracking while tightening the fasteners.
• A connecting strip that is used to tightly connect sheets of material to each other.
• Tape for insulating the ends of polycarbonate plastic, necessary to protect against moisture leakage.
• Hammer, nails and timber 5 cm thick, impregnated with an antiseptic composition, for mounting the frame.

Please note! Professional craftsmen never use nails, riveting or washers of too large diameter to fasten polycarbonate. In order not to damage the material, which also expands under the influence of temperature, the self-tapping screws are not completely twisted, leaving a gap of 1-3 mm.

Fastening technology

Before starting to fasten sheets of polycarbonate plastic from wooden beam impregnated with an antiseptic composition, the frame is assembled. The elements are placed so that a support is located under each joint of the sheets. Fastening polycarbonate to wooden base is done as follows:

1. Carry out the cutting of sheets, cutting into the desired size using a circular saw or a special knife. The incision is made strictly between the stiffeners.
2. The first sheet of polycarbonate is placed on the frame so that it protrudes forward by 0.3-0.5 mm. Before installation, the ends of the sheet are protected with a special sealing tape.

Note! Subject to the rules for fixing polycarbonate plastic and recommendations for preparing a wooden frame, such a design will withstand even intense loads, having served for at least 15-20 years.

How to fix polycarbonate to a wooden frame

How to fix polycarbonate to a wooden frame? Features of working with the material and the rules for mounting polycarbonate plastic on a wooden base

How to properly fix polycarbonate

• Mounting monolithic polycarbonate
• Installation of cellular polycarbonate
• Panel fixing
• One-piece profiles
• Split profiles
• General recommendations

Today, polycarbonate is becoming more and more popular in industries such as construction, advertising, engineering. A variety of colors, strength, flexibility and easy installation of the material attract many people. There are two types of this material: monolithic and cellular polycarbonate. The fastening of cellular polycarbonate is slightly different from the fastening of a monolithic one.

Installation diagram of the sealing tape at the end of the panel.

Often, the owners of private houses do not want to involve third-party organizations and want to do all the installation work with their own hands. In this case, the question inevitably arises: how to fix polycarbonate? Next, the nuances and rules of installation of each type will be considered.

Mounting monolithic polycarbonate

For work you will need the following inventory:

• roulette;
• building level;
• electric jigsaw or circular saw;
• drill;
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• polycarbonate sheets;
• self-tapping screws;
• gaskets;
• thermal washers;
• silicone sealant.

So how to fix polycarbonate?

Polycarbonate can be installed on a prepared frame of an inclined or pitched structure using a “dry” or “wet” method.

"Wet" fastening is carried out using polymer putty, which is distributed along the perimeter of the frame. Then a polycarbonate sheet is laid on it, leaving gaps (about 2 mm) for temperature differences, and strongly pressed against the base, removing all excess putty. Instead of polymer putty, rubber strips (gaskets) can be used.

Scheme of a fence made of monolithic polycarbonate.

Sheets are fixed at the corners or along the longest sides. The peripheral part (joints) is treated with silicone sealant. To give the structure a more finished look, silicone can be covered with wooden planks or plastic corners. This method of fastening is used for wooden or metal frames.

In the case of attaching monolithic polycarbonate to heavy-duty steel frames for sealing inside and outside, a rubber seal is first laid, and then a layer of sealant is applied.

The "dry" method of installation is more widespread. It looks much neater and cleaner. It is used on large areas of coverage. In this case, profiles, seals and covers with rubber gaskets are used, and adhesives are not used. All connections are made with bolts, nuts and screws.

This method of fastening is practiced in the case of the installation of partitions, soundproof barriers or light locks. The system is arranged in such a way that moisture, getting on the top layer of protection, does not reach the inner lining and flows down through the drainage channels.

When designing, special attention must be paid to the aspect ratio of the structure. by the most the best option for glazing is a square. If the shape is rectangular, then with an increase in the dimensions of the parallel sides, the strength of the sheet decreases, and the load exerted on it increases in direct proportion to the increase in length.

Monolithic polycarbonate has a high coefficient of thermal expansion, as a result, it is necessary to leave large gaps that will eliminate deflections and distortions of the sheet.

Scheme of the device of cellular polycarbonate.

Polycarbonate differs from glass in that it flexes a lot. But when glazing it will not affect. All deflections will disappear after the loads are removed. Flexible plastic requires a deep fit and increased grooves. This will help to securely fit the polycarbonate and avoid the sheet falling out during strong deflections.

Installation of cellular polycarbonate

Cellular polycarbonate is used for the construction of pitched or arched roofs with a slope of 25-30% (at least 11%).

This material is easy to drill and cut. Cellular polycarbonate, having a thickness of 0.4-1.0 cm, can be cut even with a knife. But for a straight, smooth cut, it is better to use a circular saw or a jigsaw.

When attaching cellular polycarbonate to the roof, ordinary drills are used for drilling. Holes are drilled between the ribs at a distance of not less than 4 cm from the edge. To eliminate vibration, the sheets must be held while cutting. After cutting, all chips and debris are removed from the panel cavities.

The ends are sealed with profiles made of aluminum or polycarbonate, similar in color. Such profiles are distinguished by their durability and strength. They are tightly fixed at the edges and do not require additional fastening. If the profile is without perforation, holes are drilled in it to drain the condensed moisture.

The upper ends of the cellular polycarbonate, installed vertically or obliquely, are sealed with aluminum tape, and the lower ends are closed with perforated tape, which prevents the penetration of dust and ensures the removal of condensate.

At the arched structure, both ends are closed with perforated tape. Leaving the end open reduces its durability and transparency.

Scheme of installation of cellular polycarbonate.

It is strictly forbidden to seal the ends of the sheet with adhesive tape and hermetically close the lower edges!

In a sheet of cellular polycarbonate, stiffeners are located along the length of the panel, so the structure is built so that the moisture condensed inside flows through the channels, leading out:

• if the installation is vertical, then the stiffeners must go vertically;
• if pitched - by slope;
• in the design in the form of an arch, the ribs are arranged in an arc.

The permissible value of the bending radius must be specified in the instructions supplied by the manufacturer.

Panel fixing

Cellular polycarbonate is fixed to the frame pointwise using self-tapping screws and thermal washers.

The thermal washer is a plastic sealing washer on a leg with a height corresponding to the thickness of the panel and a lid with a latch. It ensures the reliability and tightness of the fastening of the panel. The leg of the thermal washer, adjacent to the frame, prevents the panel from collapsing. The hole for it should be a little wider to protect against thermal expansion. Distances between fasteners - 0.30-0.40 m.

To prevent deformation of the sheet, it is forbidden to fix the panels rigidly or overtighten the screws!

To install cellular polycarbonate with their own hands, they use detachable or one-piece, colored or transparent polycarbonate profiles.

One-piece profiles

The panels are inserted into a special groove in the profile, which must correspond to the thickness of the sheet. The profile is attached to the support using self-tapping screws and thermal washers.

Split profiles

Scheme of fastening of one-piece profile.

The detachable profile consists of a "base" and a top snap-on cover. To mount a detachable profile, holes are drilled in the "base" a little bigger size than the diameter of the self-tapping screw in increments of 0.30 m. Then the profile is attached to the frame support. A sealant is applied to the “base”, sheets are laid, taking into account a thermal gap of up to 5 cm, a profile cover is placed on top and snapped in with a wooden mallet. The ends are closed with a special plug.

To fix cellular polycarbonate at a right angle, corner profiles should be used. They will perfectly hold the panel and hide the flaws of the corner joint. When the sheet adjoins the wall, a wall profile is used. For the roof ridge, a ridge profile is purchased with a grip of up to 4 cm. It will firmly connect the sheets with any thermal expansion.

When mounting polycarbonate panels, thermal expansion must be taken into account. Light or transparent sheets heat up less than colored ones by 15%!

1. The surface of cellular polycarbonate is very sensitive to mechanical impacts. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the protective film from the sheet when attaching.
2. Polycarbonate cannot be overly clamped.
3. Small holes drilled in the bottom profiles allow for natural air circulation. In most cases this will be sufficient to prevent steam from condensing in the channels. The top end must be hermetically sealed.
4. Before installation, the material must be kept for several days in a dry room. Then the ends are sealed with aluminum tape. If there is moisture in the panels, it can be removed by blowing the honeycomb with compressed air.
5. It is impossible to lay vapor-tight materials (for example, various films) on top of cellular polycarbonate. The evaporating moisture will form a thin water layer between the film and the polycarbonate. As a result, bubbles may appear, the film may peel off or the metallized layer may blacken.
6. The design of honeycomb polycarbonate roofs must take into account a slope of at least 5° (approximately 9 cm per 1 linear meter) to ensure rainwater runoff.
7. Walking on the panels is strictly prohibited. If necessary, boards are used, which should be supported by several edges of the panel.
8. As far as possible, sheets should be stored in a room isolated from external natural factors. Intense exposure to sunlight can cause the surface of the sheet to adhere to the film.

Having made the correct calculation of the amount of materials at the design stage and following the above instructions, the installation of the structure and fixing the polycarbonate with your own hands will not cause any problems.

How to fix polycarbonate? This question is asked by many owners of private houses. There are "dry" and "wet" methods.

How to fix polycarbonate: methods, instructions

Polycarbonate is a modern thermoplastic polymer material produced in the form of sheet blanks of a given size and widely used in industry and everyday life in the manufacture and decoration of light structures. Products made of thermoplastic polymers can be conditionally divided into two groups, one of which is monolithic polycarbonate, and the other is cellular.

Cellular

Polycarbonate products are made in the form of a homogeneous sheet material that resembles ordinary glass in appearance. Like glass, they do not retain light rays, significantly surpassing it in terms of strength and reliability. In addition, products of this class are characterized by high resistance to impact loads, as well as ductility and flexibility of the starting material.

Cellular polycarbonate is produced in the form of multilayer sheet blanks with internal voids reinforced with special stiffening ribs. Thanks to this original structure, products made of cellular polycarbonate are distinguished by high impact strength, which does not prevent them from being quite flexible and easy to install.

Monolithic

Note that monolithic polycarbonate is widely used as a glass substitute in institutions of various profiles, including commercial enterprises, schools, hospitals, gyms and swimming pools. In addition, in recent decades, this material has been successfully used in the construction of suburban buildings of a light type (greenhouses, greenhouses and conservatories).

Sheet mounting methods

Frame for polycarbonate

The main method of fastening monolithic polycarbonate products is the use of special thermal washers for its fixation.

We also note that the supporting frame on which polycarbonate sheets can be mounted are typical structures used for plain glass:

• frames with special grooves used as fastening areas for sheet material;
• arched structures involving the installation of polycarbonate sheets with a diametrical bend;
• holders various types, providing fixation of sheets in a given position.

Regardless of the type of base used, there are two methods of mounting and fixing monolithic polycarbonate, conventionally called wet and dry.

Docking profiles

In accordance with the first of these methods, the fixation of the material on the frame is carried out using a special polymer putty applied around the perimeter of the frame structure, as well as on the edge of the sheet. After their articulation, the seams of the resulting joint are additionally sealed using a silicone filler. This installation option also allows the use of special profiled gaskets (or rubber strips).

Angle profile

With the so-called dry method of planting a sheet, mechanical fasteners are used, represented by profiles of one type or another and used in conjunction with rubber seals. In this case, fasteners with a threaded connection, as well as self-tapping screws or similar elements are used to fix sheet blanks. The dry method of fastening sheet blanks is more accurate due to the absence of liquid components.

With any of the methods of fastening we have considered, when laying sheets, thermal gaps should be provided to exclude the possibility of deformation of the material during its expansion.

Mounting order

Before starting to fix the sheets on the frame, it will be necessary to prepare (drill) holes in them according to the size of the fastener you have chosen.

fasteners

For vertical and horizontal fixing of monolithic polycarbonate sheets in greenhouses, on verandas and greenhouses, standard bolted joints equipped with rubber sealing washers can be used. In this case, the step of their fastening on the frame base should not exceed 500 mm.

Veranda roof

Marking and drilling of holes for fasteners is carried out immediately before their installation on a pre-prepared place.

The indent from the edge of the mounted sheet should be about 20 mm; moreover, its value should exceed the diameter of the hole by 2 – 3 mm.

Mounting scheme for cellular polycarbonate

To prepare holes in polycarbonate, standard wood drills can be used; at the same time, direct drilling of the hole should be carried out at low speeds of the tool used, which provide the ability to control the temperature of the working area.

Installation

Proper fastening of sheets to the frame involves the formation of a well-fitted connection, ensuring their tight fit to the seat.

How to fix polycarbonate - various ways

This article has all the information about fasteners that are used to work with polycarbonate.

Durable, lightweight and flexible translucent polycarbonate is widely used in the construction and construction of structures for various purposes. The advantages of the material include resistance to temperature extremes, safety for health. The durability of polycarbonate largely depends on compliance with the installation technology. It is important to correctly fasten the polycarbonate to a metal frame or wooden base in order to prevent the material from deforming under loads and during thermal expansion. The installation method is selected based on the material of the frame and the characteristics of the structures being erected.

Veranda with polycarbonate roof

Monolithic and cellular polycarbonates are suitable for the manufacture of arched and pitched canopies, peaks and verandas. The affordable cost of a honeycomb sheet and its ability to withstand high loads (the indicator depends on the number and location of stiffeners) makes the material suitable for the manufacture of greenhouses and hotbeds for private use and for industrial cultivation of crops in greenhouses.

When preparing for the installation of translucent material on the frame, pay attention to the following points:

• In cellular polycarbonate, stiffeners are located along the length of the sheet. When installing the panel vertically or with an inclination, the hollow channels should be oriented from top to bottom, in free-form structures - parallel to the bends.
• On the outside of the polycarbonate sheet, designed for outdoor use, a special coating is applied to prevent the destruction of the polymer under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The protective film with the designation of the front surface is not removed until the installation is completed, so as not to confuse which side of the panel should be facing out.
• The material is not designed for increased snow loads, so the minimum angle of inclination of the slopes with a length of up to 6 meters should be 5 degrees. The longer the slope, the greater should be the angle of inclination. In this case, both the stiffness index of the sheet and the pitch of the crate should be taken into account.
• For arched structures, the permissible bending radius should not be more than 150 polycarbonate thicknesses.

Types of cellular polycarbonate for the roof

Preparing for installation

At the preliminary stage, it is necessary to prepare necessary tools and materials, mark and cut the panels in accordance with the project, protect the ends of the prepared elements.

Used for cutting polycarbonate:

• Mounting knife. It can be used for small amounts of work, the recommended sheet thickness is up to 10 mm.
• Hand saw for metal.
• High speed saw. Mandatory conditions- the presence of an emphasis, carbide, not divorced fine teeth of the blade.
• Electric jigsaw.
• Band saw with a band up to 20 mm wide and up to 1.5 mm thick. In this case, the tooth pitch should not exceed 3.5 mm, and the cutting speed should not exceed 1000 m/min.

It is required to provide conditions under which cutting will not be accompanied by vibration of the panel.

Chips and a protective film strip are removed from the ends of the prepared elements made of cellular polycarbonate. If the panel is fixed vertically or at an angle, it is necessary to determine the upper end and seal it with a special continuous aluminum tape. The bottom end is covered with perforated tape. In the arched structure, both ends are lower, so they are protected with perforated tape. Such protection prevents dust and insects from entering the channels, condensation from settling and mold growth.

Protection of material from moisture and dust

If the sealed ends after installation remain free (according to the project), then they are closed with a special end profile. Holes are pre-drilled in the lower profile through which condensate will drain. Hole pitch - 30 cm.

At the preparation stage, it is required to choose the installation technology. You can join sheets of monolithic material with glue. For honeycomb panels, it is better to use a special docking profile made of aluminum or polycarbonate. You also need to choose how to fix polycarbonate. Manufacturers offer various fasteners for fixing sheets on the crate.

Docking and end profiles

Fasteners

The choice of fasteners affects the speed, convenience, quality of installation and durability of the structure. Pay attention to the following parameters:

• characteristics of the self-tapping screw (fasteners are selected depending on the material of construction - metal or wood);
• material of manufacture and parameters of the washer.

Self-tapping screws can be sold as a set with washers or purchased separately. If polycarbonate glazing is required for a wooden structure, wood screws should be chosen as fasteners. It is recommended to fasten cellular polycarbonate to a metal frame with self-tapping screws with a galvanized tip or a stainless steel drill tip.

Various fasteners

Polycarbonate thermal washers

Especially for fixing polycarbonate sheets, washers are produced from the same material, which allows you to choose an option that is ideally suited in color - such fasteners look aesthetically pleasing and are not striking.

The thermal washer consists of the following elements:

• convex upper part with a wide leg and a hole for a self-tapping screw;
• elastic polymer seal (ring);
• screw hole plug.

The height of the thermal washer leg must be selected based on the thickness of the panel. The leg limits the pressure, due to which the sheet is fixed tightly, but without pinching. Thanks to this, the glazing remains smooth even when heated under the sun's rays.

Rules for fastening with a thermal washer

The thickness of the leg affects the choice of drill, which makes a hole for the fasteners. The diameter of the hole must be 3 mm larger than the diameter of the leg, so that there is no deformation of the sheet elements during thermal expansion.

Polycarbonate thermowells are the most practical and attractive option for decorative designs. Given that correct installation they hermetically close the mounting hole and securely fix sheet material on the frame. The service life of thermal washers made of polycarbonate is about 20 years.

Polypropylene thermal washers

A polypropylene thermal washer is also a polymer cap with a hole for a self-tapping screw and a plug that tightly presses the sealing ring against the sheet surface. This product is different from the polycarbonate washer:

• less elastic seal, which is made of foamed plastic;
• the absence of a leg at the puck;
• lack of coating that protects against ultraviolet radiation;
• opacity and relatively small color gamut.

Since the washer does not have a leg, the fasteners must be screwed carefully so as not to overtighten.. Polypropylene washers fade in the sun within a few years, lose their color and begin to break down. A small selection of colors and the lack of an exact match with the material limit the use of fasteners - it is suitable for places that are not visible and for indoor structures, for mounting greenhouses and greenhouses made of thin polycarbonate, designed for 3-4 years of operation.

Thermal washers made of polypropylene

The advantage of polypropylene washers can be called an affordable cost - they are cheaper than polycarbonate washers. This view is designed for fasteners with a thickness of 6 mm. Accordingly, holes in the sheets must be made with a 9 mm drill to maintain the thermal gap during installation.

Other types of washers

If there are no special requirements for the aesthetics of the structure, polycarbonate sheets can be fixed to the frame using ordinary flat wide washers. At the same time, for indoor structures, it is sufficient to use a thin rubber seal; for outdoor structures, a thick elastic seal is required to prevent moisture from entering the mounting hole in polycarbonate.

Concave cup washers in stainless or galvanized steel complete with foam or thick EMDP rubber umbrella seal. Such fasteners allow you to securely fix the polycarbonate coating on the metal frame if you want to build a structure with a large glazed surface area in a region with strong winds. To fasten the washer with the gasket, use self-tapping screws or bolts, preferably resistant to corrosion, since the head of the fastener remains open to atmospheric precipitation.

Disc-shaped stainless washers

Disk-shaped stainless washers have a serious advantage over conventional flat washers - they are able to ensure the tightness of the mounting hole.

Joining sheets together

In the simplest cases, sheets

polycarbonate can be overlapped, but this option will not ensure the tightness of the canopy or greenhouse. Therefore, the following options for joining panels to each other are used:

• gluing with a silicone-based compound (first of all, this is an option for monolithic polycarbonate);
• use of a one-piece profile;
• use of a detachable profile.

Mounting via split profile

Profiles are also used for arranging glazing adjoining walls or other structures. When inserting the edges of the sheet into the profile, you need to make sure that there is a gap of 2–3 mm along the entire length for thermal expansion of the material.

Polycarbonate mount

Consider how to properly attach polycarbonate to the frame of the greenhouse. Back to top installation work it is required to have sheets cut to size with sealed ends, suitable profile for connecting sheets and fasteners, counting how many self-tapping screws with washers are required suitable type. The frame of the structure must be designed for atmospheric loads that it will experience after glazing.

Fixing polycarbonate can be carried out in a point way. Each sheet must be screwed to the crate with metal screws, installing them in increments of 300-400 mm. The panels are overlapped (the width of the overlap is at least 200 mm, and it must be placed on the rafters) or a one-piece profile is used to connect them. It is recommended to calculate the size of the elements in such a way that the connecting profile falls on the frame rafters, this will increase the rigidity of the glazing and make it more aesthetic.

What crate is needed for polycarbonate

A small canopy or visor can be mounted using only a split profile - each sheet will be securely fixed on both sides. But this option is not suitable for a greenhouse, since the surface area is large and it experiences severe wind and snow loads. In addition to the detachable profile, each sheet must be attached to the crate with self-tapping screws with washers.

Fastener installation rules

It is most convenient to take measurements of the frame and mark the polycarbonate sheets on the ground in order to make holes in them that are 2-3 mm larger in diameter than the thickness of the self-tapping screw or the legs of the thermal washer. After drilling the holes, observing the required distances between the fixing points, it is necessary to remove the chips.

To lift the sheets to the top of the structure and align them there, you will need the help of a partner. Through the holes made in the polycarbonate in the metal frame, a hole is drilled with a thin drill, and then a metal screw is screwed in with a screwdriver, after putting a washer on it.

In order to properly fix the sheet material, self-tapping screws must be screwed in at a right angle relative to the frame element. Polycarbonate should be fastened tightly, but without indentation, therefore, for people without the skill of such work, it is easier to use thermal washers with legs. After completing the fasteners and making sure that the installation is correct, put the plugs in the thermal washers.

Fastening rules

Knowing how and how to attach polycarbonate to a metal frame, you can mount a glazed structure of any complexity. If you perform the work according to the instructions, the structure will last a long time without losing its aesthetic appeal.

Reading time: 16 min.

Polycarbonate is a popular building material used to make greenhouses, sheds, gazebos, decorative partitions indoors, as well as advertising structures. The material is popular due to its good performance. These include strength, good light transmission and durability. At the same time, sheet panels can be bent, which makes them in demand not only for the manufacture of straight, but also arched structures. They do not withstand the load of snow, so the roofs of buildings must be made sloping. This is especially true for areas with snowy winters.

When using panels as cladding structures, it must be taken into account that this sheet material must be correctly fixed to the frame. Mounting polycarbonate is a fairly simple job, while almost every home has a tool to do it. How to attach polycarbonate to metal frames can be quickly studied; for this, a description of almost all currently existing methods is presented below. With a properly selected design, high-quality installation of sheet material and its sealing, the structure will serve flawlessly for many years.

Types of polycarbonate fastening

Fastening polycarbonate to the frame can be done in four ways: point, profile (using special profiles), galvanized tape (suitable for arched structures) and mixed (considered professional).

Spot

More often, a point method of attaching sheets to a metal frame is used. To do this, use self-tapping screws and washers for fastening polycarbonate. Moreover, ordinary self-tapping screws in installation are used extremely rarely (only in warm rooms).

You need to fasten polycarbonate to metal using roofing screws with a gasket (they are also called an EPDM washer), as well as self-tapping screws with a rubber thermal washer or screws and a thermal washer with a leg. The screws used in fastening must be for metal, because only such hardware can reliably cut into the iron profile and fix the sheet material.

It is necessary to disassemble in detail each of the above types of fasteners in order to understand how best to attach polycarbonate to a metal frame.

Roofing screw with EPDM washer- this is the simplest and most affordable fastening of polycarbonate sheet to an iron frame. To avoid the consequences of frequent wetting, this self-tapping screw is covered with a very reliable anti-corrosion layer. It comes with an EPDM washer that looks like a rubber gasket with an iron cap. This washer allows you to tightly close the hole under the screw and evenly distribute the load on the sheet.

Due to the small diameter and thin gasket, screws are sometimes overtightened during screwing. Therefore, dents appear in the area of ​​​​the fastenings, which violate the tightness of the hole and moisture, dirt and microbes penetrate into the honeycomb panels. When using roofing screws in the installation, it is not necessary to make holes in the panels and the iron frame, but still experts recommend drilling them. For mounting a colored SPK, it is better to use painted screws.

Self-tapping screw with rubber thermal washer- also reliable fasteners for sheet panels. It looks like a roofing screw, but it comes with a large and rather thick silicone or rubber thermal washer. While screwing the screw into the sheet, the thermal washer is flattened by pressure and at the same time evenly transfers the load to the material. This reduces the risk of screw overtightening and denting.

Self-tapping screw for metal and thermal washer with a leg- This the new kind fasteners, specially designed for sheet cellular panels. A thermal washer for polycarbonate looks like a washer with a cylindrical leg, which enters a hole drilled in cellular panels and abuts against the frame. A self-tapping screw is placed in the leg, screwed into the iron, and the cap of the thermal washer evenly presses the sheet against the metal. When choosing this type of fastener, it must be taken into account that the length of the leg must be selected depending on the thickness of the material. For tightness of fastening, a special sealing ring is placed under the thermal washer, and from above it is clogged with a cap. Thanks to this technology, the washer does not crash into the sheet and it is unrealistic to pull the screw.

Holes for self-tapping screws for fastening polycarbonate must be made 2-3 mm larger than the width of the leg of the thermal washer, so that after the thermal expansion of the sheet, the fastening point is not deformed. High-quality thermal washers are made of polycarbonate so that it has the same coefficient of expansion with the skin.

There is another type of fastener – universal thermowells. They don't have legs. This degrades the quality of fastening, but you do not have to look for a thermal washer with a leg of the required length. This fastening is often used in wooden structures, working with which you need to remember how to attach polycarbonate to a tree. Under the gasket, in some cases, the sheathing material breaks (if the screw is pulled over).

Self-tapping screws for thermal washers come with a hexagonal and round head. In addition, they can be used with a regular or Phillips screwdriver. They have the same connection quality, but it is still more comfortable to work with a hexagonal head - when working with a screwdriver, the bit practically does not slip off the screw and therefore the sheathing material is less likely to be damaged.

Mostly self-tapping screws with a width of 4.8 - 8 mm are used, but the length depends on the thickness of the sheets and iron. The selection of screws for an example looks like this: in the arrangement of greenhouses, panels with a thickness of 4 mm and a galvanized pipe with a cross section of 20 × 20 and a thickness of 1 mm are used. In this case, it is better to fasten the cellular polycarbonate to the frame with roofing screws measuring 4.8 × 19 mm, and if the material is overlapped, it is better to use screws measuring 4.8 × 25 mm.

This method of attaching honeycomb panels has a drawback - protruding screws are often visible from the inside of the structure, which do not fall on the frame elements.

Profile

In addition to point mounting on self-tapping screws, the sheet material is attached to the iron frame with polycarbonate and aluminum connecting profiles, which are rigidly fixed to the frame. After that, sheet material of the required length is placed in them, while its width should not be more than 1.05 m. Sheets with a width of 0.7-1.05 m are most often used, for this the sheet material is sawn into pieces, with virtually no waste. In this way, polycarbonate is fastened to wood and metal.

Profiles are divided into two types:

• detachable;
• one-piece.

One-piece profile- This is a monolithic connecting profile for attaching polycarbonate, the cross section of which is similar to an I-beam. The ends of this profile are slightly bent inward, so they form a secure latch. The meaning of mounting a one-piece connecting profile is simple - the sheet is inserted into the grooves of the profile and fixed with latches. Then the profile for fastening the polycarbonate is fixed to the iron frame with roofing screws or screws with thermal washers.

But it is difficult to work with a one-piece profile, because it is extremely difficult to connect all the plates into a single sheet and fix it on the frame (while not breaking, bending or displacing anything). It is recommended to use a one-piece profile in simple and small structures, for example, for sheathing fences or small canopies over a porch.

Split profiles- These are more complex fastening structures, so they are more expensive. This special profile consists of a bottom base attached to a steel frame and a top cover. These elements are fastened together with a latch. Compared to a one-piece profile, in this case, installation is much faster, and the connection itself is very reliable.

Detachable profiles are made of aluminum, special rubber seals are used in their design. The metal profile differs in durability, durability and esthetics.

In this profile, the edges of the material are fixed, and its central part remains loose. With an inaccurate calculation of the wind and snow loads of the area in which the structure will be operated, the panels may come out of the grooves of the connecting profiles during overload, although this happens extremely rarely. Profile and spot methods reduce costs. The aluminum profile is considered the most reliable and durable.

Ribbon

Today, on the building materials market, you can buy a galvanized tape designed to fix sheets. She began to be used in the installation of sheet materials recently, but during this time she was able to win the approval of many gardeners using greenhouses.

The fact is that fastening polycarbonate to metal in this way is simple and fast, but it is used to cover only arched structures. The panels are put in place of installation, after which the tape divided into two parts is passed over them, then one end of each part is attached to the base of the arch frame, and the other ends are securely tightened together using a bolted connection. The main advantage of this method is that it is not necessary to drill holes in the coating, because the galvanized polycarbonate tape is attached to the base of the frame. As a result, after the subsequent dismantling of the greenhouse, pieces of material can be used in the construction of new structures.

mixed

Mixed fastening of polycarbonate is the use of several of the above methods in installation at once to compensate for their shortcomings. Therefore, this method is the most reliable and professional.

In addition, cellular slabs are fixed with other overhead building materials (wooden, plastic and iron slats). They are installed on top of the sheet material, after which they are attached to the frame using self-tapping screws or bolted joints.

Important! All these methods of attaching polycarbonate can be used, but the most reliable, albeit the most expensive, is a mixed method.

Accessories for fixing polycarbonate

Consider in detail the components for mounting polycarbonate.

Profiles

For all methods of fixing polycarbonate to metal, profiles are used, and they differ in the material of manufacture and configuration: one-piece, detachable and end.

One-piece connecting profiles for fixing polycarbonate (HP) are made of polycarbonate, they can be matched to the color of the honeycomb material. The result is not only a strong connection, but also a beautiful one.

The design of the connecting split profile(NSR) consists of a cover and a base. It uses legs rounded inwards, therefore, to fix the material, the profile is pulled between the sheets.

end profile(U-shaped) - needed to plug the ends of honeycomb panels so that dirt, dust and moisture do not get inside the cells.

ridge profiles allow you to make a floating mount, which is necessary for arched structures.

Solid corner profile– with the help of this plastic sealing profile, two sheets are securely connected at an angle of 90 °. They can connect panels of different thicknesses.

Wall profiles fasten the sheets to the wall and protect the ends facing the walls.

You can buy polycarbonate profiles in Anapa without much difficulty in specialized stores that sell building materials and construction equipment. You can also order them online.

Thermal washers

Thermal washer for fixing polycarbonate allows you to securely fix the sheets on the frame. Its design consists of 3 elements:

• a convex plastic washer with a leg that fills the hole in the sheet;
• sealing ring made of plastic polymer or rubber;
• plug protects the screw from moisture.

A self-tapping screw for fastening polycarbonate is most often not equipped with a thermal washer, so it must be purchased separately. Thermal washers for attaching polycarbonate gently and securely press the sheet to the frame of the structure, while protecting the material from moisture penetration. They allow the building to look aesthetically pleasing. Moreover, the steps for fixing polycarbonate directly depend on the expected snow, wind and other loads.

Thermal washers are of three types:

• polypropylene;
• polycarbonate;
• from stainless steel.

For any greenhouses made of polycarbonate, a thermal washer is an integral element of fastening the cover, because this type of structure must be well sealed.

mini washers

Mini washers are different from regular heat washers small size. They are used in confined spaces and when it is necessary to make fasteners less noticeable if they are located on a well-viewed part of the sheet. They are also made from different materials. The use of such washers for fixing polycarbonate allows you to make the whole structure more attractive and beautiful.

Galvanized tape

Galvanized tapes for fastening polycarbonate are intended only for arched structures. Thanks to them, the material remains intact, since it does not have to be drilled and cut. They allow you to tighten the sheets anywhere, which is necessary for fixing carbonate sheets over long distances.

Stubs

A variation of profiles for honeycomb panels is the L-shaped plug with micropores, it is very similar in appearance to the panel guide. This profile must be used with cellular material - it reliably closes the holes at the ends of the sheets, while preventing moisture and dirt from entering the panels. It is important to remember which side to attach the polycarbonate to the structure.

The plug profile can be not only L-shaped, but also F-shaped. And in this case, it also looks like a guide for honeycomb panels. For the arrangement of bodies, the first option is mainly used, because the ends of the sheet polymer are buried in the ground. Both options are suitable for mounting the roof - everything will depend on the design of the roof and the materials to which the PC is attached.

Thanks to these plugs, it is possible to prevent the decrease in the transparency of the cellular material, because dirt and moisture will not get into it. During the greenhouse effect, water passes from a liquid state to vapor, so it, penetrating into the cellular material, makes it cloudy. It will be extremely difficult to get rid of it, which is why safety plugs must be placed on the ends of the panels without fail.

You can increase the tightness of the plugs using a transparent film with micropores.

General installation rules

The installation of panels is divided into the following stages, all of these methods of fixing polycarbonate are used by professionals in their work.

The first stage - cutting panels

The procedure for attaching polycarbonate to a tree begins with cutting the material. Cellular panels with a thickness of 4 - 10 mm are cut with an ordinary knife; a hacksaw is also often used as a cutting tool. But for fast and accurate cutting, you need to use electric saws with an emphasis equipped with a carbide blade. In this case, the teeth of the saw blade should be fine.

During the cutting process, the sheet material must be supported so that it does not vibrate. You can cut with a jigsaw. The cutting speed should be 10 - 40 m per minute.

After cutting, it is necessary to remove the chips from the internal cavities of the panel.

The second stage - drilling holes

Drill holes with a simple drill sharpened at an angle of 30 °. It is required to make a hole in polycarbonate between the stiffeners at an angle of 90 - 118 °. The hole is located from the edge of the sheet at a distance of at least 4 cm.

The third stage - sealing the ends of sheet polycarbonate

At this stage of work, it is required to seal the ends of the sheets hermetically. When the panels are placed vertically or at an angle, the top ends must be sealed with adhesive aluminum tape (protects the panels from dust ingress), and the bottom ends with perforated tape, which will allow moisture to be removed. You can not close the ends with a simple adhesive tape, you must use a sealing tape. It is also not advised to completely seal the lower ends of the sheets.

In arched structures, the sealing of the ends of the panel is carried out from both ends of the cellular polycarbonate using a perforated tape.

The ends are sealed most tightly using polycarbonate profiles and more durable aluminum ones. They look good, are practical and at the same time are very convenient in work. This profile sits tightly on the ends, so no additional fastening is required.

Do not leave the ends of the honeycomb panels open, because the life and light transmission of the material will decrease.

To remove moisture, you need to make holes in the profile of a small diameter.

The fourth stage - the orientation of the panels in the design and installation process

The stiffening ribs in the cellular material are placed along the length of the sheet (it can reach up to 12 m). Therefore, the fixed panels must be positioned so that moisture can flow out of them.

With vertical fastening of cellular polycarbonate, the stiffeners of the material must be placed vertically, and on the roof - along the slope. In arched structures, stiffeners should go in an arc.

It is necessary to take into account all the above features of fixing sheet polycarbonate in the design process.

On the street, it is necessary to use a material with a protective layer from ultraviolet radiation; it is applied to the outer part of the sheet. Therefore, this side is required to turn the polycarbonate towards the sun. This film is labeled accordingly. In order not to make a mistake during installation, the sheets must be installed with a film, and after completion of work, remove it.

You can not bend the panels too much, the manufacturer indicates the minimum bending radius on the panels. The value of the allowable radius depends on the thickness and structure of the material.

You must also adhere to the basic rules for placing panels and do not forget which side to mount the polycarbonate.

Fifth stage - point fastening of the material

At this stage, we will tell you how to properly fix polycarbonate using a point mount.

Point fastenings of polycarbonate to the frame are carried out with self-tapping screws and thermal washers. The thermal washer is a plastic washer with a leg (its height is equal to the thickness of the attached material), a special sealing washer and a cover.

Thermal washers hermetically fasten the panels to the structure. With their help, "cold bridges" that form self-tapping screws are eliminated. Thanks to the leg of the thermal washer, which rests against the frame of the structure, the panels do not crumple.

To provide a gap for thermal expansion in the panels, it is necessary to make holes 2-3 mm wider than the legs of the thermal washer. In long panels, you still need to drill holes that are elongated. At the same time, one must not forget at what distance to fix the polycarbonate - optimal step point attachment of polycarbonate 30 - 40 cm.

When attaching polycarbonate sheets, remember that:

• they cannot be rigidly attached to the frame;
• it is forbidden to fasten them with nails, rivets and other non-recommended fasteners;
• screws cannot be over tightened.

If it is necessary to attach polycarbonate to wooden frames, use the same materials and methods of fastening as to iron.

The sixth stage is the connection of polycarbonate sheets

To connect the cellular panels, one-piece and split profiles made of polycarbonate and aluminum are used.

Fastening with one-piece profiles (HP). In this case, sheets measuring 50 by 105 cm are placed in the grooves of the profiles, after which the profile is screwed to the longitudinal lintels of the frame with self-tapping screws and thermal washers.

Fastening with detachable profiles (HCP). In this case, the sheets are connected by a detachable profile, consisting of a lower "base" and an upper cover with latches. Below we will analyze how to attach polycarbonate to a tree using detachable profiles.

Mounting process:

• In the "base" holes are created a little larger than the width of the self-tapping screw, while making a step of 30 cm.
• Next, the “base” is fixed with self-tapping screws to the longitudinal jumpers of the frame. It is pre-lubricated with a sealant, then sheets are attached to it on both sides, while leaving a “temperature gap” of 3-5 mm.
• Then they snap the "cover" of the profile along the entire length, using a wooden mallet. At the ends, the profile must be closed with a plug.

Features of the corner connection of panels

If you want to install and fasten polycarbonate sheets at a right angle, then you need to use corner profiles. They will allow you to securely connect the panels and make gusset practically invisible.

Features of adjoining panels to the wall

When the panels are adjacent to the wall, it is required to use wall profiles in the installation.

Features of connecting panels in the ridge

To connect the sheets in the ridge, ridge profiles are used with a large grip of the wings - 4 cm, which allows you to fasten the sheets with high quality and provide a temperature gap.

Features of mounting monolithic polycarbonate

Sometimes the fastening of monolithic polycarbonate to metal is performed using an iron frame made in the form of a frame. The frame must have special grooves up to 25 mm deep. Sheets in the frame are fixed in two ways:

wet way. In this case, a special putty or silicone-based sealant is applied along the edges of the frame and sealant. This method can be used for wooden and iron structures. Compact structures are sheathed with monolithic polycarbonate using glue or special adhesive tape. Outdoor work is carried out with glue that is not afraid of adverse weather conditions. If good transparency of fastening is required, then it is necessary to use glue on polyurethane. Before applying it, the surfaces are degreased with alcohol.

Dry way. Use screws, bolts, nuts, self-tapping screws and press washers. In any case, be sure to use rubber gaskets or plastic profiles that do not contain plasticizers. Do not glue the sealant directly to the panels. Fasteners must be placed in increments of 50 cm. It is recommended to retreat from the edge of the material at a distance of at least 2 cm.

Such a fastening of monolithic polycarbonate is used for sheathing a canopy and large structures.

Important! Whatever method of fastening is chosen, you need to remember at what distance to fasten polycarbonate (monolithic - after 50 cm, honeycomb - with point fastening after 30-40 cm).

Storage before installation

To save all specifications honeycomb panels should be stored on a flat area in a dry room at a temperature of 0 - 25 ° C, so that moisture does not penetrate into them. In this case, the sheets should not hang down. The material must be stored in its original packaging until installation.

Material must be avoided sun rays because its color may change. The top layer of protective varnish from ultraviolet radiation should be located at the top of the sheet (most often, the top layer is covered with a special protective film, on which information about the manufacturer is applied).

You should also remember which side you need to fix the polycarbonate, and treat the material with care. It is necessary to avoid mechanical impact on cellular polycarbonate, as this can lead to its breakage.

Protective coatings

Sheets of cellular boards are covered with a protective film, which does not need to be removed during installation work, otherwise the light-conducting qualities of polycarbonate will deteriorate. This protective film protects the material from damage and premature aging. The film is not removed until all work is completed.

Materials that do not destroy polycarbonate

in number polymer materials that are compatible with polycarbonate include:

• ethylene-propylene rubber;
• polychloroprene;
• polyethylene;
• polytetrafluoroethylene (teflon);
• neoprene;
• silicone;
• rubber sealant.

Polycarbonate used as building and finishing material, may come into contact with the following materials:

• wood;
• rubber and rubber;
• thermoplastic elastomers or thermoplastic elastomers that do not contain PVC;
• glass;
• metals.

Materials not compatible with polycarbonate

The following polymeric materials are not compatible with polycarbonate:

• polyvinyl chloride (PVC);
• nitrile;
• all types of polyurethane.

There is also some chemical substances that are not compatible with this material. They are:

• solvents, especially acetone;
• alkaloids;
• acids;
• solutions of salts and fats;
• ammonia;
• some types of adhesives and dyes.

At the same time, their influence directly depends on the duration of contact with the material, their concentration and temperature.

frame

It is possible to make a frame for monolithic and cellular polycarbonate from many materials. The wood frame looks very elegant, but when choosing this building material, you need to know that it must be glued, otherwise the whole structure will crack and deform. In addition, almost every year the frame will need to be painted and treated with special protective compounds from insects and diseases. In this case, you need to remember how to securely fasten polycarbonate to a wooden frame.

A frame made of thin-walled profile pipes, which is characterized by a long service life and increased strength.

Suitable for frame under sheet sheathing aluminum and steel materials. Moreover, it is possible to make a crate of steel and aluminum directly at the construction site, using a reliable type of fastener for this. The aluminum framework favorably differs in anticorrosive properties. If its design is correctly calculated, then it will retain its physical and aesthetic properties for many decades. But it is very expensive, so it is rarely chosen.

For quick construction and cost savings, you can build a rarer crate, and sheathe it with thick sheets. In this case, there will be fewer fasteners with self-tapping screws, which will speed up the installation process. You can also save money and purchase a thin coating, but then the crate should be more frequent.

The choice depends on the following aspects:

• roof type;
• the area where the structure is installed;
• arch size;
• span dimensions;
• sheet material thickness.

In any case, the savings must be effective. For example, if you do not take into account the snow load and put sheets that cannot cope with the mass of snow falling in the region, then the surface will not withstand the overload and the economy will lead to large losses.

If an already constructed structure is sheathed, which cannot be changed, then the thickness of the material is selected based on the frequency of the frame crate: the rarer it is, the thicker the material must be chosen.

The choice of step is the most important stage in the construction of the frame.

When installing the frame under the panels, you need to more accurately select the step of the crate, which depends on the amount of bending of the material, its thickness and the angle of the roof slope. The roof pitch cannot be less than 30°. Knowing all the nuances of the construction of the frame, you can quickly set the step of the crate (it is equal to a hundred times the thickness of the material).

For example, for a sheet with a thickness of 4 mm, the step will be 40 cm, for 8 mm - 80 cm. In other words, the greater the thickness of the material, the less frequent the step of the crate. It should be noted that thick cellular polycarbonate is faster to fasten, because the fastener pitch is smaller and the material bends less. For regions with snowy winters, the step of the crate is reduced by 10-15%. When a frame with such a step is expensive, it is better to do otherwise: design the structure in such a way that the snow quickly descends from the roof. To do this, use a roof slope of 30 - 50 °. At such degrees, cellular panels are securely fastened, and the snow melts well.

Particularly careful during the installation process are fastening, which is performed using washers. If there are few of them, then the sheet material will not be securely fixed. Given its large windage, there is a possibility of sheet failure strong wind. But you don’t need to install a lot of washers either, because this will increase the load on the panels, and they may not withstand hot weather and deform. The same can happen in a snowy winter, when wet snow freezes on sheets of material and the load on the frame exceeds the maximum allowable, as a result, the sheet material breaks. But in any case, you need to use washers so that the mount is secure.

Temperature accounting for installation work

You can work with this unique building material at any time of the year. But experts still do not advise mounting this sheet material in cold weather at temperatures below -15 ° C, because it can break when bent.

It is required to work with this material in frosts especially carefully, because in winter it is very fragile. During installation in cold weather, the future expansion of the material must be taken into account, because after heating it will expand. If this is not taken into account, then the panels installed in cold weather in the spring may come out of the grooves and the entire skin will be deformed. In this case, you need to remember how to properly fix cellular polycarbonate.

Movement on the mounting surface

To carry out the installation or cleaning of the material, it is necessary to use special support boards to move along the surface to be mounted, on which you need to walk. They will evenly distribute the load on the sheet material.

Cleaning polycarbonate after installation

After installation work, the surface of the skin must be cleaned of dust and dirt. In this case, taking into account the adverse effects of acids, neutral compositions are selected. It is better to use soapy solutions, it will not be difficult to clean the canvas with them. Do not use abrasives or strong solvents. Moisture, drying oil, wax and oil penetrating inside the honeycombs adversely affect the material. Thanks to good properties panels can be used for cleaning steam and water jets.

Today, one of the most promising building materials is polycarbonate. Attaching it to the main frame is not difficult, but even in such a situation it is better to understand all the subtleties before starting to install the sheets, and not act at random.

When carrying out installation work, you will need to perform the following operations:

• sheet orientation;
• panel cutting;
• drilling holes;
• sealing the ends of the sheets;
• point fastening of panels;
• connection of elements;
• take into account deformations due to changes in material temperature.

How to properly orient panels - photo

Installation of cellular polycarbonate

In cellular polycarbonate, stiffeners are located along the length of the sheet, so the panel must be positioned so that the internal channels have an outlet to the outside. This is necessary to remove the condensate that forms in them. When installing sheets to create vertical glazing, the stiffeners must also be oriented vertically. In the manufacture of pitched structures, it will be necessary to direct the ribs along the slopes, and in arches, the ribs are best directed in an arc.

Today, polycarbonate is made with a special protective layer that is applied to the outer surface of the sheet. On this side there is a protective film with markings, so it is better to remove it after installing the sheet.

Cellular polycarbonate must have a strictly defined bending radius. As a rule, this parameter is specified by the manufacturer for each type of panel.

After all the necessary measurements have been taken, and the quantity square meters material is recalculated, you can start preparing sheets.

cutting

This operation is one of the main ones, since this material is supplied in the form of finished sheets, the length of which is often too long. It will be necessary to cut the panels both during the construction of the greenhouse and during the construction of the roof of a canopy or gazebo.

The operation of cutting the necessary elements is very simple, since there are no difficulties with polycarbonate in this case. Here you need to use a special tool, for example, high-speed circular saws.

For cutting synthetic material, it is best to use carbide blades with fine and unset teeth, as they will create smooth and neat cut edges. It is necessary to remove the protective film last, before attaching the cellular polycarbonate or after its installation, since it protects the sheets from damage during the cutting process.

During this operation, the profiles themselves must be securely fixed, since the occurrence of vibration can adversely affect the quality of the cut. After completion of the work, it is better to remove the chips from the internal cavities. When polycarbonate is installed, they are used to drain condensate, which means they should not create obstacles for water.

Hole drilling

To obtain holes, it is enough to use standard drills, however, there are a number of subtleties here. The first of them is that the holes themselves must be made between the stiffeners, and the distance from the edge of the panel to them must be more than 4 cm.

Holes in the panel must be created taking into account the fact that when the temperature of the material changes, it will deform. As a rule, polycarbonate is installed with holes that are several millimeters larger than the diameter of the thermal washer leg. If the panel has a large extent, then the holes themselves should be in the form of ellipses, the main axis of which is in the direction of the largest dimension of the sheet.

The drilling angle can be selected in the range of 90-110 degrees. Otherwise, it will not work to fix the washer horizontally and skew will occur. The attachment point itself will be unreliable, and the thermal insulation in this area will deteriorate.

Panel edge sealing

A continuous self-adhesive tape is used to seal the upper ends. The lower ends should be pasted over with perforated tape, which makes it possible to ensure the drainage of condensate.

Panel ends must be closed. They cannot be sealed with ordinary tape, but you need to use a special material. It is not recommended to seal the lower ends, since condensate is drained through them.

In order for condensate to be discharged from the structure without hindrance, several holes must also be made in the end profile. They are performed in the same way as those used for fastening panels.

How to attach sheets to a metal frame

In fact, this method is suitable for any building material, only the fasteners themselves differ. The most commonly used self-tapping screws are used with special thermal washers.

The thermal washer has a special leg, the length of which must correspond to the thickness of the panel. It protects the sheet from deformation, and also reduces the degree of heat loss through self-tapping screws, which are a potential "cold bridge" through polycarbonate. How to fasten panels to other materials? Yes, exactly the same: thermal washers in combination with self-tapping screws are a truly universal solution.

Attachment points should be at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other.

Correct connection of elements

During installation, it should also be noted that the sheets must be connected to each other using special parts - profiles. They can be one-piece and detachable.

Products of the first type are used for panels 4-6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm, and the second type includes POLYSCREP profiles. They can hold 6-10mm and 16mm panels. Detachable profiles consist of two elements: the lower one, which plays the role of a “base”, and the upper one, a “lid” with a latch.

Connecting polycarbonate profiles allow you to create an arched or pitched structure, but they are also suitable for

vertical sections. Each element holds two panels with a width of 50 to 105 cm, and its fastening is made on self-tapping screws. For mating sheets at a right angle, a corner profile is suitable, and for adjoining a wall, a special wall profile is suitable.

Split profile mounting technology:

1. Drill a hole in the base.
2. Fasten the "base" to the longitudinal support and lay the panels with a gap of 5 mm (necessary to compensate for thermal expansion).
3. Snap the profile cover, completing the installation of the polycarbonate, using a wooden mallet.

Installation of monolithic polycarbonate

It can be done in two ways, but both of them involve the use of a supporting structure that allows you to securely fix the sheet. The first method is “wet” and it is based on the use of a special polymer putty. Installation of monolithic polycarbonate in this case is carried out with small gaps to compensate for thermal expansion. This method is also great for using it with wooden support frames.

In the case when the supporting structure is made of steel, it is necessary to use special rubber gaskets together with a sealant, which processes the clamping point from the outside and from the inside.

Dry installation of monolithic polycarbonate does not require the use of any sealants and allows you to limit yourself to rubber seals. Since the system itself is not airtight, it provides for drainage that drains water.

Thermal expansion

The expansion coefficient of cellular polycarbonate is 0.065 mm per degree for each meter of the panel, so the calculation here will be quite simple. It is only necessary to estimate the maximum temperature difference during the year and multiply it by a coefficient. That is, when installing sheets in middle lane(temperature range -40..+50C) should be made with a gap of 90 * 0.065 = 5.85 (mm) per meter.

If a painted material is used, then you need to remember that it heats up by 10..15 C more, so the thermal expansion will be already 6.5 mm.

Above, only the main subtleties that raise questions related to the installation of cellular and monolithic polycarbonate were considered. Of course, there is much more information in this area, but here - necessary minimum which will guide you in this matter. Most of these tips are universal and can be used to create any structure, even if it is a roof - which will also significantly reduce the cost of installing this material.

The monolithic version has a solid structure, like ordinary glass, but due to the base in the form of polymers, it is many times stronger and lighter than the same glass, and additionally has an increased resistance to physical impact due to its flexibility. Such elements are used as a complete replacement of glass in residential and public buildings, as well as shopping, entertainment and scientific complexes.

The honeycomb element consists of a pair of thin plates interconnected by special stiffening ribs, the space between which is free.

This material is widely used in construction, household and utility rooms and dacha farming, especially as a cover for greenhouse complexes.

How to Orient Panels

Polycarbonate honeycomb elements along their length have ribs that ensure their rigidity, therefore, during installation, they must always be positioned in such a way that the hollow channels inside them have an outlet to the outside. This requirement is dictated by the need for condensate to escape from them, which can form due to the temperature difference.

When mounting such plates as vertical glazing, the ribs providing rigidity are also placed vertically. When fixing to the frame as a ramp or arch, you must always orient them so that the internal hollow channels inside go along the slopes or along the arc of the arch, respectively.

Today's manufacturing technology for both monolithic and honeycomb panels implies that each of them has a front and inner side. They are distinguished from each other due to the presence on the first of a special protective coating in the form of a film with a marking, which serves as protection for it until the moment of complete installation, and is removed at the final stage.

When installing polycarbonate panels as an arched structure, the maximum bending radius for a particular type of material, indicated in its marking, should be taken into account and never exceeded.

1. Sheet cutting

Polymer boards are supplied in standard sheets, which are usually always larger than required, so one of the main operations with them is to cut them into pieces with the desired dimensions. This operation will have to be done both during and during the installation of a polycarbonate roof with your own hands.

The operation itself for cutting optimal pieces from a solid panel is extremely simple, since the material is easily cut. To do this, you can use different tools for cutting, from a hand hacksaw to an electric grinder or jigsaw.

In the process of polymer cutting, regardless of the selected tool, it is impossible to avoid the occurrence of material vibrations during its operation, which can adversely affect the quality of cuts and lead to problems during installation and fitting of finished parts, up to the rejection of some of them. Therefore, in order to make the task as easy as possible and level out side fluctuations, the material is securely fixed beforehand.

In the case of a honeycomb structure, after cutting, the cavities in the resulting elements are cleaned of chips, because if they remain clogged, condensate drainage will be difficult and moisture will accumulate inside the plates, which is especially dangerous during frosts, since water frozen inside the panel can damage it.

2. End sealing

Honeycomb plates require sealing of their ends. The one on top can be pasted over with ordinary tape, and to seal the bottom it is better to use special tape with perforation for a drain of the moisture which is condensed in a leaf.

For unhindered outflow of the condensing liquid from the panel, it is required to organize several holes in its end part, identical to those used to fix the polymer sheet.

Cellular polycarbonate mount

It is possible to fasten carbonate plates to structures of almost any material, its type only affects the choice of elements for fasteners. As a rule, these are self-tapping screws for wood or metal with a self-tapping sting, which come with special thermal washers with a rubberized surface.

Thermal washers have a special leg and are selected according to its size so that it matches the thickness of the panel fixed by it. This design not only protects the sheet structure from excessive deformation, but also reduces heat losses through direct contact with the self-tapping screw, which in this case acts as a cold conductor through polycarbonate.

Therefore, self-tapping screws with thermal washers are a universal fastener, regardless of the material of the bearing surface, which is sheathed with polymer panels.

When mounting, it is advisable to insert self-tapping screws in advance drilled holes in plastic, which must meet the following requirements:

1. Firstly, holes can only be drilled between stiffeners, and only at a distance of at least 4 cm from the edge of the slab.
2. Secondly, the holes should provide for the thermal expansion of the material, which should be able to move on the fasteners due to the fact that the hole in it is one and a half millimeters larger than the diameter of the thermal washer leg.
3. In the case of a large length of plastic, the holes in it for fixing should not be not only of large diameter, but also of a longitudinally elongated shape.
4. When drilling, it is extremely important to keep the hole angle as straight as possible with an error of no more than 20 degrees, otherwise, when the washer is fixed, a distortion will occur and the panel will not be securely attached to the supporting structure.

Knowing the technology of fixing polycarbonate, you can easily and reliably sheathe them with almost any structure. However, it is also necessary to master the technology of joining panels to each other, which involves the use of special elements for these purposes - profiles, which can be either fixed or detachable.

The first are used with panels with a thickness of 4 to 10 mm. The second are Poliskrep profiles, capable of joining together plates from 6 to 16 mm in thickness. Removable profiles are assembled from a pair of elements: the lower one, which acts as a base, and the upper one, a cover with a latch.

Such polymer connecting profiles are necessary for the assembly of arched or pitched structures, but are also suitable for completely sheer surfaces. One latch connects a pair of panels with a width of 50 to 105 cm, and it is fixed on self-tapping screws. When pairing individual panels at an angle of 90 degrees, an angular docking profile is provided, and in case of adjoining a wall, a special wall profile is provided.

The technology for fixing a removable profile fits into several operations:

1. Drilling a hole for a self-tapping screw in the base.
2. Fixing the base to the longitudinal structure and laying the panels with a gap of 5 mm required to compensate for the thermal expansion of the material.
3. Snapping the profile cover with a wooden mallet.
4. Temperature value.

Often, when sheathing greenhouses with cellular polycarbonate, the plates are overlapped one on top of the other, instead of using special joining profiles. This option is optimal and possible only in the case of a small thickness of the sheets, which does not exceed 6 mm, since due to the thinness of this they have increased flexibility, due to which they can “walk” or even jump out of the fixing profile.

But thick polymer plates with a thickness of 8 mm or more with this technique will form very noticeable "steps" due to overlapping each other, which can only be solved by using a connecting profile.

You should be aware that fastening polycarbonate sheets with an overlap method can lead to the following consequences:

1. Firstly, with this method, the tightness of the sheathed structure will always be violated, up to a draft, complete blowing internal heat and even clogging of debris and precipitation under the casing of the structure;
2. Secondly, sheets fixed in an overlap experience a much greater impact from gusts of wind, which means that if the fixation is not strong enough, they can be torn off or broken.

Mounting monolithic polycarbonate

1. How and to what can carbonate be attached

Monolithic carbonate has two ways of fastening, however, both of them require a base in the form of a supporting frame that ensures reliable fixation of the slab:

1. First method- "wet", implies the use of a special polymer lubricant. The installation of elements in this case is organized with gaps that compensate for the expansion of the material under the influence of temperature. This option is also appropriate when inserting a polymer plate into a wooden frame. In the case of a metal frame, rubber gaskets are used in combination with a sealant that is applied to the inner and outer clamping surfaces.
2. Second method- "dry" installation, does not require any sealants and makes it possible to install the panel directly on the rubber seal. Since the structure itself is not airtight, it provides drainage to drain water.

2. Is it possible to overlap the sheets

Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic material that reacts to temperature fluctuations by changing its dimensions. Therefore, it contracts in cold weather and expands in hot weather. If this fact is not taken into account in the process of fastening sheets from it, most likely, sooner or later they will be damaged.

This is especially true for monolithic polymer elements, which not only have a higher expansion coefficient, but also do not have structural flexibility in the form of voids and profiles. Therefore, their use in combination with the technology of rigid fastening - overlap, is impossible.

Temperature value

Polycarbonate is an unpretentious and rather hardy material and, in relation to the ambient temperature, can be operated in the range from -40 to +120 degrees Celsius. However, the polymer on the basis of which it is made, under the influence of temperature, can both expand and contract, which is expressed in its coefficient of expansion equal to 0.065 mm per degree of temperature for each meter of sheet.

Therefore, to calculate the real expansion, you need to calculate the limiting temperature difference for the year and multiply it by 0.065 mm. For example, when installing in an average climatic zone with temperatures from -40 to +50 degrees

Celsius clearance should be about 6 mm per linear meter of plastic. In the case of painting, the heating of the sheets increases by an average of 10 - 15 degrees, which means that they will expand more, that is, by about 6.5 mm per meter of the plate.

1. For cutting polymers, carbide blades with fine, straight teeth are excellent, as they leave the most even and accurate cut.
2. Do not rush to remove the protective film from the sheets immediately upon purchase, it was created not only to protect the material from damage, dirt and scratches during transportation and storage, but also during the installation operation.
3. The upper ends of the polymer panels must be closed. To do this, it is recommended to use an unusual adhesive tape, and a special tape. The lower ends, on the contrary, are open to ensure the removal of condensed moisture.
4. It is not advisable to strongly tighten the self-tapping fixing plates, and also, in general, to rigidly fasten the entire panel, which must have a certain degree of freedom in order to "breathe" expanding and contracting during periods of warming and cooling, respectively.