Polycarbonate roof colours?

Trary

Has anyone experience of choosing colours of polycarbonate roof for a conservatory? We're not sure why we might want clear, white, bronze, or indeed a mixture of white and bronze!

Our conservatory faces north, so we need the light in the kitchen, but the roof also gets quite mucky too.

Davesnave

Are you re-roofing, or is this a new conservatory?

I ask because polycarb is inferior to glass, so it might be worthwhile spending a bit more on the latter and having what they call 'self-clean.'

Any tint in a translucent roof is only going to be worthwhile if it receives direct sun. On a house, a north-facing conservatory won't get this, except early in the morning and early evening during summer, and maybe not at all during the colder months, when light is at a premium. On a bungalow, it may be somewhat different.

theonlywayisup

As above, if you can stretch to it, definitely go with glass.

lush_walrus

A couple of things to think about, if the polycarbonate has a tint to it, that colour will influence the internal colour. So go for bronze and a bronze tint will be inside. Also any dirt that accumulates on a polycarbonate roof will still be seen regardless of tint.

The advantage of a north facing roof is that it will not receive direct sunlight, so it will not overheat with clear (rather than opaque) finish and is less likely to be discoloured by the sun. Downside it will potentially loose heat so make sure you have a discussion about that and the lack of direct sunlight issue with the orientation will be things will grow on there green moss for example so you will need to maintain it. So make sure the design allows for you to get to it and clean it.

Glass is of course a better material robust, doesn't discolour and easier to control specification to ensure it has a thermal capacity. But is at best a bit more money and worst if you do for triple glazing a lot more

Trary

It's a tricky one as in the summer months (4 months) we have direct sunlight but for the rest of the year it's in the shadow.

We definitely cannot stretch to glass, extra £2200.

I think we have clear at the moment. It's 20 years old and more opaque now! It does get mossy and we've never worried before as it's so old.

cyclonebri1

Glass is very heavy both in mass and price, most go with triple wall poly which is cost effective.

If you want to keep heat out, then go opaque, probably the cheaper option, just remember any roof will get coated in algae and to be honest I prefer it to be blurred until I venture out with the pressure washer, :D