As the construction industry continues to evolve and more advanced building materials and methods become available, polycarbonate sheets have quickly become a cost-effective and energy-efficient replacement for glass. Polycarbonate is a thermoplastic polymer. It’s resistant to high-pressure conditions such as extreme temperature fluctuations and various types of climates. When it comes to choosing between polycarbonate sheets vs. glass, the superior choice is obvious. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of polycarbonate roofing panels and greenhouse sheets for your next construction project.
6 Key Features of Polycarbonate Sheets
Polycarbonate sheets have a lot of unique features that make them the superior alternative choice to glass for a variety of industrial and commercial construction applications.
Durable and Lightweight
With the capacity to withstand a myriad of environmental elements and conditions varying in severity, polycarbonate sheets are about 250 times more durable and impervious to cracking, scratching, and other surface damages than glass. Moreover, polycarbonate is also incredibly lightweight. It’s a lot easier to transport and carry than glass and takes up less space on trucks and in storage areas.
Glass has a high density and is bulky and extremely fragile. Hence, it requires a lot of special care to prevent damage during the transportation process. Polycarbonate sheets, on the other hand, are virtually indestructible and can handle all kinds of transportation conditions.
Reduces Energy Costs
If reducing your organization’s energy output and costs is a top priority, then consider installing polycarbonate sheets instead of glass. Polycarbonate sheets are available in a variety of thicknesses so you can choose the level of insulation you require for your structure. Thick polycarbonate sheets have a lower U-value, which means they provide better insulation. Maintaining a temperature-controlled atmosphere prevents heat from escaping the structure and this results in long-term energy cost savings.
During the summer months, you can also improve the energy efficiency of your air conditioning unit by maintaining optimal interior temperature control with well-insulated polycarbonate sheets.
Superior Light Diffusion and UV Protection
Polycarbonate sheets are specially designed to offer optimal light diffusion, UV protection, and temperature control for a wide range of applications and settings. Natural light is a desirable structural feature from an architectural standpoint, but it has to be filtered to varying degrees to promote comfort and offer excellent UV protection, especially in temperature and light-controlled environments.
Unlike glass, polycarbonate sheets offer supreme transparency as well as light transmission and diffusion in addition to anti-glare and anti-reflection features for optimal visibility and clarity. This makes it the ideal choice for different structural applications where natural lighting is desired or mandatory.
Furthermore, polycarbonate sheets also feature UV protective filters that prevent sun damage from impacting the interior design, furnishings, and plants within a structure. Without proper UV protection, direct sunlight can scorch plant leaves and discolor interior design features such as laminate flooring, wood or leather furniture, and decorative pieces such as oil paintings.
More Efficient Insulation
Unfiltered direct sunlight can increase the internal temperatures of a structure to uncomfortably hot levels. In the midst of summer, this will send your air conditioning unit into overdrive and inevitably increase your energy costs. Glass simply doesn’t have the filtration capacity to provide proper insulation to control the internal temperature of a building or greenhouse in the same way that polycarbonate sheets can. If you want to minimize your energy output as much as possible, but still enjoy sufficient natural lighting in your space, then polycarbonate sheets are the right choice.
They provide sufficient and evenly spread-out natural lighting for a variety of structural applications while also helping you reduce your carbon footprint.
Easy Installation
Due to the fact that polycarbonate sheets are significantly more lightweight than glass, the installation process is a lot easier and more efficient. Where glass would require the strength of several construction workers just to hold each panel in place, polycarbonate sheets can be installed by one individual with minimal effort and tools required. Polycarbonate also has a machinability value of 12 (out of 20), which means it’s extremely easy to cut it down to size and reshape it onsite without the use of special materials.
Glass is a lot more fragile and can crack under pressure, which means if it’s the wrong size even by a marginal amount, it needs to be taken back to a special facility to be cut down and reshaped. Not only does this result in installation delays, but it also increases costs as well as the inconvenience and risk factors.
Long-Lasting
Polycarbonate sheets have a much longer lifespan than glass due to their incredible impact, weather, and temperature-resistant capabilities. They’re also extremely low maintenance and easy to clean, which makes polycarbonate the ideal material for structures of all sizes that have multiple windows or transparent panels.
Choosing between Polycarbonate Sheets vs. Glass for Various Applications
Roofing
Whether you’re planning on adding a skylight or enclosing an outdoor space such as a backyard or terrace, polycarbonate is the optimal choice. It’s significantly lighter in weight and density than glass, which means it won’t add unsound pressure to your existing structure. Plus, polycarbonate sheets are fully customizable and can easily be cut down to size on the spot. So, if you need to make any minor trims or adjustments, you can do them on-site and on the same day rather than having to delay your installation project.
Greenhouses
Standard glass is the conventional material of choice for most greenhouses. But it comes with a lot of disadvantages that can be remedied by using polycarbonate sheets instead. Glass is incredibly fragile and lacks impact resistance, which means it can crack at the slightest sign of tension or pressure. And, since greenhouses require excellent light transmission, diffusion, and insulation, polycarbonate sheets are the far better choice to protect your plants or crops all year round.
Polycarbonate Sheets Suppliers in Toronto
Canada Plastics & Belting Inc. offers an extensive range of polycarbonate sheets for greenhouses, roofing panels, and other building projects. Our products are fully customizable to suit your project needs and are available in different thicknesses, color options, and textures. Contact us today to learn more.