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Is Installing Polycarbonate roofing sheets a Nightmare to you?

This is why you need Skylight screw fixings


Skylight

Polycarbonate roofing sheets, one of the widely used material for “skylight” is an excellent way to increase natural light indoor without installing more windows or light (Save electricity bills!)

Skylight installation at a warehouse.
Skylight installation on a warehouse. Image by Khadija Yousaf via unsplash. Copy right free

Due to it’s material properties, polycarbonate roofing sheets offers advantages such as:

· Durability

· UV Resistance

· Fire Resistance

· Insulating

· Lightweight

· Aesthetic Appeal

However, there are also shortcomings such as

· Expensive

· Expansion & Contraction

· Non-Scratch nor Crack Resistance (due to poor fixing!)


In this article, we will discuss how to overcome or prevent shortcomings of polycarbonate sheets due to poor fixing.


Here are some installation tips:

"Remember that polycarbonate sheets naturally expand and contract with temperature. Thus, you will need the correct fixings to allow such expansion and contractions without issues. When you drill holes into the polycarbonate sheet to fix them over the structure with screws, you must pre-cut the hole a little wider to allow for expansion. This will prevent your sheets from buckling. Also, you must use a large rubber on the screw to seal on the sheet and stop any water from penetrating the roof. Also, tighten all your fixings adequately to prevent rattling. But, also remember that over-tightening the fixings can cause distortion and excessive stress, thus causing failure of the sheets."


We can summarized it into 3 main key points for fixings:

1) Pre-drill screws holes into sheets and make sure the holes are oversize

2) Use a large rubber on the screws to seal the sheets to stop water from penetrating (from the oversize hole)

3) Do not over-tight the fixings


This happens when installers are using normal roofing screws to install skylight. As there isn't any features on the screws, they have to manually creates an oversize holes.


Sounds like a lot of work and skillful installation technique requires and things can get very wrong with the slightness oversight.


A nightmare.


What if they don't create an oversize hole or the hole size is too small?

This results in buckling and cracking of skylight as there is not enough allowance for the sheets to move.


What if they create an oversize hole that is too large?

The normal roofing screws with EPDM washer is not able to conceal the hole. Results in water penetrating.


These damages are irreversible which we want to prevent because Polycarbonate Roofing Sheets are expensive!


The solution?


You need the right fixing to do the right work. A Multipurpose Fasteners for Skylight. A fasteners that provides ONE-SHOT Fixing.


Fiable Fasteners for Skylight

How they do the trick?

First, an expansion hole wing reaches the corrugated sheets, creating an oversize hole.

This creates an allowance between the screws and the sheets to allow buffer for expansion and movement for the sheet.


Next, the expansion wing breaks off at the point of reaching the steel purlin. To ensure tight fixing throughout the purlin.


Finally, a Ø29mm dome EPDM washer to ensure a complete sealing of the oversize hole prefect coverage from water penetration.


Fiable is the manufacturer of fasteners. Our skylight fasteners series are especially designed and manufactured to cater for your needs in skylight installation.


Comes with anti-corrosion coating technology to withstand outdoor environment.

Get your fixings solutions today. Write to us: ericlim@fiablej.com


Reference:

1) Advantages and Disadvantages Of Using Polycarbonate Roofing System. Blog post. Retrieved from https://www.tuflite.com/blog/advantages-disadvantages-using-polycarbonate-roofing-system

2) Polycarbonate Corrugate Sheet-Installation Overview. Retrieve from https://www.palram.com/au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/02/SUNTUFF_Roofing_Installation_Guide-.pdf

3) How To Install Polycarbonate Sheets Perfectly. Blog post. Retrieve from https://www.tuflite.com/blog/install-polycarbonate-sheets-perfectly

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