Each summer resident dreams of having a gazebo in a secluded corner of the garden. Independently build a recreation area will help recommendations on the choice of building material, as well as step-by-step instructions on wall cladding and roof covering.
Types of Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate, a building material with high quality and durability, is well suited for wall cladding and roof covering.
- Coating Benefits:
- Ease. Polycarbonate differs from other building materials in its relatively light weight, which allows it to be used for the construction of structures such as a gazebo, without first filling the foundation.
- Easy to use. The construction of recreation areas using polycarbonate does not require special efforts and building skills.
- Favorable value for money. Inexpensive material has excellent performance: strength; reliability; long term of operation (up to 20 years).
- Versatility. Polycarbonate is in harmony with other building materials: wood; metal; plastic; a stone.
- Simplicity in processing. The product can be easily divided into fragments, apply cutting and drilling tools to it.
Polycarbonate Types:
- cellular;
- monolithic;
- wavy.
Did you know? Transparent polycarbonate is capable of transmitting the same amount of light as glass - about 80%. This property of the material allows growing indoor plants in the gazebo.
Cell
The differences in the types of polycarbonate products are due to the features of their structure. So, the honeycomb device resembles a cell cell. They are formed by rigid ribs installed directly or at an angle. The air contained in the cells gives the material additional properties - insulation (noise and thermal), as well as strength. Several types of hundred sheets with different structures are produced.
Cellular Polycarbonate Types:
- 2H. This option is a two-layer sheet with rectangular cells inside. The thickness of the jumpers is 0.4-1 cm;
- 3X. Sheets consisting of three layers separated by straight and inclined partitions. The thickness of the layers and partitions is set by the manufacturer;
- 3H. A variant, presented in the form of three-layer panels, between which there are rectangular cells. The wall thickness of the honeycombs is 6, 8 and 10 mm;
- 5W. A sheet divided into five layers, each of which consists of rectangular honeycombs. The thickness of the partitions varies from 16 to 20 mm;
- 5X. The sheet is presented in the form of a five-layer panel. Cells are located directly and at an angle. The walls of each honeycomb have a thickness of 25 mm.
Monolithic
Monolithic polycarbonate is a building material that resembles silicate glass. In particular, both are single layer. However, unlike silicate glass, polycarbonate cannot be broken. Scratching it is also not easy. The structure of such a coating is presented in the form of a continuous array. The product is marked with an indication of the features of its structure and purpose. Such designations facilitate the choice of material.
Important! Polycarbonate does not withstand heavy loads.
Brands of monolithic products:
- PK-6. It is a polymer that transmits a large amount of light. It is used in optics for the manufacture of measuring equipment;
- PK-M-1. Monolithic carbonate variant not subject to friction;
- PK-M-2. A unique polymer compound with high crack resistance. It is the only coating in the world that is not exposed to fire;
- RS-007. A variant characterized by an average degree of viscosity;
- RS-010. Material with a low degree of viscosity;
- RS-003. It differs from other options in high viscosity.
Wavy
Monolithic coatings are available in two forms: straight, which was described above, and wavy. The second is a profile wave-shaped sheet. This type of material has the same properties as direct monolithic carbonate: strength; reliability; durability; resistance to temperature extremes. In addition, corrugated sheets can be combined with similarly shaped roofing materials, such as metal tiles.
Choice of material thickness and color
The dimensions of polycarbonate coatings, as well as their colors, depend on the specific type of product. So, the thickness of honeycomb sheets varies between 0.5–2.5 cm. One such product reaches 210 cm wide, its length is 6–12 m. The weight can exceed 10 kg.
Important! Wavy monolithic sheets are available only in color versions. A transparent structure in this case is not provided.
Cellular polycarbonate color palette:
- turquoise;
- blue;
- red;
- bronze;
- Orange;
- crimson;
- yellow;
- green;
- Gray;
- transparent;
- milk (opaque).
Monolithic sheets are issued according to standard parameters. The length of one product is 305 cm, the width does not exceed 205 cm. The thickness varies between 0.2–0.6 cm. If necessary, products with a larger thickness can be ordered - 0.8–1.2 cm.
Monolithic polycarbonate color palette:
- transparent;
- bronze;
- the black;
- red;
- milk (matte);
- green (matte).
How to sheathe a gazebo with your own hands
Sheathing a gazebo with your own hands is quite simple. However, first it is necessary to draw up a drawing of the future construction, then fill in the foundation, if any. Then you need to install the frame. It can be made from wooden beams or profile pipes. After the structure is installed, you can begin to sheathe the walls and cover the lid with building material. To do this, you need to prepare the tools in advance and choose the right skin.
Necessary tools and materials
For working with polycarbonate, it is better to choose tools suitable for processing wood and plastic.
Tool List:
- an electric drill equipped with metal drills;
- screwdriver;
- jigsaw;
- hacksaw;
- a circular saw;
- roulette;
- thermal washers;
- silicone;
- waterproof adhesive tape.
Next, you should decide on the choice of material. To cover the roof, cellular carbonate with partition walls 4–16 mm thick is better. For wall cladding, you can use direct monolithic sheets of a transparent structure with a thickness of up to 0.6 cm.
Rules and step-by-step instructions for covering the gazebo
It’s not difficult to work with polycarbonate, but you should still follow some rules.
Sheathing recommendations:
- Sheets need to be drilled and cut only with sharp tools, being careful not to damage the protective film covering the material.
- It is not advisable to fasten the casing material close to the frame structure, since polycarbonate tends to expand when heated. Keep a distance of at least 1 mm.
- It is better to fix the skin in parts. This will facilitate the work.
- Instead of self-tapping screws and bolts, it is better to use special thermal washers. Unlike the former, they do not form cracks.
Having prepared all the necessary tools and having decided on the material, you can begin to work.Step-by-step instruction for covering the gazebo:
- Lay out a polycarbonate sheet on a flat surface.
- Mark the sheet by measuring the parameters of the frame with a tape measure.
- Cut the material with a hacksaw or a jigsaw, according to the marking.
- Drill screw holes for the screwdriver.
- You need to fasten profile sheets to the rafter leg with self-tapping screws with special thermowells at a distance of 30 cm from each other.
- To begin to sheathe the gazebo should be from the bottom, gradually moving higher. Lastly, the upper part of the structure is sheathed.
- At the joints, you need to apply a transparent sealant (silicone).
Roofing
The roof covering pattern is identical to wall cladding. However, when working with the roof, some nuances should be taken into account.
Recommendations for roofing:
- Fragments of the product must be connected using plastic or aluminum profiles.
- The optimum roof pitch in a mild climate is 5 °. In regions where snowy winters predominate, it is advisable to sheathe the structure at an angle of at least 45 °.
- On all joints and ends you need to apply waterproof tape so that water does not leak through the roof.
- Sheathe the roof of the gazebo with cellular polycarbonate so that the cells are located along the length of the sheet. This is necessary so that moisture does not accumulate inside the material.
Did you know? Industrial production of polycarbonate began in 1960, and it hit the Russian market in the 2000s.
Polycarbonate is a durable and practical building material, which is great for self-cladding arbors. A variety of types and colors offers a wide selection of products for every taste. Structures lined with carbonate are quite lightweight, they can be moved if necessary.
