Polycarbonates are widely used as a building material in various fields. In the household, sheathing, roofs and walls of greenhouses are made from it. In this case, we will consider the technology of mounting a polycarbonate carport, which can be implemented independently, without the help of specialists.
Canopy design
Before you start preparing for the installation operations, you need to sketch at least an approximate plan of action with the tactics of work and the parameters of the object. Initially, it is determined for which car and in what quantity the structure will be used. For one car, you can count on a width of 2.5-3 m with a length of 5-6 m. With the same length, a polycarbonate carport for 2 cars will have to have a width of at least 5 m, and preferably 6 m. Guest canopies are made with a small margin in size - up to 10 m. In general, it is desirable to design massive structures as an extension to the house. This structure will be more reliable and practical in operation.
Also, at the stage of creating a plan, the optimal place for the construction of a canopy is selected. In his choice, one should adhere to the principle of maximum proximity to the house or garage from the entrance. The traffic area should be removed from the garden or green area and the rear entrance for reasons of comfort and environmental support. Of course, if it does not contradict the security conditions.
Design Options
Within the allocated site, it will be possible to build sheds of different design. They differ in shape, geometric configuration of lines, aesthetic qualities, etc. Traditionally, an arched arched canopy is popular. It has a very organic design, an optimized structure of the carrier base and a reliable roof, but there are other canopy options that also have some advantages:
- Single slope. A simple solution that is the easiest to build and does not require complex assembly operations for finishing. One slope is directed along a flat plane without joints at an inclination of 10-15 degrees. Optimal design in terms of interfacing with the wall of the house.
- Multi-pitched. This option is suitable if you plan to serve 2 cars and there is no possibility of an extension to the house. Two slopes will allow you to form a reliable hinged base with a width of more than 5 m.
- Complicated. This is a broad concept of structures of various forms, in which the presence of non-standard junctions and transition levels is assumed. Device Necessitycomplex car awnings made of polycarbonate can be due to various reasons - from the peculiarities of the installation conditions of the structure at the selected site to the desire to improve the aesthetic properties of the structure. As practice shows, canopies with intricate shapes and non-standard layouts provide much more opportunities for further stylistic design. But these nuances should be thought out in advance.
How to choose polycarbonate for a canopy?
There will be several selection criteria. First you need to decide on the structure of the material. Polycarbonate is cellular (with empty cells inside) and monolithic. The first panels will benefit from modest weight, which will make the supporting structure more reliable, reducing the load on the supporting elements. But the monolithic polycarbonate sheet itself is stronger and can withstand strong mechanical stress. In both cases, the sheet thickness parameter will be important. For a relatively small arched canopy, you can choose an 8mm panel, which will provide a significant radius of curvature. Pitched structures can be made with sheets 8-12 mm thick. But unlike rounded roofs, for such structures there are no restrictions on the use of monolithic polycarbonate. A dense panel can withstand precipitation and snow loads even with a thickness of 4-6 mm.
Preparing for work events
Before starting work, prepare the necessary material and working tools. It is advisable to immediately divide polycarbonate into segments for laying alongcanopy at the designated points. Cutting the material into pieces will make it easier to physically handle. Cutting is performed with an electric jigsaw, a grinder with an appropriate circle or a hacksaw for metal. In the installation of a carport made of polycarbonate with your own hands, you will also need a measuring tool, a screwdriver, a hammer with a mallet, hardware of the appropriate size and accessories, depending on the conditions of work.
Next, the territory is cleared. The installation of the canopy can only be carried out on the territory without debris, stumps, vegetation and other objects that impede construction work.
Foundation arrangement
The base of the foundation can form a common bearing base with the canopy frame or be laid separately. But in any case, the skeleton of the canopy will need a platform on which all the loads of the structure will be transferred. In this capacity, you can use the columnar force belt system. Piles are installed along the perimeter of the site in increments of 70-100 cm. Screw metal rods with a diameter of 5 cm can be used. For a carport made of polycarbonate, it is sufficient to deepen the columns at a level of 100 cm. In this case, the installation well must be reinforced with cement-sand mortar. The binding is carried out with wooden or metal beams. That is, the installed pillars are connected to each other in order to strengthen the base.
Installation of supporting structure
The frame system can be assembled from metal or wooden elements. More reliable, of course, is the first option in the form of a pipe, angle or channel. The main thing is that the supporting pillars for the canopy meet the requirements for the structure in terms of rigidity and stability. If metal is used, it must be pre-treated with an anti-corrosion compound.
Direct installation is performed in the following sequence:
- Bearing poles for the canopy are being prepared.
- To the strapping system, each post is welded using metal safety pads. The post installation step should be 1.5-2 m.
- The frame is tied horizontally in the upper part. And here it is important to answer the question of how to build a polycarbonate carport in order to minimize the load on the upper part of the structure. Even without taking into account the mass of plastic panels, the load will be created by a metal truss system. In order to minimize the pressure from it, a reliable base of floors should be arranged, directly supported by the pillars. Further, this will allow mounting more complex truss systems for fixing panels using small-format profile elements.
- The reliability of butt joints is checked, after which the structure is painted.
Fixing polycarbonate sheets
Pre-cut parts of the panels are laid on the profiles of the supporting structure. Mechanical fixation is carried out with self-tapping screws with thermal compensation washers, which level the linear expansion of plastic under the action of sunlight. Fixation points shouldbe arranged in 40 cm increments so that there is also a place at the edges of 4-5 cm.
If a honeycomb-type polycarbonate carport is covered, mounting holes should only be made inside empty cells. In the case of a monolith, it is advisable to drill the material even before laying with an electric drill.
Curtain Roof Mounting Profile
Optimal security of fastening to the coating can only be given if profile fixation is performed. This part of the work is carried out according to the following instructions:
- With the help of self-tapping screws, the profile base is attached to the frame elements. On the surface, the profiles are also distributed in increments of about 30-40 cm.
- Panels are inserted into the profile database at the ends by 2-3 cm. At this stage, you should also not forget about expanding the material. In particular, polycarbonate for a canopy should be laid in such a way that a few free millimeters remain between it and the clamping elements of the profiles.
- A metal cover is laid over the assembled structure and closed.
Canopy finishing
At this stage, the final finishing of the structure from debris, dust and moisture is carried out. To protect the honeycomb sheet at the edges, special tapes with microfilters are used, which provide not dense, but ventilated insulation. Seams, joints and joints are covered with aluminum sealing tape with a self-adhesive backing.
In general, to minimize variousdocking nodes in the manufacture of carports made of polycarbonate, special additional elements are widely used. These can be arched, corner, connecting and wall fittings that increase the tightness of the surface and make the roof physically more resistant.
Pros and cons of polycarbonate roof awnings
Hinged structures for car parks are made not only with the use of polycarbonate. The metal profile is also widely used, which demonstrates attractive qualities of strength and durability. Due to what, against this background, car canopies made of polycarbonate win? This variety of plastic panels has a unique combination of flexibility, rigidity and lightness. This combination of properties makes the material practical, versatile and easy to install. There are, however, serious disadvantages of polycarbonate. These include the aforementioned tendency to thermal expansion, sensitivity to abrasives that cause visible scratches, and the fact that the material cannot be classified as environmentally friendly.
Conclusion
A polycarbonate roof is a solution that justifies itself in many ways. In the design of the canopy, this is especially evident, since the material allows you to build a lightweight frame with minimal financial and labor resources. But how do polycarbonate carports perform during operation? Much will depend on the technical and physical properties of a particular panel, but many manufacturers recommend protecting the material fromdirect sunlight and severe frost. This is done with the help of special overlays and film coatings. It is also recommended to periodically perform fine-grained grinding of the roof surface, which will keep its decent appearance without visible damage, chips and scratches.
