Recent years have been marked by the introduction of breakthrough technologies that markedly improve the quality of life of every person. One of the high-tech materials of the new generation is polymer plastic. It is successfully used in various industries, including home construction. In this article we will take a look at how to equip the visor above the polycarbonate porch. Photos of such sheds are diverse, and design features are not complicated.
Material properties and types of polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a polymer plastic made from polycarbonate granules and has high performance properties. This material is an excellent alternative to PVC panels and has been used in various industries and in construction.
The main characteristics ensuring its widespread use are as follows:
- plastic;
- impact resistance;
- ease;
- optical transparency;
- resistance to temperature extremes;
- high aesthetic capabilities;
- low cost;
- ease of installation and maintenance of structures;
- durability.
This high-tech synthetic material is successfully used today where previously more expensive natural materials were used: metal, wood and glass.
Porch with a visor in a private house, photo of possible options. Design solutions. Drawing up the project, necessary materials and tools. Options for the construction of the entrance group
This polymer plastic is available in two forms: monolithic and cellular.
Monolithic polycarbonate is a polymeric sheet material with high transparency, impact resistance, fire resistance and fire safety. These properties ensured the use of this plastic in the automotive industry, in the design of military facilities, for the creation of technology, in advertising, construction, etc.
Cellular polycarbonate is optically transparent or matte durable and lightweight panels that have a multi-layer construction. All elements are interconnected by internal stiffeners like a honeycomb. The air inside the layers provides thermal insulation properties, and the fins – plasticity. Due to these properties, this material has received widespread use in construction, in particular when designing roofs and canopies over a polycarbonate porch. Photos of these structures can be seen in various magazines for the construction of private houses.
Helpful advice! Cellular polycarbonate can be a modern alternative to the glass roof and walls for various buildings: greenhouses, verandas, porches, balconies, sheds over the parking area or outdoor terraces.
The color variety of options from matte to transparent, as well as the ability to create complex geometric shapes, ensured the particular popularity of cellular polycarbonate when designing an open porch, sheds over the door or canopies over the porch. Photo and video self-installation of such structures can be found on the Internet.
Being an excellent substitute for glazing, polymer plastic has found its application not only in the creation of canopies and visors, but also in the design of a polycarbonate porch in a private house. Photos and examples of such arrangement of the entrance to the house are available on many construction sites.
Using the broad aesthetic possibilities, transparency and plasticity of the material, at the entrance to the house you can mount a modern porch with a polycarbonate visor of any shape. The low weight of polycarbonate sheets provides a convenient self-assembly of such a porch. Polycarbonate over the porch is set a beautiful canopy on a sturdy frame.
Installation begins with the design of the frame. When creating a shed or porch, the following materials can be used as the basis:
- tree;
- aluminum;
- steel profile;
- steel tubes.
The choice of material depends on the overall aesthetics of the building, its design, as well as the financial capabilities of the owner.
When choosing a wooden frame, you can win in price and ease of assembly, but lose in durability and quality. This design has low performance properties, since wood is inferior to other materials in strength and durability.
Helpful advice! To make the tree last longer, before assembling it is treated with linseed oil or other impregnation that prevents decay.
The main elements of the aluminum frame for a polycarbonate visor above the door are aluminum profiles and polymer plastic itself. This option provides ease of assembly, as the aluminum profile is easy to cut and bend. In addition, aluminum is a light and durable metal, so it does not need special treatment. The only drawback of the arrangement of such a variant of a polycarbonate visor is its high price.
The next popular material for the frame is steel. The steel frame for the visor above the polycarbonate porch is quite heavy. It is possible to assemble such a canopy itself, however, the assembly technology is characterized by the complexity of fixing parts.
Helpful advice! It is possible to fasten parts of the steel frame to each other with the help of bolts, but the design looks stronger and more beautiful when joining the joints with electrical welding.
The presented photos demonstrate that steel pipe is also an excellent option for a frame for a porch or a canopy made of polycarbonate. The advantage of this design is low weight and high strength. Minus – the complexity of the connection parts of the frame: the assembly of such a frame is made only by electric welding.
An alternative to the steel tubular frame is metal Kraft. As can be seen in the photo, it can be used to assemble a beautiful openwork design like a wrought iron. The frame parts with a square cross-section are already sold in a bent form. And you can also connect them together by welding.
In order to independently equip the visor above the entrance from polycarbonate, it is necessary first of all to create a good sketch in which all the details of the structure should be reflected in detail.
Helpful advice! It is best to assemble the visor over the porch in the warmer months or indoors, since bending the polycarbonate at a low temperature is undesirable.
When installing a polycarbonate visor over the porch, you need to take into account that its main function is to take on snow, water and dirt, protecting the entrance to the house. And this means that the best form of this element of the building is arched. Such a shed will allow precipitation not to accumulate on the roof, but to easily roll down to the ground.
Having decided on the shape of the polycarbonate visor above the porch, it is necessary to mount the frame and cut out the elements of the canopy, not forgetting the overhang length of at least 80 cm. You can buy a ready-made polycarbonate canopy, which already has the necessary holes in the base reinforcement.
Cutting of polycarbonate sheets is carried out on a protective film with a stationery knife. If the width of the panels is more than 8 mm, they can be cut with a circular saw with fine teeth. Installation of polycarbonate panels is produced by a protective film outside, since this layer is protected from UV radiation. After assembling the whole structure, the protective film is removed.
The last element of the installation is to protect open areas of the ends of polycarbonate plates from dust, water and dirt. To do this, use a special aluminum tape, which is installed on the ends of the panels (as shown in the photo).
Being a great alternative to expensive glass, metal or wood – traditional materials for the manufacture of canopies and canopies, synthetic polycarbonate has several advantages over them, which made it so popular. A variety of color palette, ease and convenience of installation allows you to realize the most daring design fantasies.
