In days gone by, flat or multi wall polycarbonate roof sheeting was something you’d see in commercial areas, but perhaps not so much in residential areas. You may have seen it used to form an atrium or a covered walkway, or as a roof on an outdoor terrace at a café or restaurant.

Due to the higher price of the sheeting, it was quiet unusual to see it being used in residential areas. However, as people noticed it more in commercial areas, demand began to grow. They wanted that same filtered light effect in their alfrescos and in their patios.

As demand grew, the price of the sheeting fell, making it much more affordable for people to use in their own home projects. All that has led to a huge expansion in the market, where polycarbonate sheeting is now extremely popular for alfresco areas, due to its look, its capabilities, and its price.

Why choose polycarbonate sheeting?

When designed your alfresco roof, there are a number of factors to consider. You will need to think about how much you want to spend, what look you want to achieve, and how much light you have available.

Light

By choosing a solid roof, you can lose out on light. If you happen to have a south or east facing alfresco, losing light is probably not something you want to do. If you choose a darker roof or a timber roof, the space may look even darker.

However, if you choose polycarbonate sheeting for your alfresco roof, you can make the most of the light you have, letting in filtered sunlight and making the space seemed lighter and airier.

Even you have a north or west facing alfresco, you can choose polycarbonate sheeting that blocks UV rays, and is tinted against the sun. This can provide you with all the benefits of a light-filtering roof, with none of the drawbacks.

Shape

By choosing polycarbonate sheeting, you can choose from a range of roof shapes, including gable, dome, pyramid or flat. This gives you greater scope in your design, letting you choose a roof that really sets off your alfresco and blends with the rest of the house.

Look

There’s no point creating an amazing alfresco design if it’s only going to be let down by its roof. With polycarbonate sheeting, you can choose from a number of different colours, and it can be used to create roofs of all shapes. It can also be used to create a contrast with your flooring, creating a more attractive look.

Heat

While polycarbonate sheeting can let in light, that doesn’t mean it has to let in heat. If overheating may be a problem inside your alfresco, you can choose polycarbonate sheeting that has a heat reflective finish, which helps to reduce heat and cut down on glare.