Polycarbonate roofing is a popular pick among homeowners and real estate professionals because of its versatility, durability, and unique aesthetics—making it suitable for a variety of projects. But while it’s undoubtedly popular for its low-maintenance nature and affordable price tags, there are many ways to further prolong the life of your polycarbonate roof and keep it looking good as new. Read on for our most recommended polycarbonate roof care tips.
Get the Right Tool for the Job
The first step to cleaning your roof is assessing the situation—this will allow you to gauge just how deep of a cleaning process your roof needs to look like its tip top self again. It’s always a good practice to start with clearing the debris. Debris like leaves, branches, and even fallen fruits can scratch and pierce the UV coating of your polycarbonate sheets. Tools like leaf blowers or a soft broom will help get rid of debris off the roof in a safe and gentle manner and prevent lasting damage.
Pro Tip: Make sure to wear PPE like safety goggles, dust masks, and gloves when clearing your roof. Your safety should always be your number one priority.
Keep it Clean, Keep It Green
One of the most popular uses of polycarbonate is greenhouse roofing. Whether you use polycarbonate for a dedicated greenhouse or as roofing for a small pocket garden, keep up your green lifestyle by making sure that the polycarbonate sheets are clean and free from dirt and grime. The build-up of dirt and grime can cloud your polycarbonate roofing. Using lukewarm water with very mild soap is the key to deep cleaning your roof effectively. Take a large sponge, soak it in the solution, and wipe gently over the surface for a clean polycarbonate roof. Repeat the process until the roof is clear. Should the water turn murky before you finish cleaning, discard the water, then wash the pail and sponge until free from dirt and debris. Start afresh with a new batch of warm soapy water before continuing. Dirty water can cause water spotting and scratching on your polycarbonate sheets. This process may be difficult, but it is well worth it, since it will ensure that your plants get the light it needs to grow well.
Pro-Tip: Never attempt to use dry sponge when cleaning polycarbonate roofing sheets. This will do more harm than good since debris may crack and scratch the surface of your roof.
Replace What You Can’t Erase
We understand that sometimes despite our best efforts, things don’t work out the way we planned it. Whether it be due to extreme weather conditions, missed maintenance, wrong cleaning solution, or simply age— sometimes polycarbonate roofing can be beyond repair or cleaning. Rather than trying to salvage or live with a ruined or old roof, consider replacing your polycarbonate conservatory roof altogether. Polycarbonate roofing has a life expectancy of at least 10 years for solid polycarbonate sheet, and 5-8 years for twinwall sheets. However, a damaged or old UV layer can cause harmful rays and scorching heat to seep through, so the longer you leave your roof unattended, the more chances of it causing harm to you or your family. Replace damaged or old roofing with solid polycarbonate from a trusted supplier as soon as possible to minimize damage.
Pro-Tip: Not all cleaning solutions are compatible with polycarbonate roofing. The wrong product can mean the difference between being able to save a polycarbonate roof or needing to replace it entirely. Avoid ammonia-based cleaning solutions as these are guaranteed to cause irreparable damage to your roof and its UV coating.
We hope this simple guide helped you pick up some tricks and tips for cleaning and maintaining your own polycarbonate roof. With polycarbonate being so hardy, proper maintenance will prolong its usability and durability for a long time. If you have any questions regarding polycarbonate roofing, reach out to trusted industry experts for a qualified opinion or quotation.