Thread: roof poly sheets for proper light

Use either clear or opal/white.
Any colour will give you strange effects especially when painting.
Oh, and welcome to the forum.

Alan...

Go for white, more uniform diffused light.

You could also consider multiwall panels, similar to core flute but comes as 10mm thick, cuts down the heat factor by 70% but you need the extrusions to go with it to fit it correctly and is a lot dearer also. I spent some considerable time delivering bot products as well as installing it.

Thanks for the replies guys, white/opel sounds good - l'll check out the wall cadding, someone did mention bubble foil in another thread used with plaster or Tongue and groove flooring.

Suss those out as well.
Cheers
Stevo

Hi people, I've got to replace these old fiberglass roof sheets and cant find the same profile, what are my options or any one know where i can find these? They are 4610mm long and 670mm wide i need to replace the 8 or am i better off using modern sheets and starting again?? Any Advice will be appreciated cheers


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I know you probably don't want to hear this but I reckon those transparent roofing sheets let through too much heat and the next time I replace mine I'm going to use Colorbond and some decent insulation.

As far as light goes some decent LED lighting will fix that and cost very little to run.

Try a plumbing supplier, they should be able to help.

I also need to replace mine, and am considering a combination of clear and translucent on the east/west sides of the shed. Heat is a consideration, but my gut feeling is that the south eastern parts of Australia will start cooling down over the next decade or so, so I am not too worried about heat.

I agree with BobL. Forget the skylights and go with electric lights. Any of the light panels allow heat in as there is no insulation. A shed with a full, well insulated roof is a pleasure to work in.

Sunlight = heat. Go with insulated metal roofing and install LED lighting.

Years ago I replaced the fiberglass roof sheeting with clear poly. Worst mistake ever! It is almost impossible to work in the shed directly under one of those lights when the sun shines thru because of the heat.

In an area not under the skylight it is hot but tolerable, with one of those large fans supplying a breeze.
If I was to do it again I would use a totally translucent white material so that it would spread the light (and heat) over a wider area and possibly be able to work under one of those lights.

Or maybe use BobL's suggestion and settle for insulation and LED lighting which would also be more comfortable in winter.

A better way to get natural lighting in via a roof is to install a saw toothed roof with vertical transparent sections facing in such a way that sunlight can enter directly. I have a 4m long x 250 mm wide section like that and it lets in very little heat compared to the semi transparent sheets.

In summer I now actually cover the transparent sheets with a double layer of highest density shade cloth other wise I cannot stand underneath them for too long.

l am going to order some 16mm twinwall poly (clear) to install underneath my cream Poly sheets to stop the summer heat, but if you are going to build a new shed or extension I would go with a window or double glazed window (north facing) with perhaps a shade cloth awning or similar , it won't be any more expensive than poly plus "twinwall cladding", just an after thought reflecting on my shed extension, having the roof fully clad in "iron" with LED lighting is a great idea but l was concerned about power failure (which does happen), yes l know buy some battery back up lighting (rechargable floods etc), just throwing up the variables!, so people can comment. (which is good)