Our outdoor spaces can be greatly improved with the addition of all sorts of outdoor structures and design elements. One such structure is a pergola, which can be both a freestanding or attached outdoor structure, giving you a nice protected area for entertainment or enjoying the outdoors. Although the very first pergolas didn’t feature a roof, many people today do have a transparent roof to let in the sun while protecting the area from the other elements. Glass was seen as the first choice in this regard, but as time progressed polycarbonate was found to be the best for pergola roofing.

Here are the top reasons why you should be choosing polycarbonate roofing as a part of steel pergolas.

1. Protection from UV Rays

Something that we are all more conscious about these days, particularly in Australia where we receive a great deal of sunlight is the effects of the harmful UV rays. Previously in pergolas where glass roofing was used, people were still receiving the UV rays through the glass. Polycarbonate on the other hand allows for up to 99% protection from UV.

2. Lightweight

The lightweight properties of polycarbonate make it easier to transport panels and install them where you need them. You’ll either be thanking yourself if you’re installing it or allow for the professional pergola installers to get the job done quickly thanks to being able to manoeuvre and install the polycarbonate panels easily. Without any compromise on the level of clarity that you receive, polycarbonate is 50% lighter than glass.

3. Durable

For its weight, the polycarbonate panels are durable and strong, helping to protect your space from the elements and anything else that’s thrown its way. Again, when looking at polycarbonate in comparison to glass, it’s around 200 times stronger, meaning you don’t have to worry about that hail storm creating cracks or potentially shattering the roof on your pergola!

4. Scratch & Fire-Resistant

The polycarbonate panels are also scratch-resistant, making them a more desirable choice as their overall looks can stand up better over time. As an added bonus for areas that are more susceptible to fires, the durability of polycarbonate makes it more resistant to fires too.

5. Highly Flexible

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of glass is often how easy it is to shatter it. The flexibility of polycarbonate is another way in which the material trumps glass and it can allow you to manipulate and create interesting designs which you wouldn’t be able to do if you were using glass on your roofing. You’ll be able to cold-bend polycarbonate on-site making it very easy to match the area you want to install it in.

6. Available in Different Colours

Polycarbonate can also come in different style and colours, which you can choose from to find the best one for your home. The modern and sleek look of polycarbonate in combination with steel can create a great addition to your outdoor space, particularly with the use of a suitable colour.

7. Great Thermal Insulation

Polycarbonate offers great thermal insulation when used in roofing, which is great for soaking up all that beautiful sun on those cloudy or chilly days and keeping the heat in for longer.

Always go for an experienced pergola builder

No matter what type of outdoor structure you’re hoping to install in your backyard, make sure that you always go through an experienced pergola builder. They can help to carefully design a suitable structure to match your needs, whilst using the best quality and durable materials when installing it.