Polycarbonate fences: pros and cons

The fence is an integral part of a modern home or country house, it acts not only as a means of protection, but also as an element of decor. A huge range of building materials allows everyone to choose what they like. In place of the classics came the new technology. Manufacturers filled the market with a variety of synthetic polymers that are resistant to weather conditions and temperature extremes. The leading representative in first place in the ranking of sales is polycarbonate.

A polycarbonate fence is a versatile home edifice, delimiting a plot with a street and a neighboring territory. But before you start work, study the cadastral plan of the site, the scheme of underground communications, approve the project with the architect. These simple activities will protect you and your family from claims and disputes with your neighbors, and will help to avoid lawsuits and proceedings.

A sheet polymer enclosure is very similar to a flat slate fence (sheets and additional elements are mounted on the metal frame), but the design has features:

• Installation is performed only in the form of separate sections, leaving room to compensate for the thermal expansion of the material.
• The surface is necessarily covered with a protective film to prevent the appearance of microcracks and turbidity under the influence of sunlight.
• It is forbidden to use polycarbonate web for the supporting structure, even if it is a solid sheet. The load on the sheet, will lead to the formation of pricks and cracks.
• Drilling sites should be removed from the edge at a distance of at least 40 mm to reduce the risk of cracks between the hole and the edge.

To determine the estimated cost of construction, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics of polycarbonate and its thickness.

The low weight of the polymer panels makes it possible to point concrete the supports and pour simple foundations.that will reduce the time and cost, but will not affect the strength and quality of the fence.

Inside the honeycomb sheets are voids in which moisture and dust accumulate. To prevent dirty streaks, the direction of the channels should be strictly vertical. When the panels are raised to a height of 60 cm, the probability of deformation and the appearance of cracks on fragile honeycomb surfaces is reduced.

Polycarbonate is a new, unusual material with many advantages:

• Reducing the amount of shadow from the fence due to the transparency of the material, the light-penetrating properties are similar to the properties of glass (penetration of more than 90% of the sun's rays).
• Such a fence implies the possibility of avoiding deaf fences and not isolating the site.
• The period of operation can be quite long.
• The sound insulation properties of the cell structure will protect the site from traffic noise of a nearby road or road junction.
• It is possible to create a protective screen near airports and train stations, protecting your home from sound and chemical pollution.
• The chemical composition and design features (the presence of stiffeners) endow the structure with high strength and endurance.
• High flexibility and plasticity will allow the designer to carry out decorative design of any shape and embody all creative solutions.

• The fence fits easily into any environment due to the huge color range (the paint does not fade with time) and universal combination with different building materials (brick, concrete, wood, stone, plastic).
• Ease of care will avoid painting and processing chemicals, reduce the cost of maintenance.
• What is important is the speed of installation without special equipment and lightweight construction during transportation.
• Low cost makes it possible to protect even a large area without large financial costs.
• The fence has an attractive and sophisticated appearance.
• Service life extends resistance to aggressive environmental influences, moisture, insects, mold, wind, corrosion, biological damage.
• There is a possibility to choose the degree of transparency of the structure.
• The fence keeps negative ultraviolet radiation.
• During a fire, the building does not burn, emits gas and water vapor, does not form life-threatening fragments.

The disadvantages should include:

• Opaque sheets create additional shadow.
• Requires proper installation of racks according to the rules and standards. This is to avoid deformation and damage by strong wind.
• Scratches and dents can occur from contact with a stick, metal objects, glass.
• The process of decorating with natural or forged materials will increase the price of the product.
• Susceptibility to expansion during heating creates the need to leave gaps for this material feature when designing.
• Be sure to need sealing of the end parts.

Polycarbonate - polymer plastic for the manufacture of structures, fences, roofs, greenhouses, greenhouses. The material consists of carbolic acid and carbonic acid.

Technical specifications:

• Canvases are available in general standard parameters (length, width, thickness).
• The level of transparency depends on the saturation of the dye, the cellular structure contributes to the dispersion of sunlight, replacing artificial light with daylight.
• The material is 1.5 times lighter than silicate brick, honeycomb panels exert minimal pressure on the supporting structures.
• The strength of products is 100 times stronger than glass and 10 times greater than acrylic, the supporting strength is 9 times greater than that of a brick.
• Holistic plastic two times less cold than the glass, and has high levels of sound insulation and heat insulation.
• For different thickness of the material, the smallest bending radius is set, changing the slope, it is possible to destroy the structure.
• The use of polycarbonate is possible in different climatic zones with a degree of heat from - 45 to +120 degrees Celsius.
• Chemical constancy is characteristic of the material - it is resistant to chemical oil, hydrochloric acid, saline solution, detergents, but the structure of products is affected by ammonia, alkaline substances, solvents, methyl hydroxide.

Special preparation of polycarbonate granules, allows to melt plates of different types.

Manufacturers divided polycarbonate into:

• structural (cellular, cellular, channel);
• monolithic (cast).

If we compare the two types of plexiglass, then:

• Honeycomb - lightweight, cheap material, having a thickness of from 4 mm to 32 mm;
• cast - durable, expensive analogue, having a thickness of from 2 mm to 12 mm.

All species have different sizes. Installation must begin with an accurate selection of sheets that will help reduce the percentage of overspending. For combined fencing fit thinner sheets. Due to the high temperature range, monolithic webs replace quartz glass for places with increased strength.

Polycarbonate fence - high-quality and durable fencing of the local area.

It has the following properties:

• resistance to acid and alkali;
• resistance to shock and mechanical stress;
• high isolation from electric current;
• affordable price;
• ease of installation;
• heat resistance;
• burning temperature +5000 degrees.

Before building a fence for a private house, you need to consider the following types of frame:

• The construction of the pipes on the metal frame and steel corners.The sheet is attached to the back surface of the clips.
• Popular design on a wrought basis.
• The most aesthetic options are brick and stone structures.

Before the main work it is necessary to complete the preparatory stages:

• to tension the marking cord along the line of the fence location (level);
• remove bumps, depressions and irregularities;
• identify places for pillars and carry out all the work to install them;
• arrange the supporting columns in accordance with the width of the sheets;
• build a solid foundation;
• perform reinforcement.

The destruction of the polymer sheets at the attachment points is a problem that may appear after prolonged squall winds.

Additional measures taken will help avoid it:

• For fixing the sheets, you need to use a welded frame from the corners, and not transverse beams.
• Fence sheets with a height of 2 m must be additionally fixed in the cement.
• Additional vertical racks will increase rigidity.

A pressing and complex issue requiring a solution is the high coefficient of thermal expansion. For two-meter cellular transparent panels, the vertical increase in height can reach 5 mm, for darkened ones - 9 mm. In this case, the rigid attachment is applied only to the central part, and the edges will have the opportunity to move inside the frame.

According to beginners and experienced builders, polycarbonate fencing has many undeniable advantages:

• resistance to moisture, rotting and rust (any constructions and structures easily tolerate changes in the environment);
• sheets are not afraid of low and high temperatures;
• flexibility and resistance to mechanical stress;
• the possibility of translating the most daring design ideas;
• the ease and transportability, facilitating installation without involvement of special equipment;
• the ability to cut and drill sheets with a minimum of tools.

Positive feedback left and gardeners. The ability to avoid darkening of the area around the fence and plant ornamental plants around the perimeter of the site is an indisputable plus of sheet polycarbonate. Easy removal of dirt and dust (flushing water from a hose) allows you to create floral arrangements on an aesthetic, clean and attractive background.

Objective consumer comments contain negative reviews:

• Unstable frame, installed without complying with all requirements, can lead to structural deformation.
• A blow with a stone or a hard object will damage the appearance of the fence. To protect the site from vandals, use 12 mm thick cast sheets.

Rest in a country house after the hustle and bustle of the city - the dream of a modern resident of the metropolis.Weekends spent in silence and solitude will recuperate for the new work week.

To create effective options, experts recommend the following combination of materials:

• forged elements and sheets of bronze color;
• light aluminum edging and dark opaque panels;
• lacquered wooden buildings and dark polycarbonate;
• brick foundation in red and brown arched panels;
• tinted inserts in wrought iron fences;
• colorless panels and overlays.

• Contrast is a win-win. White brick with brown hubcaps and dark linen will give the fence a look of reliability and highlight the impeccable taste of the owners of the house.
• The air fence of the infield will create comfort and a sense of calm, and the bright edging of the frame will enliven and highlight the construction against the backdrop of nature.

• Forged gates with white supports will give solidity and status of the fenced territory, and translucent polycarbonate will make mysterious and mysterious.
• A transparent screen along the road will protect the residential area of ​​the site from noise and dust, giving a stylish and modern look to the fence.

For a review of polycarbonate fence, see the video below.