Clear Roofs (Polycarbonate vs The World)

“I want natural light!”

So you put a clear roof over your laundry area. 3 months later… It’s yellow. It’s brittle. And it has a hole from a falling mango. What happened?

The Material Hierarchy

1. Solid Polycarbonate (The King) It looks like glass. It’s bulletproof (basically). It has UV coating. Cost: Expensive. Lifespan: 10+ years. Verdict: Buy this one.

2. Twin-Wall Polycarbonate (The Trap) It looks like a plastic sandwich with holes. The Problem: Water gets inside the holes. Algae grows. It turns green and gross inside the sheet. You can’t clean it. Avoid this unless you seal the edges perfectly (nobody does).

3. Fiberglass (The Classic) It’s okay. It’s tough. But the cheap ones turn yellow fast. And the fibers start to stick out (itchy).

Heat Warning

Clear roof = Greenhouse. If you enclose a room with a clear roof and no vents… You are baking your laundry. You need airflow. And maybe get “Bronze” or “White” tint instead of clear. It blocks some heat.

Summary

Solid Polycarbonate. Yes, it costs double. But you won’t have to replace it when you accidentally step on it.