An Overview Of Plastic Roofing Materials
Posted on: 10 July 2023
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You do not have to replace your aging roof with the same roofing material. You can switch to different materials depending on your roof's design and structure. For example, you can consider using plastic roofing materials even if you currently have asphalt shingles. Below is an overview of these plastic roofing materials.
Examples
Manufacturers produce roofing plastic from different types of plastic. Below are examples of such plastics.
PVC
Polyvinylchloride (PVC), used in roofing, is a single-ply plastic common in commercial roof applications, but you can also use it on other structures. The material is durable, and since it's mostly available in white, energy efficient. Roofing manufacturers reinforce PVS with other materials for strength and chemically treat it for damage resistance.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a naturally transparent thermoplastic. Polycarbonate transparency makes it suitable for covering rooms where natural lighting is desirable. The material is lightweight, durable, and resistant to weather damage. Polycarbonate roofing installation is relatively easy since contractors can easily cut and manipulate the material.
Acrylic
Acrylic roofing materials resemble polycarbonate materials since they also transmit natural light. However, acrylic materials are easy to manipulate and bend into different shapes. Thus, acrylics are suitable for non-standard roofing designs or shapes. Many roofing manufacturers produce acrylic sheets from recycled plastic, making the material eco-friendly.
Benefits
Plastic roofing has numerous benefits. Below are a few of them.
Impact Resistance
Most plastic roofing sheets are impact resistant, so you don't have to worry about repair whenever your neighborhood experiences hailstorms. Flying storm debris, falling tree materials, and other wind-blown objects are unlikely to shatter, crack, or break your plastic roof.
Weather Resistance
Weather elements, such as rainfall, sunlight, and temperature fluctuations, are some of the top threats to roof integrity and durability. Fortunately, most plastic sheets have treatments that help them resist weather damage. For example, polycarbonates have treatments that block ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which would otherwise damage the roof.
Lightweight
The weight of roofing materials is significant because it determines how strong the roof support structure should be. Heavy roofing materials require a strong structure, which increases roof installation cos. However, plastic roofing sheets are relatively light and don't require extra support on the roof.
Durability
Plastics do not react with other materials much. As explained above, plastic roofing sheets are also damage resistant. These qualities make plastic roofing durable.
Talk to your roofing contractors about different roofing materials and their pros and cons. That way, you can make an informed decision on your next roof.
Reach out to local roofers to learn more about residential roofing replacement services.