We don’t just sell these products, we use them ourselves! Here are a few insider tips we've picked up along the way.

Different batches can have a slight variance in colour (mainly in the bronze and grey tints). We recommend you order your entire order in one go, not at different times.

Polycarbonate is affected by methylated spirits, benzene, petrol, ketones, acetone, phenols, chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum-based paints, abrasive cleaners and solvents.

If you have an existing roof and the sheets are bowing or buckling, there are a few reasons why that might happen. The most common cause is no expansion hole for the screw. It's important that an expansion hole (around 10-12mm) is drilled to allow for the sheet to expand and contract in the heat. It's also important that a screw with a domed washer larger than the expansion hole is used, you can't use a standard roofing iron screw. Another common cause is one or both ends of the sheet being hard up against something (e.g. a wall). This would also leave no room for the sheet to expand, causing it to buckle. A third cause may be having purlins too far apart. Check the installation details for your specific product, but generally corrugated (or similar) sheets need purlins every 800mm or so. Another cause is having no fall on the roof. If there is nowhere for the water to run off, it can pool and cause the sheets to sag.

Mixing polycarbonate with Colorsteel can create thermal and chemical stress. Polycarbonate expands and contracts up to four times more than steel, meaning it can buckle or tear at the fastener holes when locked alongside metal panels. Colorsteel can also get very hot and warp the polycarbonate. If it's an enclosed space, the heat buildup can worsen. The lack of ventilation can also trap fumes from adjacent sealants and flashing tapes, causing the polycarbonate to chemically degrade, yellow, and develop micro-cracks (crazing). Our Topglass is a better alternative because it is a Glass Reinforced Polyester (fiberglass) product with a thermal expansion rate that closely matches steel. This allows both materials to move together without stressing the roof joints. Because Topglass is a thermoset plastic, it won't melt or warp under the intense heat generated by the Colorsteel, and its superior chemical resistance makes it immune to the sealants and trapped fumes that affect polycarbonate.