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You can make outdoor recreation more comfortable by arranging various functional areas on the territory of your summer cottage. A polycarbonate veranda will be a great addition to a country house.
Types and advantages of the material
Polymer plastic, or polycarbonate, belongs to the group of building materials of a new generation. There are two types of polycarbonate: monolithic and cellular. Monolithic sheets are solid sheet plates that are characterized by a high degree of flexibility. The honeycomb polymer consists of two sheets interconnected by transverse bridges. The degree of rigidity and, accordingly, the strength index of the material depend on the number of internal membranes. For this reason, cellular polycarbonate is called structured, cellular or membrane.
Polymeric plastic is widely used in construction and agricultural fields, medicine and outdoor advertising. The advantages of the material include the following technical characteristics:
- High impact resistance and resistance to mechanical damage.
- Protection against UV radiation in direct contact with the sun’s rays.
- The possibility of uniform dispersion of sunlight, which allows the material to be used for roofing of various architectural objects.
- Waterproof and excellent thermal insulation.
- Resistance to various atmospheric precipitation.
- The absence of difficulties with the installation and operation of the finished structure.
- Light weight and high degree of flexibility.
Video: “Do-it-yourself glazing of the veranda with polycarbonate”
This video shows how to make the glazing of the terrace attached to the house with polymer plastic.
Variety of design options
The popularity of the polymer sheathed veranda is rapidly gaining momentum. The style and design of a polycarbonate veranda depends on the characteristics of the climatic zone, location, purpose and functionality of the object.
According to the shape of the frame, the structures are square, rectangular, polygonal, triangular, oval and non-standard. As for the installation site, often the veranda is built free-standing or attached to the house. Climate features determine the type of building, so there are open, semi-closed and closed verandas.
Detailed Technology
At the preparatory stage, it is recommended to carefully consider each stage of construction and draw up a detailed project of the future structure. A dimensional drawing diagram helps to avoid many common mistakes among novice builders. You can correctly draw up a sketch using specialized drawing programs: nanoCAD, autoCAD and Compass-3D.
To work with polymer plastic, you will need tools for cutting, a sealed tape for processing ends, self-tapping screws with thermal washers, an electric drill with a set of drills of various diameters. In the process of erecting a terrace attached to a country house, tools and materials will be needed for pouring the foundation, installing load-bearing supports, installing walls and roofing.
Foundation
The first stage of construction is the marking of the site and the installation of formwork. Keep in mind that if the terrace is built-in, then further installation of the bearing supports is carried out on the foundation of the country house. A veranda attached to a house or bath requires a solid and reliable foundation. The best option is to fill a strip, columnar or monolithic foundation. When forming a concrete base, the evenness of the horizontal plane is checked. Incorrect pouring and warping of the foundation can cause deformation of the walls of the building.
Some builders who prefer lightweight building structures suggest doing without a foundation at all. Over the entire area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe future building, sand and fine gravel are covered with layers, stone, concrete or clinker tiles are laid on top.
load-bearing elements
The choice of material for supporting structures is determined by the model of the veranda and the architecture of the house. So, near a wooden country house it is better to build an extension of timber and boards. If it is planned to build a canopy in the form of an arched structure, then a steel or aluminum domed frame cannot be dispensed with. At the same time, the steel structure is considered more durable and reliable, since it can withstand a large snow load.
When erecting an arched type of metal verandas, it will be necessary to install transverse stiffeners and additional pillars. To enhance the strength, it is recommended to lay the load-bearing elements at the stage of pouring the foundation.
Wall and roof cladding
For wall and roof cladding, cellular polycarbonate with a protective UV coating is used. You can determine the side of ultraviolet by marking marks from the manufacturer.
To cut the polymer web, you need to clean the work surface from construction and household debris. The ends of the polymer plastic should be closed with a sealed tape and an end profile. Otherwise, the accumulation of moisture, dust and debris inside the polycarbonate will lead to the loss of the original physical properties and qualities of the material. For the installation of polycarbonate, you will need a detachable metal profile, self-tapping screws and thermal washers.
Decorative finishing
At the final stage of the construction of the polycarbonate veranda, decorative finishing is carried out. If a metal profile was chosen as the supporting element, the material should be coated with a special anti-corrosion agent that prevents the penetration of moisture and the appearance of rust. Wooden supports are treated with flame retardants and antiseptics, which increase the fire resistance of the material and protect it from decay.
Large panoramic polycarbonate windows installed instead of walls do not require additional decoration. The planed board of the block house, which is a segment of profiled timber or rounded logs, is used to decorate the lower end panels. Also, this material interestingly complements window shutters.
For the interior decor of the veranda, fabric drapery, lighting and flower pots of various colors are used. Flowering, climbing and coniferous decorative crops, arranged around the perimeter of the building, create a warm and homely atmosphere.
Building Tips
Despite the high strength, it is necessary to work with polycarbonate sheets carefully and carefully. Dents and scratches left during the installation process lead to a deterioration in the technical qualities of the material. Lap fastening of panels is the main reason for the rapid depressurization of the structure. For this reason, it is recommended to leave a minimum gap for the panels to diverge.
Please note that the wrong choice of detergents leads to the loss of the original physical properties of the polymer plastic. To clean the polycarbonate veranda, do not use abrasive detergents and brushes with hard bristles.
A veranda sheathed with polycarbonate is a quick, simple and reliable way to improve a summer cottage. Even a summer resident who does not have special skills and practical experience will be able to make a functional extension if he approaches this task with all responsibility.