What are skylights and why make them from polycarbonate? - PolyPiù

Skylights are openings to the outside that are generally made at roof level.

They can only be made in pitched roofs and their purpose is to allow optimal penetration of natural light (so-called 'zenithal light') and air from outside (and thus promote ventilation) into indoor spaces. When installed in a building, skylights are usually found in attics or lofts.

The advantage of having skylights is easy to see: these windows promote the entry of light and air and thus make the indoor environment brighter, more ventilated and, as a result, healthier and more liveable. They also reduce the risk of the formation of humidity and mould, as well as the permanence of dust in rooms.

Skylights at attic level are also cost-effective, as they significantly reduce the use of artificial light sources and thus save on electricity bills.

These openings can also make a hitherto almost unusable room usable precisely because it has no windows, and finally they fulfil a purely aesthetic function, as they improve the visual impact of the room as a whole.

Polycarbonate skylights: a smart and efficient solution

As we have illustrated in our previous articles, one of the main strengths of polycarbonate is its formidable versatility: this material is the material of choice for a wide variety of architectural applications, ranging from canopies to verandas, from canopies to greenhouses, and of course skylights!

The advantages of choosing polycarbonate for the realisation of your skylight are numerous and objective: first of all, this material reduces the need for the use of artificial lights; moreover, it is extremely resistant to the action of even aggressive atmospheric agents (not only wind and rain, but also snow and hail).

It is also a durable material that requires very little maintenance (it can be washed with simple water and detergent) and that contributes, thanks to its special technical characteristics, to better energy savings: you can read our in-depth study on the subject at this link.

Extremely easy to install and cold-bendable, polycarbonate does not yellow under the sun: simply choose sheets with UV protection treatment to be guaranteed complete protection even from ultraviolet rays. Moreover, it is transparent and thus allows optimal passage of natural light, without the fragility typical of glass (polycarbonate is estimated to be up to 250 times stronger!).

Added to the great strength and impact resistance typical of polycarbonate is its ability to retain its energy-absorbing properties at both summer and winter temperatures. In this regard, it is worth emphasising that this material also has excellent fire behaviour, and thus contributes to the fire safety of the places where it is installed.

PolyPiù for your polycarbonate rooflight: GrecaPIÙ 

For the construction of polycarbonate rooflights, PolyPiù offers GrecaPIÙ: this is a polycarbonate honeycomb sheet with a very versatile corrugated shape, which you can also use for DIY roofing, greenhouses, canopies and shelters.

Its special shape makes it easy to stack, increasing its already marked strength.

GrecaPIÙ is supplied complete with heat seals at the ends to prevent annoying infiltration of dirt.

To make your polycarbonate skylight correctly with GrecaPIÙ sheets, please note that:

- They must be positioned with the alveoli parallel to the direction of the slope

- The measurement tolerance for customised sheets will be +/-5 millimetres

- Cuts for custom-sized slabs will be made orthogonally

GrecaPIÙ is available in a neutral or opal version to meet the aesthetic requirements of your DIY skylight.

Finally, don't forget that you can configure the sheets already in the sizes you need using our handy digital configurator. Our team of specialists will make them for you and you will quickly receive the material at home to start your DIY project!

Do you have questions or would you like more information about the product?Contact our technicians: they will be happy to offer you support!