For conservatory or house roofs that are made of polycarbonate roofing material, rain noise is a problem that homeowners have to face all year round.
Early generation double glazing or polycarbonate roofs do offer some benefits but are notorious for the lack of soundproofing qualities.
In this article, we will take a look at how you can reduce rain noise on a polycarbonate roof. You may read our post about the causes & solutions of Noise in Gutters at Night
Conservatories are extremely common in a lot of regions across the United States that witness heavy rainfalls as well.
They are a good place to spend time with family as well as to get some office work done if you are working from home.
With the hybrid workplace system becoming a trend, if not a need, nowadays, there has never been a better time to make your conservatory or roof quieter.
What is more is that polycarbonate roofs are not effective insulators either, making the indoor environment hot in summer and cold during winters.
According to an estimate, more than a quarter of the heat produced under a polycarbonate roof escapes through it.
What this means is that your HVAC systems have to work harder, increasing energy costs, during most months of the year.
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Ways to Make A Polycarbonate Roof Quiter
There are a number of ways through which you can reduce rain and even other noises coming off of your polycarbonate roof.
Some are better than the others, of course, but I am detailing all of them so that you can go for the one that suits you best.
All of these methods help make your conservatory or home’s temperature better and more comfortable as well, saving you high costs.
#1. Installing Curtains or Blinds
Adding heavy fabric curtains or drapes or insulated blinds across the area that comes under your polycarbonate roof is an affordable way of keeping heat out by blocking the sunlight as well as soundproofing the place to some extent.
The temperature control effects are not as efficient during winters, though. You can add sofas to the place or throw around throw cushions, throw blankets or anything that absorbs sound.
#2. Upgrade the Polycarbonate in Your Polycarbonate Roof
Glazing bars sometimes expand, giving way for a new polycarbonate roof panel that has better soundproof qualities and efficiency.
For polycarbonate roofs that do not go through such expansion, you can apply an additional thin layer of polycarbonate underneath your roof to insulate it.
This method is also quite affordable but is not as effective and reduces rain noise only to a certain degree. You may read more to put a stop to the rain noise.
But before you start thickening your polycarbonate sheet, make sure your original polycarbonate has not passed its 10-year life expectancy, as replacing your roof is a better option in that case.
#3. Installing Thermotec Roof Panels
Thermotec roof panels are built with aluminum skins that are robust and offer better insulation. They render a polycarbonate roof much more comfortable and quieter.
They come in triple and double glazing and do not require any building work. They easily and quickly fit with polycarbonate roofs, and you can choose from a huge range of colors.
These panels can fit with any roofing material, such as timber, aluminum, PVCu, etc., and not just polycarbonate roofs. Thermotec roof panels are crafted to fit off-site and use seals, beads, and glazing bars.
Homeowners do not have to go through any disruptive modification work, roof reinforcement, or structural work, and the fitting gets completed within a day.
These panels are extremely durable, strong, light-weight, and easy to clean. A number of roofing companies offer to fit these panels that instantly make your polycarbonate roof drastically more resistant to sound.
#4. Replace Your Polycarbonate Roof With a Solid One
All the above-mentioned are temporary solutions, with the last one being the longest-term of them.
However, replacing your roof is a permanent and the most obvious solution to the problem of rain noise. Let’s find the 3 Ways to Rid Your Roof of Bird-Noise as well.
With the availability of options like a modern hybrid roof and tiled roof, you can make your roof match your property without having to worry about rain noise ever again.
Switching to a glass roof is very effective when it comes to rain noise. However, it can be pretty costly.
There are even options that do not require you to replace your roof frames, and you only have to replace your polycarbonate roof sheet with a sheet made of another material.
#5. Elastomeric Sheets
Another extremely effective, though not that commonly available, option to reduce hail or rain noise on your polycarbonate roof by up to 90% is elastomeric sheet insulation.
This method was developed by a roofing company in North Wales, Quietguard, only a couple of years ago.
The sheets are made of platinum-catalyzed silicone material and are injection molded, AKA compression molded into the end product that is laminated. These sheets are retrofitted onto polycarbonate roofs.
The sheets have a lifespan of 25 to 25 years and can be cut into any size, and are ideal for retrofitting onto homes, conservatory, motor homes, caravans, and even boat polycarbonate roofs.
The outer surface of the sheets has a number of different projections, including ribs, domes, and peaks in varying sizes to match the diameter of the drops of rain.
It is an effective and simple technology that enables homeowners to increase their return on investment for existing as well as new structures.
What this does is that it reduces the intensity of the falling raindrops and spreads the noise they produce by breaking them before they can complete their impact.
Final Thoughts
Homeowners can use any of the five above-mentioned ways to reduce rain noise on their polycarbonate roofs. Replacing your polycarbonate roof is always an option, but not everyone is willing to go for it.
For any roof work, like roof installation or roof repairs, make sure you choose an experienced roofing company and use high-quality roofing material.
