Is your outdoor space looking a little bland? SUNTUF Polycarbonate by PALRAM can transform ordinary spaces and make them bright and comfortable all year with natural daylight.
Whether you’ve used polycarbonate before or this is your first project, you might wonder how long SUNTUF should last. If you want to renovate an existing structure or plan out a new build, SUNTUF polycarbonate is well-known for its ability to withstand the harsh (and often unpredictable) Australian weather conditions.
However, you still might be concerned about exactly how long this roofing type will last. This article will tell you everything you need to know about its longevity, features, and why it continues to be an excellent investment.
What is SUNTUF Polycarbonate?
SUNTUF is an innovative, technology-advanced producer of polycarbonate roofing and wall sheeting, which comes in three styles.
PALRAM SUNTUF Standard Polycarbonate Sheeting
Standard roof sheeting has a long track record as a reliable and effective method of protecting Australian families from wind, hail, or rain. These hard-wearing sheets also have multiple uses in domestic and industrial settings.
As well as being flexible for many properties, SUNTUF standard is one of the most affordable from this range, so you can cover our area for a great price.
PALRAM SUNTUF SolarSmart Polycarbonate Sheeting
The SolarSmart is a premium polycarbonate sheet, providing 99.9% UV protection as tested by the Australian Skin Cancer Research Foundation.
SolarSmart has been tested for early fire hazards and sandbag impact and has been rated highly for cyclonic wind levels. It is also available in a corrugated profile or a defined, square greca profile. The choice is all yours!
PALRAM SUNTUF SolarSmart Selective Polycarbonate Sheeting
SolarSmart Selective is the ultimate PALRAM range for sun protection, offering up to an 85.0% reduction in light and heat transmission for true comfort.
You can experience a higher light transmission while maintaining shading coefficient values (coolness on those boiling summer days!).
Let’s look at some of the main benefits of SUNTUF polycarbonate for your home or commercial building:
- SUNTUF is lightweight and a simple corrugated sheet to install even for the passionate DIY’er
- It is weather resistant, including impact damage such as hail
- SUNTUF balances shade and daylight, so you can feel comfortable outside throughout all seasons
- Requires minimal maintenance with a sponge and soapy water
- SUNTUF has a wide service temperature range
- This polycarbonate option works with every budget and application
- Transparent with up to 90% light transmission, depending on your colour choice
Reflecting more radiation across the entire ultraviolet light spectrum (not only the area that provides visible light), SUNTUF Polycarbonate is a heat-reflective, cooler range.
Every SUNTUF sheet has a Limited-Time Warranty. It provides 99.9% UV protection against harsh Australian sunshine, so your family can enjoy outdoor areas without sunburn.
SUNTUF complies with demanding international fire resistance standards (AS/NZS 1530.3:1999) in the field of plastics.
Standard SUNTUF Polycarbonate Colour Range
- White Diffused: Light Transfer 85%, Heat Transfer 80%
- White Opal: Light Transfer 45%, Heat Transfer 40%
- Cream: Light Transfer 44%, Heat Transfer 33%
- Grey: Light Transfer 20%, Heat Transfer 43%
- Bronze: Light Transfer 25%, Heat Transfer 48%
- Clear: Light Transfer 90%, Heat Transfer 86%
SolarSmart SUNTUF Polycarbonate Colour Range
- Smart Grey: Light Transfer 20%, Heat Transfer 34%
- Solar Control: Light Transfer 20%, Heat Transfer 34%
- Solar Ice: Light Transfer 25%, Heat Transfer 35%
- Sandune: Light Transfer 15%, Heat Transfer 15%
- Metallic Jasper: Light Transfer 15%, Heat Transfer 15%
SUNTUF Polycarbonate: Guidelines on Lifespan
So, how long does a polycarbonate roof last? As the world’s leading profiled polycarbonate sheet, SUNTUF was the first polycarbonate roofing sheets in the 1990s to the Australian marketplace, proving its performance for homes and commercial properties for over 25 years.
SUNTUF can last 10 to 20 years, and some manufacturers have warranties of up to 25 years. It’s a deal you can’t say no to when you’re looking for the best for your build.
Why do they last this long? Since SUNTUF weighs half the weight of glass, these profiled sheets offer many advantages over traditional alternatives: up to 20 times the impact resistance, the highest light transmission rates, the lowest yellowing index, the best load rating, and strongest resistance to wind uplift.
SUNTUF’s longevity is also backed by PALRAM roofing certifications such as:
- A Lifetime Limited Warranty
- 99.9% UV protection
- Australian Standards Certified (AS 4256-5)
- Early Fire Hazard Test (AS 1530)
- Sandbag Impact Test (AS1562-3_
- Rated for Cyclonic Winds (AS 4040.3)
Why is SUNTUF built to last?
Almost-infrared radiation protection. Although it can’t be seen, it can be felt on our skin on hot days.
If you don’t have any kind of protection for porch roofing, you’re really going to feel the heat during the summer. But SUNTUF has the ability to block out any near-infrared radiation, so you won’t feel as overwhelmed by sun glare, diffusing daylight across your patio.
High-performance technology. Providing a holistic approach to pergola, patio, and carport roofing, SUNTUF panels are lightweight, sturdy, and durable against weathering. During heavy rainstorms, hail, or powerful winds, SUNTUF stands firm.
UV protection. SUNTUF is the perfect choice for your dream greenhouse, allowing up to 90.% of light to shine through the sheet without fading. Suitable for all Australian climate conditions (reflecting more heat across the entire ultraviolet light spectrum), it is bound to last for decades.Flexibility. SUNTUF is pretty much unbreakable and has many flexible design options; curb it along and across corrugations and longitudinally on dome patios! It’s hard qualities make it resistant to hammer blowers and big hailstones, yet it can still be cut easily with tools.
MetalMatch technology. SUNTUF achieves a weather-tight installation and stable thermal properties with MetalMatch technology, meaning you can match almost any corrugated metal profile while keeping costs down. This maintains a structurally consistent roof assembly, simple installation, maximum strength, and water tightness, eliminating the need for specific fitting accessories.
An industry leader. SUNTUF is the first polycarbonate sheeting with a 25-year warranty, anti-glare technology, solar control, SolarSmart near-infrared technology and a cyclonically- rate sheet.
How can you apply SUNTUF polycarbonate to your projects?
You can build multiwall greenhouse glazing, giving your plants the right amount of sun to grow in a gorgeous greenhouse.
Create a residential patio canopy or polycarbonate-covered pergola so you can enjoy lunches and dinners with friends and family with natural lighting and sun protection.
Plan a patio roof cover. If you’re planning a birthday or a Christmas gathering, this roof cover will keep you shaded from the hot sun.
Carports or garages (parking shelters) can benefit from SUNTUF polycarbonate as it protects vehicles from damage caused by UV rays.
Put together polycarbonate pool covers for commercial buildings such as gyms or domestic swimming pools.
If you would like to learn more about keeping your SUNTUF panels in great shape, have a read of how to maintain polycarbonate roof panels!
Types of SUNTUF Polycarbonate Sheeting
What are some SUNTUF polycarbonate sheeting you can buy?
SUNTUF BH (Beehive) Polycarbonate
Three times thicker than standard polycarbonate roofing, SUNTUF Beehive is durable, strong, and has the highest impact resistance available in profiled polycarbonate today.
For example, Suntu BH produces 100% diffused light resulting in greater flexibility and is suitable for residential and commercial use. Its embossed surface adds a new and fresh appearance to your project. Features include:
- A 76/18 corrugated profile
- Prismatic-honeycomb texture
- 2.8mm thickness
- 860mm width and 760mm cover
- Clear, Solar Grey, or Solar Ice colours
- 5.5 W/M2k U-Value
- 0.18M2k/W R-Value
- Complies to international fire-resistance standards AS/NZS 1530.3:1999
- 1.8m, 2.4m, 3.0m, 3.6m, 4.2m, 4.8m, 5.4m, 6.0m, or 7.m length
SUNTUF EZ Glaze Polycarbonate
Versatile and low-maintenance, SUNTUF EZ Glaze can be installed directly onto rafters without intermittent purlins due to a proprietary profiled design.
- SUNTUF creates a glass-like appearance for your roofing space, but what are some of its features?
- EZ Glaze is easy to fasten as panels are simply screwed fixed to the supportive structure and joined by overlapping
- Xlear, Grey, and Breeze colour
- 3mm thickness
- 600mm cover width and 673mm total width
- Maximum length is 7,000mm
- Loads resistance are 2.0 Kpa Wind Uplift and 4.0 Kpa Wind Load
- Complies with international fire standard AS9705-Group 1 AS1530.3
For an in-depth look, have a read of SUNTUF EX-Glaze Polycarbonate comprehensive guide.
What are some things you should know about SUNTUF polycarbonate roofing?
- As temperature changes, polycarbonate sheets expand and contract, so when fixing the polycarbonate sheeting to a structure, you must allow for this movement by creating an oversized hole for the screw.
- Using SUNTUF CLEARFIX and ONESHOT screws isn’t very time-consuming (Self Drilling Screws can save up to 50% installation time) as it includes a cutter on every screw. You also don’t want to overtighten these screws.
- One Shot fixing features a Class 4 coating for superior corrosion resistance, and you will require eight screws per lineal metre of sheeting
- Silicones are generally not recommended for Polycarbonate sheeting, so you will want to consider flashing options.
- You always want to make sure that sheeting is installed the correct way up (the protective UV layer on the sheet), which is clearly marked and stops the sheet from breaking down prematurely from UV rays.
SUNTUF sheets can be cut to lengths free of charge before dispatch, but if not, a fine-tooth circular saw can be used. Always reach out to the manufacturer for specific details on installation and product warranties.
We offer roofing supplies to Langwarrin, Narre Warren, Officer, Berwick, and Dandenong homes and businesses that demand the best quality for patios, pergolas, carports, greenhouses, and many build types.
Roofing Supplies for Melbourne Residents: Choose Roofing Options!
If you’re a contractor, builder, homeowner, or a DIY enthusiast needing SUNTUF, Roofing Options have everything you need to transform your property exterior.
Whether you want supplies such as Colorbond roof sheets, Colorbond guttering, custom made flashings, Ampelite, Velux manual skylights, or other roofing suppliers to your Coburg, Preston, Thornbury, Reservoir, or Broadmeadows residence, we have in-depth knowledge of all materials.
With a convenient online store and stores in Cranbourne, Coburg, and Campbellfield, we supply products only from trusted brands and manufacturers. Check out our Online Store and contact us today to talk to a roofing expert.
