UPVC & PVC Sheet

About UPVC & PVC Sheet

Where plastic roofing beats steel UPVC and PVC roofing sheets do not rust. That single property is why they get specified for chemical plants, fertiliser units, pickling shops, dairies, effluent treatment areas and coastal buildings, where a steel roof can corrode in a few years no matter what coating it carries. They are also quieter under rain than metal and do not conduct heat as readily, so buildings under them tend to run cooler than the same building under bare steel. The profiles we supply UPVC roof sheet in trapezoidal profile is the direct replacement for a standard metal roofing sheet. It fixes to the same purlin layout, which makes it straightforward on both new work and re-sheeting. UPVC tile sheet is pressed to a tile profile for pitched and residential roofs, and is often asked for as kavla UPVC sheet. It gives the appearance of a tiled roof with none of the weight and none of the individual tile handling. UPVC high rib sheet has a deeper rib, which increases stiffness along the sheet. The deeper section carries load across a wider purlin spacing, so it suits larger spans or sites with higher wind loading. Matching UPVC ridge and accessories are available so the whole roof stays in the same material. Mixing a plastic sheet with steel flashings puts the corrosion problem straight back onto the roof at the ridge and edges, which is exactly where leaks start. Multilayer construction Better UPVC roofing is made in layers rather than as one homogeneous sheet. The top layer carries UV and weather resistance, the middle gives structure, and the underside resists chemical attack from inside the building. A single layer sheet at a lower price is usually thinner on the layer that matters, which shows up as chalking and colour loss well before the sheet itself fails. What to watch on site Thermal movement is larger than with steel, so fixing holes need clearance and fasteners should not be driven tight. Support spacing matters more than with metal because plastic will deflect between purlins if the span is stretched. Cutting is best done with a fine tooth blade at moderate speed. Too fast and the edge melts and re-fuses, which leaves a weak line that can crack later. Walking on a plastic roof needs boards spanning the purlins. Standing directly on the sheet between supports is how most breakages happen during maintenance. Choosing between UPVC and coated steel If the building has a corrosive internal atmosphere, or sits close to the sea, UPVC will usually outlast coated steel by a wide margin and is worth the higher sheet cost. For an ordinary inland warehouse with a dry internal environment, coated steel remains the more economical choice and carries load better across wide spans. Many buildings end up mixed: steel over the general area and UPVC over the section with the chemical process. There is nothing wrong with that as long as the junction between the two is detailed properly. Enquiring Send the area, the purlin spacing, the profile you need to match, and what the building is used for. The internal process matters more than anything else here, because it decides whether plastic is the right answer at all.