What type of screw for polycarbonate roofing?

There are many different types of roofing screws. So which one should you use?

This video shows you what type of fastener you should be using for your polycarbonate, acrylic, Plexiglass, Perspex, Twinwall, multi-wall, plastic or PVC roofing.

You can't use a standard roofing iron screw as it doesn't have a big enough washer. You also can't use standard screws as they don't have any washer at all, so your roofing will leak.

The key thing is all plastic or clear roofing requires an expansion hole. This is to allow for the thermal expansion and contraction that takes place with the sheets. If you don't have an expansion hole, the roofing will start to crack where the screws are.

We sell the One Shot and Multipurpose fasteners for corrugated and profiled roofing. These drill their own expansion hole. They're 50mm for corrugated or Greca, and 65mm for 5-Rib (a product with a taller ridge).

We have Weatherlock fasteners for Custom Glaze. And we have Twinwall fasteners for the Twinwall or Multiwall products.

0:00 Intro
0:14 What not to use
1:14 Profiled roofing
2:57 Twinwall roofing
3:17 Flat solid roofing

Hopefully this is helpful. If it is, please like and subscribe!

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If you're looking to buy great value polycarbonate and acrylic roofing, outdoor blinds, shade sails, and retractable awnings, you'll find it at Sunnyside. In business since 1966, with delivery throughout NZ.

09 390 4414

[briandana]

Sure wish I'd seen this before installing my first set of panels! Home Depot sells the "steel roof" style fasteners right next to the poly panels so I thought nothing of using them. Bad idea, they leak like crazy and I ended up caulking each individual screw after the fact (ya, not ideal). I used the correct fasteners as described in the video for my second installation and no issues at all and super easy to install. They are more pricey for sure, but well worth it.

[chippymatthews]

Excellent demonstration that was clear and concise. Very informative and enjoyable to watch..

[firststep]

I'm glad I found this! I purchased the fasteners without the expnsion hole cutter thinking it would seal my corrugated polycarb roof better given a bigger hole in hacked through it. I'm glad too I haven't started installing the roof and I kept the Bunnings receipt for the screws. Just need to figure the water proofing of the roof against a compressed fibro. Cheers.

[dl]

I've used the steel to wood fastener with rubber washer in the poly panels. Have not had any issues for 10+years. Placed in the valley for maximum screw retention into the wood. Done both locations but feel the valley is better. Have worried about corrosion of water running in the valley but have not noticed any issues.

[sugachale]

Awesome thanku I know which one to get now👍

[alexk]

Is there a fastener which lets to fasten solar panel brackets to which aluminium panels will be mounted with panels? I have a pergola quite big enough and I'd like to put solar panels on that pergola instead of the house as I do not want water leaks in the house.

[mateostabio]

Thanks! Just trying to complete a video to release soon, and I've been trying to find the plastic screw caps I used to install my multiwall-honeycomb 8mm polycarbonate sheets, (with the rubber donut that goes under them) But can't find them anywhere!! I hope I can find these metal screws with neoprene and washers with neoprene tomorrow...

Do you recommend a special screw for this or NOT recommend a particular screw, like zink or stainless? also how big should the expansion hole be?

I'm having this crackling noise in my gazebo, you can watch my video to see what im talking about. when its sunny or sunny and windy, the crackling is bad, its not super super bad like ive seen in some videos, but id like it to be 100% quiet. I'm hoping its just the screws, but im also reading it might be because I didn't put anything like a tape between my polycarbonate sheets and my purlins. Could that be it? I know theres a few screws that are on there too tight, and I know I made the screw holes the same size as the screws, so these are the two things I'm trying to tackle and fix before releasing my polycarbonate roofing video to show people what NOT TO DO.

Thanks for your help. Also, if you wanna be featured in my video as the expert and give me some pointers or recommendations, I'd be happy to discuss!

[steve]

Hi Edd.... I'm about to install a roof but don't want to screw through the sheets.. can I use some kind of glue on the second rafter instead?

[markdlt]

what about corrugated plastic to metal poles?