Sky light panels ?

[hemiallen]

Getting ready to agree to a contractor building my 50w x 90l steel ag building. It is a steel building, 14' rollup doors and 20' walls, 4-12 slope roof, all to be open bays, no support beams inside.

I planned on 8 panels for daytime lighting, but the second contractor bidding said some folks don't want the UV issues associated with panels, especially over a travel trailer as it defeats storing them indoors for bleaching and roof damage.

I have searched, without great information, on how much UV goes through the simple panels of clear plastic VS real skylights.

Any feedback on this? I was thinking I could always cover a panel inside if one is over the one 5th wheel I plan to put in the shop, but would like input from those that have done builds.

I'll start a thread once we break ground.

Thanks

Allen

 

[driz]

Stay far away from those clear plastic panels that have the gentle wave ridges in them. I think they are polycarbonate quite flexible ect and you can get them at HD. Lowes ect. That stuff is absolute garbage and will yellow weaken and split within 10 years guaranteed.
What. You want is not clear but whitish translucent and is made of fiberglass. I just saw some guys take down an aircraft hanger built 40 years ago and they reused it on the new site. Common in the 70 s its hard to find in many places and very $$$$$$. It will last though, let decent light in and not go to **** on you in short order.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[readhead]

I have installed lots of them over the years. The obscure ones offer better light diffusion than the clear ones. Most all are now acrylic. There were lots of bad fiberglass panels in years past. I'm not sure they are even available anymore. Don't know where you are but if condensation is an issue, anti drip versions are available. Unless a customer demands it we do not install them in the roof for safety reasons. If the roof needs to have snow removed I don't want to have somebody fall through one. They claim that they are plenty strong but they are usually installed as a single span which isn't ideal. I usually install them high on the side walls. I have not heard of uv issues but I suppose it is possible.

 

[hemiallen]

Thanks

The assemblers suggest roof insulation to eliminate condensation drips, but central SJ valley California has few days condensation in a friends shop a few miles away.

I found an industrial company with skylights, http://www.skycoskylights.com/build...UN9eFqhKP_yrYqo-3uQIbBlv-dxWkG0BoCnX8QAvD_BwE, but I suspect they are very expensive.

No snow loading.

Thanks for the input

Allen

 

[Git]

I used some of those Poly Carb panels over an outside work area a couple of years ago

I got them through a local lumberyard, but I think Lowes and HD either carry them or something similar

They come in different colors and there are different levels of how much light makes it through. For example, I used the 'solar grey' which is supposed to let about 35% of the light through, but it was still too bright/hot and I ended up buying some shade cloth to put over it

No matter what color - all their panels are supposed to have 99.9% UV protection

Warranty - "Limited lifetime warranty, including 10-years for damage due to hail"

I am happy with them
https://www.palramamericas.com/Products/corrugated-sheets/SUNTUF/

GreenHouse Mega store has some decent shade cloth. I have bought several pieces from them over the years (custom sizes) and so far no problems (I use the 70% decorative brown)
http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/category/shade-cloth