Not a job that your likely to do everyday, so below you will find some tips and advice on how to do it, what not to do, and some helpful guides.

Safety First

You will in most cases be need to access a roof! Caution should be taken when working at heights, but pay particular attention to the following:

Don’t walk on polycarbonate sheets – use extension poles where possible and if you must get onto the roof use crawl boards.  Always follow the manufacturers recommendations on accessing the roof area.

Cleaning basics

Most polycarbonates can be cleaned with mild detergent with warm water. Use with a soft cotton cloth or soft bristled brush.  Be sure not to use anything that will scratch the polycarbonate sheets (this can be done easily).  It is a good idea to give them a good hose down before you start to get any larger debris that may scratch off before you start any mechanical rubbing.

Make sure that you rinse off any of the soapy water when you have finished.

This will help to keep your sheeting looking great.

Beware cleaning solutions

Some commercial cleaning solutions will not be compatible with polycarbonate and can damage the sheeting leading to premature breakdown.

Troublesome spots

If after washing your roof with a mild detergent you still find some areas that need attention, you may wish to consult the chemical resistance guidelines put out by the manufactures.  You need to be careful when using chemicals as some may damage the sheeting. Always rinse sheets off well after using any cleaning chemicals.

See the chemical resistance charts here:

Suntuf/Sunlite/Sunpal

Laserlite

Prevention

If you are in the planning stage of your project – think carefully about the roof design in particular the PITCH.  Most polycarbonates are recommended a a minimum of 5 degrees.  But when it comes to keeping your roof  clean – the steep the roof the less cleaning required!

Don’t hesitate to get in contact with us if you have any other questions about cleaning your polycarbonate sheets.