Corrugated polycarbonate sheets are common roofing materials for DIY garden shelters and outdoor canopies. On-site tailoring and trimming is simple. Follow these guidelines to ensure quality results.
Safety First: Protect yourself by using professional equipment, keeping your surroundings neat and tidy, and using tools with caution and care.
Place a layer of cardboard or plywood on the workbench before placing the sheets. This will protect the surface from scratches.
Place the polycarbonate panels on your workbench.
Clamp a few sheets together. This will reduce vibrations.
Polycarbonate sheets come with a removable protective film or marking strip. This film indicates which side of the panel is UV-protected. Do not remove it. You will need it later.
Use a measuring tape to measure the sheet, and make pen marks at each end. Join the marks with a ruler.
Do not rush measuring and marking. Once trimmed, you cannot patch the sheets together.
Secure the polycarbonate sheets to the workbench surface to prevent movement and vibrations.
Support the sheets near the cutting line. You can do this by placing a timber plank on top of the sheets, parallel to the markings.
Cut along the marked pen line. The preferred method is to use a fine-tooth saw that rotates at high speed.
Advance the saw slowly and steadily and do not stop once you have begun. It will ensure a clean, consistent edge.
Remove leftover cuts and scraps from the cutting table.
