Solid Polycarbonate

Solid polycarbonate weighs about half as much as glass of the same thickness. A 4mm sheet weighs roughly 4.8kg per square metre, so it is much easier to carry, lift and fit, and it puts less load on frames, canopy roofs and shed windows. That saving matters most on larger panels and overhead glazing, where weight is hardest to manage.

Beyond clear, we stock bronze tinted, embossed, Georgian wire effect and Palgard abrasion resistant solid polycarbonate, plus clear acrylic sheet. Bronze cuts light to about half for glare control. Embossed and Georgian wire effect give a textured, more private finish. Palgard has a hard coating for scratch and vandal resistance. Each finish has its own thickness options, so check the category page.

Yes, solid polycarbonate suits both. It has around 200 times the impact strength of glass, which is why it is used for protective shields, bus shelters and security glazing. Clear sheet lets through about 90% of light, so it also works for signage and displays. For public areas where scratching or graffiti is likely, choose the hard-coated Palgard version instead.

Solid polycarbonate blocks sound roughly as well as glass, at about half the weight. At 4mm to 6mm it lets through slightly more sound than glass of the same thickness. From 10mm upwards the two are about equal. If noise matters, such as a partition near a road, choose a thicker sheet rather than expecting a thin one to perform like double glazing.

It depends on the sheet. Our clear Palsun from 2mm to 12mm and our bronze sheets are UV protected on both sides. The 1mm and 1.5mm sheets are protected on one side only. For embossed and Georgian wire effect sheets, fit the face marked by the printed film outwards, and choose clear Palsun if both faces will see sun. Palgard blocks 99.9% of UV.