Thermal washer: how and where to use it
Thermal washers for polycarbonate installation
Installing polycarbonate sheets, including cellular and solid polycarbonate, requires the use of specialized fasteners. One such fastener is a thermal washer. In today's video, we'll explain the different types of thermal washers and how to use them correctly. We've repeatedly observed cases where gardeners, when installing polycarbonate for a canopy, use ordinary nails, screws, and traditional fasteners. After just a few days, especially after heavy rainfall, the polycarbonate sheets begin to show their "character," or rather, refuse to accept conventional fasteners. As a result, the structure must be redesigned, but this time using suitable fasteners.
A thermal washer solves several problems associated with polycarbonate installations. First, it eliminates leaks, second, it eliminates heat loss, and third, it prevents dust and small debris from entering the polycarbonate cavities. Of course, the main purpose of a thermal washer is to ensure high-quality, precise fixation of cellular and solid polycarbonate sheets. Incidentally, thermal washers are suitable for fastening to any frame base—wood, metal, or plastic. When developing thermal washers, manufacturers addressed three issues:
• Polycarbonate can change shape under temperature, but thermal washers are unaffected by this negative factor;
• Thermal washers can be attached to hollow cells without compromising the structural integrity;
• Mechanical stress plays no role in the thermal washer's performance.
Now, please note that if you use traditional fasteners, the three aforementioned issues will become apparent.
Now let's discuss the design of a thermal washer and how it differs from other fasteners.
1. Leg. For some polycarbonate types, manufacturers produce thermal washers with a 16 mm leg. Sometimes you can find longer legs, for example, designed for 20 mm thick monolithic polycarbonate.
2. Seal. Made of a special polymer material, the seal protects the sheets from two problems: it prevents moisture, dust, and small debris from getting inside.
3. Top cap. The top cap is primarily decorative. However, the cap reinforces the thermal washer and doubles the seal's effectiveness in preventing water and dirt from getting inside the polycarbonate cells.
In the classic thermal washer installation, the design looks like this (from bottom to top):
Polycarbonate sheet itself;
Sealing ring;
Thermal washer;
Screw;
Protective cap.
This simple design perfectly protects the polycarbonate and also ensures reliable fixation of the material.
By the way, many people believe that buying a thermal washer is a waste of money. It's best to use traditional fasteners. After a while, many regret not using thermal washers. Manufacturers produce packages of approximately 50 fasteners per package, so there's no need to skimp on fasteners to avoid additional costs for repairs and restoration of polycarbonate roofing.
An interesting fact: even in severe frost, a thermal washer will maintain the high-quality thermal insulation properties of polycarbonate, meaning the material won't deteriorate under sudden temperature changes.
Let me know in the comments to the video what fasteners you use for polycarbonate. Do you have any issues with the quality of the fasteners or with the polycarbonate itself?