Polycarbonate, acrylic or glass: which sheet to choose
The sheet is the most visible part: it decides how much light gets through, how strong the canopy is and how it looks over the years.
Polycarbonate
It is the most impact-resistant and the lightest of the three. It can be curved, which is why it is often used for arched canopies and barrel-vault roofs.
It comes in solid form (a clear, full sheet) and multiwall form (with internal air chambers, more insulating and diffusing). Our solid polycarbonate for skylights has up to 86% light transmission.
Acrylic (plexiglass)
Acrylic is very clear and keeps its clarity well over time. It is less impact-resistant than polycarbonate, but looks more like glass.
We use it, for example, in windbreaks for outdoor dining areas.
Laminated glass
Laminated glass is made of several panes bonded by a film: if it breaks, the fragments stay attached. It is the most scratch-resistant and the most elegant, but also the heaviest, so it needs a suitable structure.
Among our canopies, the Matilde can be made with an 8 mm sheet or with laminated glass.
In short
Curved shape or frequent knocks: polycarbonate. Maximum clarity with low weight: acrylic. Glass look and a surface that does not scratch: laminated glass.
Not sure? With the configurator you choose the model and sheet and see the result in 3D straight away, or ask us for advice.
Products mentioned
Serena Canopy
CanopiesSemicircular section, 5 mm sheets and stainless steel accessories.
Matilde Canopy
CanopiesFlat section with a 20% slope, 8 mm sheets or laminated glass.
Skylights
IndustrySolid polycarbonate with up to 86% light transmission.
Windbreaks
Tunnels and windbreaksAluminium structure to extend the outdoor space of restaurants and bars.
All guides
Have a project in mind? Let’s talk.
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