There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting in the shade on a beautiful, sunny day. One way to enjoy the outdoors without exposing yourself to the sun’s harmful rays and extreme heat is with a polycarbonate pergola roof. One of its many benefits is that the material is relatively low maintenance, so you can enjoy it for many years without wasting time on treatments or constant cleaning.
Of course, it’s important to care for your investment, and knowing how to clean your polycarbonate pergola roof will ensure it will be at your disposal for plenty of summers in the future.
What is a Polycarbonate Pergola Roof?
Polycarbonate is a transparent material that is often used as a cover on a pergola because it can help protect the structure—as well as the people who sit under it—from harmful UV rays and other weather elements, such as rain.
Polycarbonate comes in different opacities, from clear to tinted or colored. Tinted or colored polycarbonate offers better shade because it reduces the amount of sunlight that passes through.
You do need to be careful with polycarbonate as it can scratch or dent easily. With that in mind, you need to know exactly how to clean a polycarbonate pergola roof to maintain its quality and lifespan. Ideally, you’ll clean your polycarbonate pergola roof twice each year.
Polycarbonate Roof Cleaning Materials
When figuring out how to clean a polycarbonate pergola roof, you’ll first need to gather all your cleaning supplies. These include:
- A bucket of lukewarm water.
- A mild detergent with no harsh chemicals to abrasives such as Novus cleaning products
- Microfiber cloths—one to clean and one to dry.
6 Steps to Clean a Polycarbonate Pergola Roof
1. Remove Debris
Before you clean your polycarbonate pergola roof, remove any leaves, branches, and additional debris that might have fallen on top of it. You can do this with a soft broom or a leaf blower.
2. Rinse
Give the polycarbonate pergola roof a quick rinse to get as much dirt off before you start cleaning. TIP: Don’t use a pressure washer on your polycarbonate pergola roof as it can damage the surface. Instead, use your garden hose to rinse off the area.
3. Apply Cleaning Solution
You only need a drop or two of mild detergent in a bucket of lukewarm water to clean your polycarbonate pergola roof. Dip a microfiber cloth into the bucket and then wipe down the roof with care. Be sure to rinse the cloth frequently. Novus cleaning products are great for polycarbonate roofing.
4. Move in the Right Direction
Polycarbonate roofing sheets often have flutes, so the best way to clean them is to wipe them in the direction of the flutes.
5. Rinse Again
Using your garden hose, you can rinse the cleaning solution off your polycarbonate pergola roof. If the surface isn’t clean enough, you can wipe it down with the cleaning solution again until you achieve your desired result.
6. Wipe Dry
Wipe your polycarbonate pergola roof down so you can give it a final inspection before you finish up for the day.
Now that you know how to clean a polycarbonate pergola roof, take a look at our selection, and don’t hesitate to contact customer service with any questions.
