RMOlson wrote:Last week I put up corrugated plastic roofing panels on my deck rails to allow me naked time with out neighbor problems........
An excellent idea, however a few notes of precaution to the unwary or uninformed do-it-yourselfer.
-- Many such panels are fiber reinforced with the fiber being glass fiber or the like. These can be very irritating and embed in the skin and be itchy. -- Polymer gloves,(e.g. nitrile rubber, puncture resistant, disposable sort), help with this as does lathering up with soap and letting the lather dry to be rinsed off with the fibers after the risk of exposure is past. (e.g. after any sawing of the panels or handling is done.)
-- The fibers are often exposed at the edges so protecting against subsequent exposure to the edges is advisable.
-- When fastening the panels with screws or nails the fasteners should be placed through the hump of the ridge and not the valley, as it makes for a more elastic attachment that is not as likely to pull through.
-- Fasteners need to have a flat contact under the head to contact the panels. If "bugle head" fasteners (common on deck screws) are being used without firring strips a small corrosion resistant washer can be used under the head
-- In high wind situations a firing strip can be used so as to spread the load over the width of the panel with an attractive reinforcement. A few fasteners through the firing strip and through the panel into the stanchion are highly effective.
-- Pre drilling the hole through the strip and panel will make for an even stronger attachment. definitely recommended when a firing strip is not used.
-- If pull through of fasteners is occuring, retrofitting of firring strips is practical.
My experience with this derives from skirting of mobile homes in North Dakota where such panels are a good choice but only if done right. I expect that areas prone to gusty high winds would make the firing strips nearly mandatory. In hurricane prone areas further research might be necessary to meet codes. Some manner of lattice panels might better survive wind especially if placed on both sides of the stanchions so as to effectively block viewing.
All of the forgoing advice is guaranteed to be worth everything you paid for it or double your money back.
I never met anyone that I could not learn something from.