Polycarbonate Roof Solariums

A polycarbonate roof solarium lets the daylight in. The roof panels are reinforced polycarbonate with UV protection, so the room stays bright on grey days and plants get light from above, while the aluminum frame and PVC windows keep out rain, wind and insects. Gazebo Penguin makes every model here: the Florence, whose black wall-mounted version has an 8 mm polycarbonate roof and which the maker says can be left up year round, and the Myrdal, with ceiling hooks and a high peak for hanging plants. These are three-season rooms, not insulated living space.

Choose the fit first. Wall-mounted models (the Florence Add-A-Room) share a wall with the house, so a patio door becomes the entrance; freestanding models (the Florence 12 x 12 to 12 x 18 and the Myrdal 11 x 10 and 11 x 14) stand on a deck or patio on their own. Sizes run from 8 x 12 to 12 x 18 ft, including 10 x 16. Want full shade instead? See metal roof solariums, or browse every solarium and sunroom kit.

Polycarbonate roof solarium FAQ

Polycarbonate roof or metal roof — which should I choose?

Polycarbonate lets filtered daylight through, which suits plants, reading and grey days. A galvanized steel roof is opaque: full shade and a cooler room under a summer sun. The Florence comes either way, so you can pick the roof and keep the same frame and sizes.

Does a polycarbonate roof get hot in summer?

It lets in more light, and with it more warmth, than a steel roof, which is why ventilation matters. The Florence's PVC windows or wind panels slide to five positions or all the way down, and its two sliding doors open left or right, so you can let the air through on warm days. The panels carry UV protection.

Can a polycarbonate roof solarium stay up in winter?

Gazebo Penguin says the Florence can be left up year round and is designed to withstand rain, snow and UV rays, and adds that snow accumulation should be cleared from the roof in winter. No snow-load rating is published with the listing, so follow the assembly manual.

Is it a four-season room?

No. The walls are PVC windows and screens with no insulation or vapour barrier, so these are three-season rooms: comfortable from spring to late fall, and meant to stand through the winter rather than be heated in it. The solarium buying guide explains the difference.

Can I put a hot tub inside?

Gazebo Penguin presents the wall-mounted Florence as a shelter for a spa. Open the windows or wind panels for airflow, and follow both the spa's and the solarium's installation instructions.