Lexan Roof

[o1marc]

I'm considering replacing the roof panel behind the driver with a sheet of Lexan, essentially making a full width skylight. Looking for concerns with this mod. I know heating and cooling will be compromised, but what other concern am I not seeing? Would be easy to accomplish. Unfortunately I can only get 10' Lexan in clear, would prefer tinted.

[peteg59]

You talking about peeling off a section of the outer and inner roof to do this?
Why wouldn't conventional window tint on a roll work on Lexan?

[Danjo]

I don’t think you’d lose much if any shear strength. That stuff flex enough to do it? I’d tint it with roll tint and or clear to protect it from those micro scratches.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by peteg59

You talking about peeling off a section of the outer and inner roof to do this?
Why wouldn't conventional window tint on a roll work on Lexan?

Yes, leaving the ceiling skin off. I would trim the ribs/crossmembers in wood
Lexan constantly outgasses and leaves bubbles in and the film.
I ran Lexan in my racecar windshields for 20 years. You learn how to take care of that stuff, never clean in a circular motion, it leaves swirls scratches that play hell on you when driving under the lights at night.

[Mark_In_MA]

As long as you can secure it rigidly enough so it doesn't leak, but loosely enough so that it doesn't crack, I'd think it should be fine.

I think the clear is going to be the biggest problem - I'm not sure I'd want all that light and sun beaming down straight into my home all the time, without a way to cover/block/dim it. A skylight that big will have lots of angles that translate into direct sun compared to a smaller skylight on a house/porch. I'll take free lighting, but I don't want to wear sunglasses in my living room all the time.

What can you get sizewise for the tinted stuff? Maybe leave the top center covered, and do a curved panel down each side.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Mark_In_MA

As long as you can secure it rigidly enough so it doesn't leak, but loosely enough so that it doesn't crack, I'd think it should be fine.

There are over 400 rivets securing it, I'm sure rigidity is not a problem. Lexan doesn't crack. Sealing it would be no different that a fatory sealed panel. If I cut the pieces up I suppose I could do it in tinted, but more places for a possible leak. Biggest negative for me for piecing it in is cosmetics. A single full sheet would look factory.

[MambaJack]

I replaced a hatch with clear lexan and am amazed the heat that comes thru. Put a piece of 1.5 inch xps over to block the sun. And it has melted to probably a half inch thick now. Will have to see if there is a way to tint that