There are a variety of material types that can be used in these circumstances. The most commonly known one is clear/tinted fiberglass. A longer lasting option is polycarbonate sheeting. We have several types of polycarbonate sheeting on our website: http://www.postframeaccessories.com/polycarbonate.html
26"x144" clear polycarbonate roofing panels
Hi and thanks again :) Yes I love this too. It is an outdoor covered walkway but linking the separated pavillion structures. What you don't see in this picture... are the chain down-pipes, so when it rains it becomes a beautiful water feature with water cascading down the chains and into the pond. The roofing material above the lattice work (exposed timber beam and rafters) is Clear Corrugated Polycarbonate. I chose this as it allowed for natural sunlight and the feeling of openness whilst protecting walkways during wet weather.
Skylights are corrugated laserlite (plastic not glass) to fit the colourbond roof sheeting profile. Normally would not recommend skylights in this location due to heat load, but this site had many established trees to the west.
We exclusively design with Polycarbonate as it is strong, shatter resistant and less likely to be flammable (your old fiberglass cover may be). Polycarbonate comes in many forms - corrugated, celled and in flat sheets of varying thicknesses. It also comes clear or fogged and opaque in various %'s. We prefer the flat sheets as on this project, as it is a cleaner look. We compensate for any span issues with thicker material. There are many nuances to what may work best for you. The span between support rafters, the size of your current cover, if the cover is flat or sloping, can you locate seams that are not visible, etc? I suggest finding a retail plastic store (such as Tap Plastics) and providing information to them for recommendations as to what might work best for you.
About the Polygal - Love the idea of natural light still coming through the patio cover, yet covered from harsh sun and rain. How did you stop any rain leaks coming through the seams of the sheets? What size sheets of polygal did you use and where did you purchase? Thanks
Rusty steel beams and a translucent polycarbonate material made by Gallina. Gallina has a great website (you can Google it). The material is most often used in greenhouses. It provides UV protection etc.
As this property is situated on the side of a steep hill, the backyard has been tiered to maximise the amount of useable space. In order to integrate the bottom two tiers, the pool was built partially above ground, with a spillover wet-edge constructed along the front face.
Q