Retractable Polycarbonate Twin Wall Roof

[ManchesterDIY]

Hi,

I hope you are all well..

I am looking to design a lean to pergola with retractable roof see the attached image.

Has anyone done anything similar? If so have you got any tips for me?

Mine would be made from timber not metal.

 

[Tigercubrider]

All I can suggest is that even if it's wood, ensure that the track is metal. I doubt wood would be able to retain it's form. Aluminium tracks must be easier to source. One issue with a home made system will be to ensure that the roof retracts equally - not at a slight angle. Even a slight twist will make it jam so engineering needs to be good. My local Tesco has cold cabinets with sliding doors that don't work correctly and jam

I work sometimes in a theatre with retractable seating that pulls out from the bottom, similar to a chest of drawers. The bottom comes out further. There are about 5 rows of seats per block. Any slightly over/under enthusiastic pulling of the seats can twist the lot and lock it up

 

[big-all]

the easiest way by far is install in a normal way with the metal glazing bars then make them loose enough to slide the individual panels out but with a gravity latch or other fixing to hold them in place
anything else will have to be complicated over engeneered and probably leak

 

[ManchesterDIY]

Thank you for your replies.. Anyone else with any other suggestions..

 

[Tigercubrider]

 

[ManchesterDIY]

A little too complex for me - LOL

 

[LynneWales]

Did you manage to complete this project? If so, how did you do it? We are looking to put a polycarbonate retractable roof on our pergola