Rooflighting Product comparisons
The most widely used rooflight materials are glass-reinforced polyester (GRP, or fibreglass), safety glass, acrylic (also known as Plexiglas or Perspex), polycarbonate (PC) and, to a lesser extent, PVC.
Each product has its own advantages and disadvantages:
| Product | Environmental Friendliness | Scratch/Chip Resistant | Impact strength | Light transmission | UV degradation | Applications |
| Glass | Fair(energy consumption, heavy to transport) | Excellent | Poor (is a safety hazard) | Excellent, but lets through harmful UV rays | None | Skylights in homes, windows, architectural applications |
| Acrylic | Good | Less likely to scratch | More likely to chip, less impact resistance then Polycarbonate. (still 10-24 times more resistant than glass) | Better clarity and can be restored to optical clarity. | Does not yellow | Skylights, cladding, signage, shelving, architectural applications, fish tanks |
| Polycarbonate | Excellent | Impact/chip resistance is much higher with Polycarbonate. | Highest | Diffuses Light | Yellows over time | Rooflights in warehouse/homes; greenhouses, farms, mining, commercial applications |
| PVC | Poor | Low | Low compared to other thermosets | Diffuses Light | Yellows over time | Low-cost housing, lean-to’s, noncommercial/ industrial applications |
