Clear lighting panels

USAFpj · Dec 6, 2015

Did anyone install clear poly-carbonate lighting panels that go under the eaves in your pole barn?

I'll have full lighting throughout, and wonder if these should be discarded as an option. Currently, I'm looking at having (3) 2x10 panels placed on the length sidewall ($500). This barn will be insulated, with (2) 10x10 doors on a 14ft height. I'm thinking it would be better served to remove those panels, and put the money towards keeping (1) 10x10 door, but installing a 12x12 door as well.

Didn't have this many decisions to make when building our home

woodlandfarms · Dec 6, 2015

Kinda depends on your use of the building IMO.

Clear Panels (unless you get good ones) provide no insulation. in SC maybe not an issue? They do provide light, I think they have a shorter life span than regular siding but I am not sure how much that really matters.

My neighbor builds these for a living (larger, warehouse size). He is all for insulating and not much for clear panels (we get 10 days a year below 32 as an average). I question him a lot on this because his shop doors are always open (he personally has an 80x60) and the doors themselves seem to have little R Value.

Like I said, I think if I lived in Montana, I would not have clear panels if I was using insulation. Warmer climates, even with insulations, might not be a bad thing as they do provide some solid working light.

brown40 · Dec 6, 2015

I used double wall polycarbonate greenhouse panels, and the ambient light in the day is sufficient to light the barn. Its an unheated space, but I think the air space does allow for some heat retention. The triple wall products are used in cold climate greenhouses and have some insulation value.

Arc weld · Dec 7, 2015

They don't recommend clear panels if the building is insulated. I put them on my uninsulated pole shed but I don't have power on the property. Apparently they have a 15 year UV warranty.

CCWKen · Dec 7, 2015

They don't last 15 years down here. You'd be lucky to get five years. They cloud up and turn brown in this South Texas sun. I've replaced mine three times already in the last 10 years. When I re-do the barn roof line and extend it out, I'm dumping those light panels.

woodlandfarms · Dec 8, 2015

One thing to look at is Costco's.... They are designed to be incredibly energy efficient for the size. The two I use have skylights that must have some sort of insulative property. They do a bunch of other tricks as well (fans in front, use heat off the refrigeration systems).

Xfaxman · Dec 9, 2015

The builder put them on the side walls, not the roof, 4 years ago, still look like new.

USAFpj · Dec 9, 2015

Xfax- do you have power to your barn? I just don't know if I 'need' them if I have a lot of adequate electrical lighting:confused3:

rgr33 · Dec 9, 2015

I have the originals still on my barn. 26 yrs old. The barn has power, but no insulation. They are dirty for sure, but still let good light in during daylight. I can't even guess how many times I have left the lights on at the end of the day, hate having to go back outside in the dark and rain to turn them off.