I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
- but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in roofing
and elsewhere. What would do the job?
TW

TimW wrote:

> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton
> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber rafters.

onduline/coroline?

On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in roofing
> and elsewhere. What would do the job?
> TW

Corrugated uPVC bends well, provided you only want it to curve in one
direction.

--
Colin Bignell

On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in roofing
> and elsewhere. What would do the job?
> TW

Twinwall polycarbonate. However it only comes in clear & tinted.

--
Regards
wasbit

On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in roofing
> and elsewhere. What would do the job?
> TW

Pond liner?

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 10/03/2024 09:31, Colin Bignell wrote:
> On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
>> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
>> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
>> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
>> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
>> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
>> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
>> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
>> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in
>> roofing and elsewhere. What would do the job?
>> TW
>
> Corrugated uPVC bends well, provided you only want it to curve in one
> direction.
>

This sort of thing?
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Proplex-Black-Surface-Protection-Sheet---2400-x-1200-x-2mm/p/118670

On 10/03/2024 11:45, GB wrote:
> On 10/03/2024 09:31, Colin Bignell wrote:
>> On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
>>> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
>>> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
>>> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need
>>> a weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
>>> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
>>> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
>>> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
>>> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in
>>> roofing and elsewhere. What would do the job?
>>> TW
>>
>> Corrugated uPVC bends well, provided you only want it to curve in one
>> direction.
>>
>
> This sort of thing?
> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Proplex-Black-Surface-Protection-Sheet---2400-x-1200-x-2mm/p/118670
>
>

I was thinking of this, but in green, which I used several decades ago.
However, clear seems to be the only option available these days:

https://www.cabp.co.uk/roofing/corrugated-roofing-sheets/plastic-corrugated/corrugated-sheet-3-cement-profile-transparent-pvc

--
Colin Bignell

On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in roofing
> and elsewhere. What would do the job?
> TW
"Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
waterproof ... but you'd need to check UV resistance (or paint it).
https://www.wickes.co.uk/Proplex-Black-Surface-Protection-Sheet---2400-x-1200-x-2mm/p/118670

nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:

> "Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
> waterproof ...

It's piss weak ...

On 10/03/2024 12:42, Andy Burns wrote:
> nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>
>> "Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
>> waterproof ...
>
> It's piss weak ...
>
>
True, but that might not be a problem if used for a beehive roof and
glued to a wooden frame.
An alternative might be tent fabric or tarpaulin, stretched over the frame.

On 10/03/2024 16:05, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
> On 10/03/2024 12:42, Andy Burns wrote:
>> nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>>
>>> "Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
>>> waterproof ...
>>
>> It's piss weak ...
>>
>>
> True, but that might not be a problem if used for a beehive roof and
> glued to a wooden frame.
> An alternative might be tent fabric or tarpaulin, stretched over the frame.

I've found that tarpaulins (and lawn mower covers etc.) degrade over
summer and start disintegrating within a year if used outside.
24/365.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in roofing
> and elsewhere. What would do the job?
> TW

I didn't want to complicate my query but in beehive design there is
always an element of architectural fantasy and what I was after was a
barrel roof with a classical arched gable end, a bit like these doemer
roofs:
https://images.app.goo.gl/qiXqoD4JJPoSzNc47
The idea being that bending the material will render it rigid and
therefore I can have a nice light lift-off roof.

Tim w

On 10/03/2024 12:30, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
> On 09/03/2024 18:44, TimW wrote:
>> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton seen here
>> https://www.draytonbeehive.com/
>> mine is to have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
>> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber
>> rafters. Galvanised steel sheet would be heavy and sharp edged and
>> difficult to work for me, aircraft ply too expensive, oil tempered
>> hardboard possible if painted but not too light...
>> - but there are a lot of modern materials I don't know about in
>> roofing and elsewhere. What would do the job?
>> TW
> "Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
> waterproof ... but you'd need to check UV resistance (or paint it).
> https://www.wickes.co.uk/Proplex-Black-Surface-Protection-Sheet---2400-x-1200-x-2mm/p/118670

That is interesting! I will have a look. I wonder if it will take paint.
TW

On 09/03/2024 19:10, Andy Burns wrote:
> TimW wrote:
>
>> I am building a beehive, a long hive not unlike the Drayton mine is to
>> have a lightweight lift-off barrel roof, for which I need a
>> weatherproof flexible sheet that I can form around curved timber rafters.
>
> onduline/coroline?

Sensible and practical materials for keeping the rain off, but I wanted
something flat but bent into a cylindrical surface, for aesthetic reasons.
TW

On 10/03/2024 12:42, Andy Burns wrote:
> nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>
>> "Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
>> waterproof ...
>
> It's piss weak ...
>
>
Is it like the stuff estate agents signs are made of? that might do.
TW

In message <usn4uo$3lm9k$1@dont-email.me>, TimW <timw@nomailta.co.uk>
writes
>On 10/03/2024 12:42, Andy Burns wrote:
>> nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>>
>>> "Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
>>>waterproof ...
>> It's piss weak ...
>>
>Is it like the stuff estate agents signs are made of? that might do.

How about Correx board if not already mentioned.

https://www.theplasticshop.co.uk/correx-sheet-6mm-thick.html

Never used it but it should bend as required and be rigid in one
direction.

--
Tim Lamb

On 11/03/2024 14:37, TimW wrote:

> On 10/03/2024 12:42, Andy Burns wrote:
>> nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>>
>>> "Proplex", or similar, might work. It's light, cheap, flexible and
>>> waterproof ...
>>
>> It's piss weak ...
>>
> Is it like the stuff estate agents signs are made of?

Kind of, but thinner; I used it for modelling the balconies of a house
and it wasn't even strong enough to support its own weight over a few inches

On 11/03/2024 15:05, Tim Lamb wrote:

> In message <usn4uo$3lm9k$1@dont-email.me>, TimW <timw@nomailta.co.uk>
> writes
>
>> Is it like the stuff estate agents signs are made of? that might do.
>
> How about Correx board if not already mentioned.

Mor like it, I that *is* estate agent stuff ...

On 11/03/2024 14:20, TimW wrote:

> On 10/03/2024 12:30, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>>
>> "Proplex
>
> That is interesting! I will have a look. I wonder if it will take paint.

The scraps I have left over have recycling code 05 on them, so
polypropylene? which I think doesn't take paint very well without a
primer ...